1point3acre weird lc question alias

Decoding the 1point3acre Interview Experience: A Look into Chinese Encoding

Recently, while browsing through posts on 1point3acre, I stumbled upon a curious trend in the interview experience narratives where candidates referenced their interview questions with phrases like “Jiu Er Yao,” “Liu Qi,” and “Wuling.” This piqued my interest and made me wonder if these were some kind of encoding or inside jokes among the community.

Understanding the Encoding

After diving into the comments, it became clear that these phrases correspond to how numbers are pronounced in Mandarin Chinese. Here’s a quick breakdown for those unfamiliar:

  • Ling (0)
  • Yao/Yi (1)
  • Er (2)
  • San (3)
  • Si (4)
  • Wu (5)
  • Liu (6)
  • Qi (7)
  • Ba (8)
  • Jiu (9)

Thus, when interviewees mention “Jiu Er Yao,” they are actually referring to LeetCode problem number 219, as “Jiu” stands for 9, “Er” for 2, and “Yao” for 1.

The Quirky Post Titles

Additionally, the titles of these posts often seem cryptic, with phrases like “noodles were fresh” or “Buy it” surfacing frequently. Here’s the breakdown of some of these peculiar terms:

  • “Noodles”: In Mandarin, the term for interview is “面试” (mian shi), where “面” (mian) translates to “noodle.” Therefore, when someone mentions “fresh noodles,” they are likely referring to a new interview experience.

  • “Store”: This term is often used to denote an onsite interview, while “hanging” refers to a rejection.

Company Aliases

The community also employs clever soundalikes to refer to certain companies, which adds another layer of encoding:

  • Buy it: This translates phonetically to “mai ta,” which sounds like “Meta.”
  • Dog: This corresponds to “Gou,” the Chinese word for “Google.”
  • Flax: This is a playful reference to “ya ma,” which sounds like “Amazon.”

Conclusion

The use of these encoded phrases and terms illustrates the creativity and camaraderie within the 1point3acre community. It fosters a sense of belonging while also providing a fun way to discuss common experiences during the interview process.

I find it fascinating how language and culture can intertwine in unexpected ways, especially in tech communities where sharing experiences can be both a learning opportunity and a source of humor. If you have encountered similar encoding in other communities or have additional insights into Chinese linguistics and its application in tech interviews, I would love to hear your thoughts!

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