Logo

What is '打工人(dǎ gōng rén)' mean in Chinese Slang?

This term literally means "working person" and is used to describe ordinary employees or laborers. It gained popularity as a self-deprecating and humorous way for people to refer to themselves, especially when acknowledging the hardships of work life. It reflects a mix of resilience and resignation to the daily grind.

Example: If someone posts a photo of themselves at work with a caption like, "Another day of being a 打工人," they’re humorously acknowledging their work struggles.

Fun fact: The term became a viral meme, often paired with motivational phrases like, "Stay strong, 打工人!" to encourage perseverance.

Popular Slangs

sb

Stupid or foolish person

sjb

Psycho

绿茶婊

More derogatory version of 'green tea'

老外

Term for foreigners

社畜

Corporate livestock. Overworked employee.

3Q

thank you

WC

Expression of surprise

面基

Meeting in person. Offline meetup.

内卷

Involution. intense competition with no real progress.

拉拉

Lesbian