内卷
nèijuǎn
Literally says
to roll inward
Actually means
everyone competing harder and harder while nobody actually gets ahead
When to say it
Say it when coworkers stay late just to look busy, or parents sign kids up for five tutoring classes because everyone else did. Tired, ironic, a little sympathetic. Works for your office, your school, or a whole industry gone mad.
Hear it in the wild
这个行业内卷太严重了。
Zhège hángyè nèijuǎn tài yánzhòng le.
This industry is brutally over-competitive.
别内卷了，下班去吃饭吧。
Bié nèijuǎn le, xiàbān qù chīfàn ba.
Stop grinding for nothing, let's go eat.