What is '996' mean in Chinese Slang?

This one’s a bit darker. It refers to a work schedule of 9 AM to 9 PM, 6 days a week—common in some Chinese companies, especially in tech. It’s become a symbol of burnout and unfair working conditions. People use "996" to complain about being overworked or to criticize toxic work culture.

Example: If someone’s exhausted from work, they might say, "I’m living the 996 life, it’s killing me."

Fun fact: The term sparked a lot of debate online, with some people calling for better work-life balance.