Chinese Internet Slang That Reveal Workplace Realities

If you've spent any time scrolling through Chinese social media—especially on platforms like Weibo, Xiaohongshu, or Douyin—you've probably stumbled upon phrases like neijuan, tangping, or da yitui. These aren’t just trendy buzzwords; they’re cultural snapshots of a generation grappling with workplace pressure, burnout, and the pursuit of work-life balance.

In today’s fast-evolving Chinese job market, internet slang has become a coded language for employees to vent, bond, and even resist. Let’s decode the most telling terms that reveal the real state of China’s modern workforce.

1. Neijuan (内卷) – The Burnout Spiral

Literally meaning “involution,” neijuan describes a hyper-competitive environment where people work harder but gain nothing collectively. It’s like running on a treadmill: exhausting, but going nowhere.

A 2023 survey by Zhaopin found that 68% of white-collar workers in China feel trapped in neijuan, especially in tech, finance, and education sectors.

2. Tangping (躺平) – The Quiet Quitting Movement

Translation: “lying flat.” This is the anti-neijuan. Young workers are rejecting endless hustle culture by doing the bare minimum at work. No overtime. No promotions. Just peace.

According to a report by PwC China, 45% of Gen Z employees prioritize mental health over career advancement—a sharp shift from previous generations.

3. Da Yitui (打工人) – The Wage Slave Identity

Once derogatory, now reclaimed with irony. Da yitui means “working stiff” or “laborer.” It’s used humorously to describe anyone stuck in the daily grind.

You’ll see memes like: “Good morning, fellow da yitui! Another day of selling our souls for rent.” It’s both self-deprecating and unifying.

4. Kongyi Jie (孔乙己文学) – The Overeducated Underachiever

Borrowed from a Lu Xun character, this term mocks highly educated youth who can’t find jobs matching their degrees. Many college grads end up in low-paying gigs, fueling feelings of wasted potential.

Data shows China graduates over 11 million students annually, but youth unemployment peaked at 21.3% in 2023 (National Bureau of Statistics).

Workplace Slang & Worker Sentiment (2023)

*Based on social media mentions and engagement across major Chinese platforms (Weibo, Xiaohongshu, Douban)

These slang terms aren’t just jokes—they reflect deep societal shifts. Companies ignoring them do so at their own risk. Employees aren’t just seeking paychecks; they want dignity, balance, and purpose.

So next time you hear tangping, don’t dismiss it as laziness. It might be a cry for sanity in a world that glorifies burnout.