Emotions & Reactions2022informal
内耗
nèi hào
Internal friction — overthinking, self-doubt, and mental energy drain from excessive worry.
Origin & Background
Became popular around 2022 as discussions about mental health increased among young Chinese people.
Examples
Stop 内耗 and just do it!
别再内耗了，做就对了。(Stop overthinking and just go for it.)
Related Slang
绝绝子
jué jué zǐ
Absolutely amazing / Absolutely terrible — an emphatic expression that can be positive or negative depending on context.
Learn more社死
shè sǐ
Social death — an extremely embarrassing moment that makes you want to disappear.
Learn moreEMO/emo
emo
Feeling down, sad, or melancholic — used when experiencing a wave of negative emotions.
Learn more牛/牛逼
niú / niú bī
Awesome / badass — strong praise for something impressive or someone skilled.
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