打螺丝

• Pinyin: dǎ luó sī
• Hanzi breakdown: 打 (fasten / work on) + 螺丝 (screws) -> repetitive assembly-style labor.

Meaning

To do repetitive, low-autonomy labor or routine work.

Originally factory-like, it now describes monotonous office tasks too. The tone is self-deprecating and can imply feeling like a small cog.

Examples

1. 今天继续打螺丝，表格填不完。 Back to 打螺丝 today; these spreadsheets never end.
2. 他不想天天打螺丝，准备转岗。 He doesn't want to spend every day 打螺丝, so he's planning to move to another role.
3. 实习第一周主要在打螺丝。 The first week of the internship was mostly 打螺丝.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, group chats, social media

Tone: self-mocking, weary

Do Say

• 做重复杂活时自嘲打螺丝。（Use it for repetitive routine tasks.）

Don't Say

• 用它贬低真正的一线工人。（Avoid classist disrespect.）

Common Mistakes

• Assuming it only applies to factories; office routine can be metaphorical 打螺丝.

Origin & History

From literally screwing bolts on an assembly line, extended to repetitive work.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s-2020s

Generation: Gen Z, Millennials, and mainstream internet users

Social background: Urban students, workers, and online communities

Regional notes: Young workers use it to describe alienation in both factory and office jobs.