内卷 (nèi juǎn) — Involution
Involution - excessive, often pointless competition among peers. Originally an academic term, now used to describe rat-race behavior where people work harder just to stay in place.
Example Usage
现在找工作太内卷了，大家都在考证书。
The job market is so competitive now, everyone is getting certifications.
Cultural Context
This term exploded in popularity during 2020 as Chinese youth discussed workplace burnout and the pressure to constantly outperform peers.
Category: internet-culture