牛马

The popularity of the term "牛马" accurately captures the complex mindset of contemporary young people, especially the "working class" who are new to the workforce, under high-pressure environments. Its specific manifestations and underlying social psychology mainly include:
‌Self-deprecation and catharsis‌: Young people refer to themselves as "牛马" to deconstruct the fatigue and sense of worthlessness caused by high-intensity, repetitive work through dark humor, such as "working overtime until midnight every day, pure 牛马." This serves both as a release of real-world stress and as a symbol of gro