The formal modern word for 'homosexuality/homosexual(s)' is tongxinglian ( 同性戀 tóngxìngliàn 'same-sex relations/love') or tongxinglian zhe ( 同性戀者 tóngxìngliàn zhě, homosexual people). Instead of that formal word, ' tongzhi' ( 同志 tóngzhì), simply a head rhyme word, is more commonly used in the gay community.
'comrade' sometimes along with nü tongzhi, 女同志 nǚ tóngzhì 'female comrade'), which was first adopted by Hong Kong researchers in Gender Studies, is used as slang in Mandarin Chinese to refer to homosexuals. However, in mainland China, tongzhi is used both in the context of the traditional 'comrade' sense (e.g., used in speeches by Chinese Communist Party officials) and to refer to homosexuals. In Cantonese, gei1 ( 基), adopted from English gay, is used. 'Gay' is sometimes considered to be offensive when used by heterosexuals or even by homosexuals in certain situations.
Another slang term is boli ( 玻璃 bōli 'crystal or glass'), which is not so commonly used.