After years of chasing us with notifications, the Duolingo Owl finally collapsed from exhaustion. In February, the owl officially announced its death on X. But Duo is back, revived by a new mission: love. In a viral marketing move, Duolingo announced its “marriage” to the reindeer mascot of Luckin Coffee, one of China’s largest coffee chains. The campaign, cheekily dubbed by netizens as a “business marriage between two company executives,” has become a marketing sensation.
This collaboration, dubbed “多喝多学习” (Drink more, Learn more), goes far beyond packaging. From stickers and notebooks to mugs and a limited-edition card set, the merchandise has taken over social media. The mug featuring Duo’s “sassy” face has become the second most sought-after item and is only available with a minimum purchase of 119.8 RMB (around 16.50 USD). Some merchandise comes with specific combos; others require an additional fee. But the true star of the show is the Global Limited Learning Card Set.
The card set, a love child of Duo and Lucky, is designed like a cheeky exam dictionary. It features both English and Chinese internet slang with translations that are up to date, culturally specific, and often hilarious. “Abandon,” for example, is translated as “从入门到放弃” (cóng rùmén dào fàngqì, from starting to giving up)—this word is a special memory for every English learner in China as the first word in the vocabulary book. Another card introduces “蛐蛐” (qūqū), a Northern Chinese slang term for gossipy behavior, rebranded as “Secret Time,” reminding many of the game The Sims.
With slogans like “L属性大爆发” (L is for Luckin Coffee), “被迫营业” (forced to perform), and “我Blue了” (I am blue), the set captures how Gen Z speaks and thinks. It reflects emotional states, pop culture references, and humor in a way that most textbook language materials miss. Fans are even tracking which stores give out which cards and trading them like collectibles.
The Duo x Luckin card set proves that effective language learning doesn’t have to be boring—it can be funny, social, and hyper-relevant. As far as brand marriages go, this one might just be educational bliss.
Cover image via Xiaohongshu.
