What is '社畜(shè kù)' mean in Chinese Slang?
This term literally means "corporate livestock" and refers to employees who are overworked and treated like cogs in a machine. It’s a self-deprecating term used to describe the exhausting and dehumanizing aspects of corporate life.
Example: If you’re working late every day and feel exhausted, you might say, "I’m just a 社畜, surviving the grind."
Fun fact: The term originated in Japan as "shachiku" and was adopted into Chinese internet culture.