[News Terms] "Just Wash Up..."... The 'Banwei' of Chinese Office Workers

Depicted as becoming lethargic immediately upon arriving at work
Also reflects desire for work-life balance
Role shifts and corporate culture identified as causes

Is the instinct of office workers to want to leave work as soon as they arrive a universal phenomenon? Recently, the Chinese literary monthly Yao Wenzhaozi (咬文嚼字) selected the top 10 trending buzzwords of the year, among which 'Banwei (班味),' reflecting the true feelings of Chinese office workers, caught attention.

Banwei literally translates to 'the taste of going to work' or 'the smell of going to work.' It is a term combining the Chinese word for going to work, 'shangban (上班),' and the word for taste or smell, 'wei (味).' It refers to the image of office workers who become tired and lethargic as soon as they start work. It is a self-deprecating expression implying that no matter how cheerful a person is, once they begin working, they wear the typical expressionless face of an office worker or exude fatigue. At the same time, it also contains a desire for work-life balance.

Previously, expressions like "You look ugly because you're tired" were used to describe office workers who had started their workday. However, since the rise of 'Banwei,' people mockingly say things like "You smell" or "The smell is strong." There is even no hesitation in self-deprecating remarks such as "Just one day of work makes you dirty, and the smell doesn't wash off."

Comparison of Chinese young office workers before and after commuting to work
[Photo by Baidu]

This term became especially popular among young Chinese workers who are new to society. It gained popularity as an internet meme on Chinese social networking services (SNS) such as Weibo, YouTube, and TikTok. Young Chinese office workers actively posted comparisons of themselves before and after work. The certification photos show a stark contrast between energetic and lethargic appearances.

Efforts to escape Banwei and achieve work-life balance also emerged. Expressions like 'eliminate Banwei' and 'wash away Banwei' spread widely, and tips for overcoming Banwei were shared. These included not only traveling, exercising, and enjoying hobbies but also avoiding entering within a 5km radius of the company except for work and avoiding subway commuting routes.

Some office workers emphasized, "The best way to eliminate Banwei is not to go to work," posting comparison photos before and after quitting their jobs on SNS. Comments such as "Quitting is the best medical beauty" resonated with many.

The reason for the popularity of this negative meme lies in the gap young Chinese people feel between their school days and the workplace after their first job. It stems from the discomfort experienced during the transition from the freedom of student life to the identity and role of an office worker and adapting to a new order.

The appearance of an office worker exhausted from the 996 work schedule

The obstacles in role transition cause work stress and pressure on personal time, resulting in a kind of work aftereffect. Even short breaks carry the burden of not being able to escape work. Ultimately, as the boundary between work and life becomes blurred, concerns have been raised that young people risk losing their passion for life.

China's corporate culture, which normalizes overwork, was also pointed out as a cause. The Chinese economic media outlet China Economic Net (中????) reported, "Some companies lack consideration and excessively pursue profits, showing little concern for employees' physical and mental health," and criticized, "Overtime work and the '996' work culture (9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week) are all important reasons that deepen Banwei."