How Chinese Students Use Internet Slang to Express Academic Burnout
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- Source：The Silk Road Echo
In the high-pressure world of Chinese education, students aren’t just cramming textbooks—they’re also mastering a secret language. No, it’s not classical poetry or advanced calculus; it’s internet slang. From neijuan (内卷) to tang ping (躺平), young learners are using digital lingo to vent, bond, and survive academic burnout. Let’s dive into how these playful phrases carry serious emotional weight.
The Rise of ‘Neijuan’ – When Studying Turns Into a War
You’ve probably heard of ‘rat race,’ but in China, they call it neijuan, literally meaning ‘involution.’ It describes the endless cycle where students study harder, stay up later, and attend more cram schools—only to find everyone else is doing the same. The result? No real gain, just collective exhaustion.
A 2023 survey by Peking University found that over 68% of high schoolers report feeling chronically fatigued due to academic pressure. And instead of writing essays about it, many turn to memes and slang to cope.
Tang Ping: Opting Out with a Nap
If neijuan is the grind, tang ping (‘lying flat’) is the rebellion. Born in 2021, this movement encourages rejecting relentless competition. One student summed it up: “I’d rather sleep than slave for a 996 job.”
It’s not laziness—it’s self-preservation. Platforms like Douban and Weibo are filled with threads titled “Today I lied flat for 14 hours,” often met with cheers from fellow students.
Other Key Slang Terms & Their Emotional Roots
Here’s a quick breakdown of popular terms helping students express their stress:
| Slang Term | Literal Meaning | Emotional Context | Usage Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neijuan (内卷) | Involution | Over-competition with no reward | “We’re all pulling all-nighters… classic neijuan.” |
| Tang Ping (躺平) | Lying flat | Rejecting pressure, seeking peace | “After finals, I’m tang ping for a week.” |
| Shaoti (社死) | Social death | Extreme embarrassment | “Forgot my presentation—total shaoti.” |
| Gan Fan (干饭) | Eating rice | Using food as comfort | “Stressed? Time to gan fan!” |
Why This Slang Matters
This isn’t just cute jargon. These terms reflect a cultural shift. In a system where direct criticism can be risky, humor and irony become tools of resistance. A phrase like ‘tang ping’ might seem passive, but it’s quietly revolutionary.
And let’s be real—these words are relatable. They create community. When a student posts, “I’m so neijuan I dream in math formulas,” thousands nod in exhausted agreement.
The Bigger Picture
Academic burnout in China isn’t new, but how students talk about it is evolving. Internet slang gives them a voice—one that’s witty, weary, and wise. It’s not just about surviving school; it’s about reclaiming mental space in a system that demands everything.
So next time you hear ‘tang ping’ or ‘neijuan,’ don’t brush it off as teen talk. It’s a cry for balance, wrapped in digital sarcasm.