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Chinese Language Convo ClubAuthor: Chinese Language Convo Club
This podcast series offers a talk-show-style approach to exploring Chinese language and culture. As a long-time student of Chinese, Im joined by Vicky Zhang, my friend and a seasoned Chinese teacher. Alongside us, well sometimes feature a guest or twosome teaching Chinese, others stepping into the shoes of learners, just like me. Language learning is a collaborative journey, and we invite anyone with something to contribute to join us along the way. While were not an immersion-style podcast, our goal is to keep the lessons fun, casual, and informative. New Lessons weekly. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Language Learning Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Gen Z Chinese Workplace Slang: 5 Buzzwords Everyone Uses (Upper Intermediate)
Thursday, 12 March, 2026
What do 牛马 (corporate workhorse), 内卷 (involution), and 躺平 (lie flat) really mean in today’s China?In this episode, we break down 5 viral Chinese buzzwords that reflect Gen Z workplace stress, competition culture, and emotional burnout. You’ll learn real-life example sentences, pronunciation practice, and cultural insights to help you understand modern Chinese conversations.If you're learning Mandarin or curious about Chinese youth culture, this episode will upgrade your vocabulary — and maybe even hit you emotionally (破防!).最近几年中国年轻人最常说的热词是什么？“牛马”、“内卷”、“摆烂”、“躺平”、“破防”到底是什么意思？这一集我们带你了解5个最火的中国网络流行语，不只学词汇，还带你看懂年轻人面对工作压力、竞争文化和情绪表达的真实心声。还有发音练习和情景对话，帮你真正听懂、说得出口！Zhōngguó niánqīngrén zuì cháng shuō de recí shì shénme?“Niú mǎ”, “nèi juǎn”, “bǎi làn”, “tǎng píng”, “pò fáng” dàodǐ shì shénme yìsi?Zhè yī jí wǒmen dài nǐ liǎojiě wǔ gè zuì huǒ de Zhōngguó wǎngluò liúxíngyǔ, bù zhǐ xué cíhuì, hái dài nǐ kàn dǒng niánqīngrén miànduì gōngzuò yālì, jìngzhēng wénhuà hé qíngxù biǎodá de zhēnshí xīnshēng. Hái yǒu fāyīn liànxí hé qíngjǐng duìhuà, bāng nǐ zhēnzhèng tīng dǒng, shuō de chūkǒu!Dialogue: 小张: 最近这份工作真是让我觉得自己像个牛马，天天加班，几乎喘不过气。(Xiǎo Zhāng: Zuìjìn zhè fèn gōngzuò zhēn shì ràng wǒ juéde zìjǐ xiàng ge niú mǎ, tiāntiān jiābān, jīhū chuǎn bù guò qì.)Lately this job really makes me feel like a “牛马”—working overtime every day, I can hardly breathe.小李: 嗯，我也差不多。倒不如直接摆烂，省下精力应付这一切。(Xiǎo Lǐ: Ń, wǒ yě chà bù duō. Dào bùrú zhíjiē bǎi làn, shěng xià jīnglì yìngfu zhè yīqiè.)Yeah, me too. Might as well just “摆烂” and save some energy 小张: 可是内卷太严重了，要是不参与，好像连存在感都没了。(Xiǎo Zhāng: Kěshì nèi juǎn tài yánzhòng le, yàoshi bù cānyù, hǎoxiàng lián cúnzài gǎn dōu méi le.)But the competition is so intense—if I don’t join in, I feel invisible.小李: 那就别躺平，但也别让自己破防了。偶尔放松一下，也许更有力量。(Xiǎo Lǐ: Nà jiù bié tǎng píng, dàn yě bié ràng zìjǐ pò fáng le. Ōu’ěr fàngsōng yíxià, yěxǔ gèng yǒu lìliàng.)Then don’t “lie flat,” but don’t let yourself get emotionally defeated either(or don’t let it ‘get to you’). Sometimes rest gives you more strength.
