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Zoey Zhang

The Post continues its scrutiny of words and phrases that have entered the Chinese lexicon which reflect the societal changes and challenges that have taken place in the country in recent times.
In the second of our two-part linguistic exploration, we delve into sayings that reflect individuals’ efforts to adapt and survive in a country that has undergone an unprecedented period of rapid socio-economic development.
Digital nomad
After the Covid-19 pandemic, remote working surged, leading many young Chinese to embrace a so-called digital nomad lifestyle.
The term, shu zi you min, in Mandarin, denotes working online while travelling.

A study by Instant Offices, which provides data, research and insights into office and business-related trends, revealed that there are more than 35 million digital nomads worldwide.
This number is expected to exceed one billion by 2035.
In China, the most common professions for digital nomads are freelancers, social media influencers and designers.
Their favourite destination is Dali in the southwestern province of Yunnan.
Dali has been dubbed “China’s California” due to its mild climate, beautiful scenery and thriving tech community.
Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries are also top choices.
Xiao, a freelance photographer who lived in Yunnan for three months, told the Post that he could get a full meal for just a few dozen yuan.
“We do feel insecure sometimes, not knowing how much we will earn next month. Freedom isn’t free,” Xiao said.
Involution
Also known as nei juan in Mandarin, this describes people who compete by working harder for limited rewards.
A striking example is an employee who works overtime and exceeds expectations to earn a promotion, only to see their quality of life suffer without receiving the anticipated rewards.

As a result, their colleagues feel pressured to work even harder to keep up.
In September 2020, a photo of a student from China’s prestigious Tsinghua University went viral on mainland social media, attracting more than one billion views.
The photo showed a young man working on his laptop while riding a bicycle, earning him the nickname “the King of Involution”.
Experts have warned that such a lifestyle can lead to overwork, stress, anxiety and potential mental health issues.
Home economy
Zhai jing ji in Chinese describes consumers who conduct a host of daily activities online.
This can include everything from shopping to food delivery and education.
The term zhai, which is derived from the Japanese otaku, originally described individuals obsessed with anime and video games who preferred staying home and avoiding social interaction.

The zhai culture spread to China in the late 1980s.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the rise in online shopping and the booming home economy turned the home into a multifunctional space, serving as an office, gym and shopping centre.
Last year, total online retail sales in China reached 15.4 trillion yuan (US$2 trillion), according to China’s New E-commerce Development Report.
The development of live-streaming has seen many people stay at home to find emotional companionship.
A Weibo user said that chatting with a singing live-streamer at night is their daily social activity: “I enjoy doing everything at home and it makes me feel safe.”
Testing time
China’s National College Entrance Examination, also known as gaokao, is widely regarded as the most important exam in the life of students in China.
Performance in this vital test goes a long way to determine university admission.

The exam is held in June each year, with no age restrictions and this year, the number of gaokao applicants reached 13.42 million.
Mainland netizens have long held mixed views about the test.
One online observer wrote on Weibo: “Gaokao is the fairest competition in China. It only considers how hard you work, ignoring family background, wealth or age.”
Another person took a different view: “The exam creates immense psychological pressure for many students. I will never forget those sleepless nights and anxiety about my scores.”


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Trending in China

Are you a digital nomad? New lexicon reflects rapid China growth, changing social realities

The Post continues its exploration of words and phrases that have emerged to describe the realities of life in today’s China. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock/Sohu

Digital nomads embrace the freedom to travel that a laptop brings, but at a cost. Photo: Shutterstock

People who adopt an “involution” lifestyle work hard but get little benefit from doing so. Photo: Shutterstock

The home economy is where life’s activities are carried out exclusively online. Photo: Shutterstock

Students file in to sit China’s crucial, life-defining National College Entrance Exam. Photo: Shutterstock

Public outrage as China delivery man beaten by drunk woman for giving road safety advice

A drunk woman in China who attacked a food delivery worker on his first day on the job has been slammed by people on social media. Photo: SCMP composite/Douyin

The out-of-control woman wrestles on the ground with the delivery driver. Photo: Douyin

Despite the vicious attack, the rookie delivery man did not fight back. Photo: Douyin

Diverse China burial customs see cliff, sky, water, mummy, ancestral altar send offs

Ground burials do take place in China, but they are by no means the only method. Photo: Shutterstock

Cliff burials protect the deceased from the ravages of nature. Photo: Shutterstock

Sky send offs include the dismemberment of the deceased. Photo: Shutterstock 

Water burials can involve ashes or dismembered body parts. Photo: Shutterstock 

Ancestral halls serve as a place to honour and protect the dead. Photo: Getty Images

Global fame of Thai baby hippo inspires make-up products, life-enhancing US$150,000 gift

A baby hippo in a Thai zoo has become an unlikely global internet sensation. Photo: SCMP composite/IG/Facebook/X/YouTube



Moo Deng’s popularity has become so great that viewing times to see her at the zoo have been cut to five minutes. Photo: Khao Kheow Open Zoo

The Thai baby hippo’s image has even been used to sell cosmetics. Photo: Instagram/thaisephora

People around the world have fallen in love with the playful baby hippo. Photo: AP

Public shock at video of domestic worker giving birth in boss’s bed months after being hired

People on social media have been left in shock at a video that shows an overseas domestic worker in Taiwan giving birth in her boss’s bed just months after being hired. Photo: SCMP composite/bc3ts.net


The family grandmother only realised what had happened when she heard the newborn scream. Photo: Facebook

The fertility rate in Taiwan is one of the lowest in the world. Photo: Shutterstock 

Japan passengers pay cabbies to act as bodyguards, ninjas with dramatic drop-offs

In Japan, passengers can pay an extra US$34 for taxi drivers to dress and act as ninjas, providing a unique cultural experience. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock

As passengers exit the vehicle, the “bodyguard” driver brandishes water guns and what appears to be a bulletproof briefcase to shield their VIPs. Photo: QQ.com

Ninja cab drivers are popular among foreign passengers wanting to experience Japan’s rich cultural heritage. Photo: QQ.com

The special VIP protection service targets foreign tourists, with drivers happy to take photos with passengers. Photo: QQ.com

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People & Culture

From ‘involution’ to ‘home economy’, it has not taken long for a new vocabulary to emerge which describes life in today’s China


From ‘involution’ to ‘home economy’, it has not taken long for a new vocabulary to emerge which describes life in today’s China.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From ‘involution’ to ‘home economy’, it has not taken long for a new vocabulary to emerge which describes life in today’s China

Digital nomad

From ‘involution’ to ‘home economy’, it has not taken long for a new vocabulary to emerge which describes life in today’s China