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内卷化

nèi juǎn huà
noun★Intermediate— involution or hypercompetition in a zero-sum environment
formal

A sociological and economic phenomenon where individuals or groups engage in excessive competition for limited resources, often leading to diminishing returns and increased stress without significant societal progress.

教育内卷化导致学生过度内卷,影响身心健康。

Educational involution causes students to over-compete, affecting their physical and mental health.

💡

The term originates from Chinese sociology and describes a self-reinforcing cycle of competition that traps participants in a zero-sum game.

Collocations

职场内卷化workplace involution教育内卷化educational involution社会内卷化social involution

Synonyms

内卷过度竞争零和博弈

Antonyms

合作共赢可持续发展

Related Phrases

躺平neologism
lying flat (rejecting societal pressure)
佛系neologism
detached, go-with-the-flow attitude

💡Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use '内卷化' to describe systemic competition that traps individuals in a cycle of stress and diminishing returns.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Misinterpretation

Do not confuse '内卷化' with healthy competition; it specifically refers to unproductive, zero-sum competition.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the Chinese term '内卷' (involution), originally a sociological concept describing a closed system where competition leads to stagnation, later extended to modern economic and social contexts.

📝Usage Notes

The term is widely used in Chinese discussions about modern work culture, education, and economic systems. It emphasizes the negative effects of excessive competition without meaningful progress.

Word Breakdown

内
internal
root
+
卷
to roll up (originally), to compete (modern)
root
+
化
to become, to transform
suffix
汉英词典

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