打工人
What Does 打工人 Mean?
Imagine dragging yourself to work on a Monday, coffee in hand, muttering 'I am but a humble wage slave' — that's the "打工人" energy. Emerging around 2020, the term literally means 'working person,' but Chinese netizens turned it into a badge of ironic pride for anyone grinding away at a soul-crushing job. Think of it as the Chinese cousin of 'adulting is hard,' wrapped in cheerful nihilism and served with a side of group therapy.
Origin Story
Exploded in October 2020 from a viral short video by creator 'Migrant Worker Zhang Hao' who delivered absurdly motivational speeches about the dignity of being a wage worker. His catchphrase: 'Migrant workers, working souls, migrant workers are the best.' The irony of calling exhausting labor 'glorious' resonated with millions.
Cultural Context
This meme exploded in late 2020, fueled by China's brutal 996 work culture (9am to 9pm, 6 days a week) and a post-COVID economy that left many young graduates overworked and underpaid. It gave voice to a generation squeezed between skyrocketing living costs and stagnant wages, letting them laugh together at shared exhaustion rather than suffer in silence. The term originated and spread primarily on Douyin.
Similar Expressions in English
The Chinese equivalent of 'wage slave' but reclaimed with ironic pride. Related to 'corporate drone,' 'nine-to-fiver,' and the broader 'I hate Mondays' working culture — but more politically aware.
How Is It Used?
Chinese Explanation (中文解释)
指普通上班族和体力劳动者，以自嘲方式表达对辛苦工作的调侃。'打工是不可能打工的'成为经典语录。这个词凝聚了当代年轻人对工作的复杂情感——既认命又反抗，是社畜文化最核心的梗。