带薪摸鱼

• Pinyin: dài xīn mō yú
• Hanzi breakdown: 带薪 (paid) + 摸鱼 (slack off) -> slack while on the clock.

Meaning

Slacking off or doing personal things while still being paid at work.

It is often a joke about brief downtime, low motivation, or hidden breaks. Use carefully because it openly admits not working.

Examples

1. 下午没任务，他在带薪摸鱼。 There were no tasks this afternoon, so he was slacking off at work on the company’s time.
2. 带薪摸鱼五分钟，马上回去改表。 Five minutes of paid slacking off, then I’m straight back to fixing the spreadsheet.
3. 别太明显带薪摸鱼，摄像头在旁边。 Don’t be too obvious while slacking off at work on paid time; the camera is right there.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, group chats, social media

Tone: mischievous, self-mocking

Do Say

• 私下开玩笑说今天短暂带薪摸鱼。（Use it jokingly among trusted peers.）

Don't Say

• 在绩效汇报里写带薪摸鱼。（It admits poor work behavior.）

Common Mistakes

• Using it for approved breaks; 摸鱼 implies avoidance or idling.

Origin & History

摸鱼 means slacking off; 带薪 adds the paid-work setting.

Cultural Context

Era: 2010s-2020s

Generation: Gen Z, Millennials, and mainstream internet users

Social background: Urban students, workers, and online communities

Regional notes: A classic office-worker meme about resisting overwork in small ways.