996

• Pinyin: 996
• Hanzi breakdown: 996 = 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 6 days each week.

Meaning

996 means a work schedule from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week.

It is a shorthand for intense overtime culture, especially in tech and private companies. The term often carries criticism of burnout and labor pressure.

Examples

1. 他进厂后才懂996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]有多累。 Only after he joined the factory did he realise how exhausting 996 is.
2. 这家公司嘴上弹性，实际接近996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]。 This company talks about flexibility, but in practice it's close to 996.
3. 别把偶尔加班说成996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]。 Don't call the odd bit of overtime 996.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, tech industry, labor discussions

Tone: critical, weary, socially aware

Do Say

• 长期九点到九点可说996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]。（It fits the schedule pattern.）
• 讨论加班文化常提996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]。（It is labor-culture shorthand.）

Don't Say

• 把一次晚下班叫996[jiǔ jiǔ liù]。（It means a sustained schedule.）

Common Mistakes

• Do not read 996 as a random number; it encodes working hours.

Origin & History

The numeric shorthand spread in discussions of Chinese tech-company overtime schedules.

Cultural Context

Era: 2020s

Generation: Workers and internet users broadly understand it

Social background: Tech, office, and private-sector workers

Regional notes: Mainland term central to overtime debates.