"White lotus" (白莲花) and "green tea bitch" (绿茶婊) are modern Chinese slang for manipulative women, but their styles and tactics are different. They also usually use the tea art when speaking.
白莲花 (bái lián huā) – "White Lotus"
Literal meaning: White lotus flower, a symbol of purity in Chinese culture.
Slang meaning: A woman who pretends to be pure, kind, and innocent, but is actually manipulative or hypocritical.
Tactics: Acts morally upright and harmless in public; Plays the victim to gain sympathy; Uses "I'm too kind to fight back" as a shield.
Image: The saintly, gentle, "I would never harm anyone" persona — while quietly stirring trouble behind the scenes.
Example vibe: Someone who says, "I'm sorry you misunderstood me… I was only trying to help" after deliberately getting you in trouble.
绿茶婊 (lǜ chá biǎo) – "Green Tea Bitch"
Literal meaning: "Green tea" + "bitch" (婊). Green tea is seen as healthy, refreshing, and natural — the slang refers to a woman who looks innocent and pure on the surface but is seductive and cunning.
Slang meaning: A woman who uses an image of sweetness and naivety to flirt, seduce, and manipulate, especially to attract men or turn them against other women.
Tactics: Flirts subtly while acting like she's "just being friendly"; Pretends not to understand her own effect on men; Plays weak or dependent to provoke male protectiveness.
Image: Sweet, shy, and approachable on the outside, but highly strategic in using beauty, charm, and "helplessness" to get what she wants.
Example vibe: Someone who says, "Oh, Senior Brother, could you help me carry this? I'm too weak" — right in front of someone boyfriend.
Core Difference:
White Lotus: The "pure, moral victim" act. Manipulates through moral high ground and sympathy.
Green Tea Bitch: The "sweet, harmless flirt" act. Manipulates through sexual or romantic appeal while keeping an innocent façade.
Or maybe like this:
The image of white lotus are "Holy and pure" while Green Tea are "Sweet and cute"
Manipulation for white lotus focus on "Passive, victim-playing" while Green Tea more leaning into "Active, flirtatious scheming"
As for the scheming openness, the white lotus Hides malice completely, and they also acts naive, while Green Tea Lets malice peek through or can be say, and they are more calculating in their schemes, they also doesn't hide their cunning or calculating as much.