Casting nets, keeping fish

Abstract This study examines how fishing metaphors, where romantic partners become “fish” and dating becomes “fishing,” structure relationship discourse on Chinese social media. By analyzing the viral terms 海王 (Sea King) and 海后 (Sea Queen) in online discussions on Zhihu (a Chinese Q&A platform), we find gender asymmetries in evaluation and pursuit strategies, yet convergence on a central practice: “fish farming,” which sustains connections through minimal engagement while deferring commitment. The metaphors naturalize inequality by mapping the principle of status-matched pairing as ecological zones, where cross-class desire registers as a species mismatch rather than a legitimate ambition. Departing from love is a journey metaphors that frame romance as cooperative progression, fishing metaphors recast dating as strategic predation where partners are evaluated, captured, and maintained while commitment remains marginal. In sum, fishing metaphors reveal how digital dating discourse enables individuals to feel strategically empowered while reproducing the social hierarchies that constrain them.