Feeling burnt out? You’re not alone — and in China, there’s a slang for that.
Meet 佛系 (fó xì) — literally “Buddha-like.”
Once rooted in spirituality, this viral slang word became the Gen Z anthem for staying calm in chaos — a peaceful protest against overwork, pressure, and hustle culture.

From the rise of 躺平 (tǎng píng, “lying flat”) to surviving 996 work schedules, discover how 佛系 reshaped modern Chinese values — and what it says about a generation that chose peace over productivity.

✨ Whether you’re a Mandarin learner, a pop culture fan, or just curious about Chinese Gen Z slang, this episode will help you understand not just the words, but the worldview behind them.

🧠 What You’ll Learn

• What 佛系 (fó xì) really means — beyond “chill”

• How it connects to 躺平 and burnout culture

• Why this mindset became a viral internet rebellion

• Common real-life expressions using 佛系

• How Chinese slang captures Gen Z emotions

  📘 Learn the Words Mentioned in This Episode

  Explore all key phrases, example sentences, and pinyin in our free glossary📖https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oRWLDuPFGKIjVjWnX_Y6gIMBhMspfcZxDSJ4_feTlgI/edit?usp=sharing

📺 Watch the Video Edition on YouTube

See the visuals, cultural references, and Chinese text on-screen:
🎬 https://youtu.be/_m3IL4Lcsk0?si=HXx_AxGJosQe2a0S

🔗 Related Episodes You’ll Love

👉 割韭菜 (gē jiǔ cài) — The slang that explains “getting played by hype” 💸https://youtu.be/9ewBjjW35ag?si=QxH5oOUk2OA8KtJ7👉 逆天 (nì tiān) — The slang for “too good to be real”https://youtu.be/UsvL-prdqVk?si=dobqC6XpBNe-qnHk

In this episode of TrendyChinese 舌尖上的中文, we break down 佛系 fó xì, one of the most defining slang terms of China’s Gen Z era.
This phrase — meaning “to stay calm, detached, and drama-free” — reflects how young people navigate pressure, perfectionism, and productivity culture in their own language.

Learn Mandarin through real, modern Chinese — and uncover the emotional, cultural, and linguistic layers that make these viral buzzwords so fascinating.

🎧 Listen. Learn. Laugh.
💬 TrendyChinese — decoding China’s internet culture, one slang at a time.