🤷♀️ Chinese meme about workplace injustice
Have you ever encountered unfairness in the workplace? Why do some colleagues get promoted quickly even though their abilities are not outstanding? Today, we’re going to use a parrot-related meme to experience the light-hearted yet poignant reality of career development in contemporary society.
Do you know what it says?
Translation & Pinyin
震撼新闻:通过学会说一句“项目进展如何了?”鹦鹉被晋升为项目经理
zhènhàn xīnwén: tōngguò xué huì shuō yī jù "xiàngmù jìnzhǎn rúhé le?" yīngwǔ bèi jìnshēng wèi xiàngmù jīnglǐ
Shocking news: By learning to say the phrase "How is the project progressing?", a parrot is promoted to project manager.
Vocabulary
震撼 (zhènhàn) - Shocking, startling
新闻 (xīnwén) - News
通过 (tōngguò) - Through, by means of
学会 (xué huì) - Learn to, master
说 (shuō) - Say, speak
一句 (yī jù) - A sentence, phrase
项目 (xiàngmù) - Project
进展 (jìnzhǎn) - Progress
如何 (rúhé) - How, in what way
了 (le) - (particle indicating completed action)
鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ) - Parrot
被 (bèi) - (particle used to form a passive voice)
晋升 (jìnshēng) - Promote, upgrade
为 (wèi) - For, to be
项目经理 (xiàngmù jīnglǐ) - Project manager
Cultural Context
The meme humorously suggests that by simply asking about the progress of a project, a parrot has been promoted to the position of a project manager. This plays on the stereotype that managers often ask about progress without necessarily contributing significantly to the actual work. It reflects a humorous take on workplace dynamics and the perception of management roles.
The meme's humor is also derived from the absurdity of a parrot, an animal known for mimicry, advancing to a managerial position simply by repeating a commonly asked question in the corporate world. It's a light-hearted commentary on how some may perceive promotion criteria within a company.
Vocabulary Breakdown
震撼 (zhènhàn): “Shocking, powerful impact.”
这部电影的结局给观众带来了极大的震撼。(zhè bù diànyǐng de jiéjú gěi guānzhòng dài lái le jídà de zhènhàn.) - The ending of this movie brought a great shock to the audience.
新闻 (xīnwén): “News” - A report of recent events.
我每天早上都会浏览新闻。(wǒ měitiān zǎoshang dūhuì liúlǎn xīnwén.) - I browse through the news every morning.
通过 (tōngguò): “Through, by means of”
他通过勤学苦练成为了一名优秀的钢琴家。(tā tōngguò qínxué kǔliàn chéngwéi le yī míng yōuxiù de gāngqín jiā.) - He became an excellent pianist through diligent study and practice.
学会 (xué huì): “To learn, to master”
学会一门外语是一项挑战。(xué huì yī mén wàiyǔ shì yī xiàng tiǎozhàn.) - Learning a foreign language is a challenge.
说 (shuō): “To say, to speak”
在会议上,每个人都有机会说话。(zài huìyì shàng, měi gè rén dōu yǒu jīhuì shuōhuà.) - At the meeting, everyone has a chance to speak.
一句 (yī jù): “A sentence, a phrase”
他用一句简单的话解释了整个问题。(tā yòng yī jù jiǎndān de huà jiěshì le zhěnggè wèntí.) - He explained the whole issue in a simple sentence.
项目 (xiàngmù): “Project” - A planned set of interrelated tasks to be executed over a fixed period.
这个建设项目将在明年开始。(zhège jiànshè xiàngmù jiāng zài míngnián kāishǐ.) - This construction project will start next year.
进展 (jìnzhǎn): “Progress, advancement”
请向我报告最新的项目进展。(qǐng xiàng wǒ bàogào zuìxīn de xiàngmù jìnzhǎn.) - Please report to me the latest progress of the project.
如何 (rúhé): “How” - In what way or manner.
你认为这个计划如何执行最有效?(nǐ rènwéi zhège jìhuà rúhé zhíxíng zuì yǒuxiào?) - How do you think this plan should be executed most effectively?
了 (le): “A modal particle used after a verb to indicate a completed action or a change in state or condition”
外面下雨了,你记得带伞。(wàimiàn xiàyǔ le, nǐ jìde dài sǎn.) - It's raining outside; remember to take an umbrella.
鹦鹉 (yīngwǔ): “Parrot” - A bird known for its ability to mimic sounds and speech.
我家的鹦鹉会说几句简单的中文。(wǒ jiā de yīngwǔ huì shuō jǐ jù jiǎndān de zhōngwén.) - My parrot can say a few simple sentences in Chinese.
被 (bèi): “A passive marker, used to indicate the subject is the recipient of an action”
他被选为最佳球员。(tā bèi xuǎn wéi zuìjiā qiúyuán.) - He was chosen as the best player.
晋升 (jìnshēng): “To be promoted, to move up a rank or position”
在公司工作五年后,她终于晋升为部门经理。(zài gōngsī gōngzuò wǔ nián hòu, tā zhōngyú jìnshēng wéi bùmén jīnglǐ.) - After working in the company for five years, she finally got promoted to department manager.
为 (wèi): “For, to be” - Used to indicate purpose or intent.
他为了家庭可以放弃一切。(tā wèile jiātíng kěyǐ fàngqì yīqiè.) - He can give up everything for his family.
项目经理 (xiàngmù jīnglǐ): “Project manager” - A person in charge of leading a project from inception to completion.
作为项目经理,他必须确保项目按时完成。(zuòwéi xiàngmù jīnglǐ, tā bìxū quèbǎo xiàngmù ànshí wánchéng.) - As a project manager, he must ensure that the project is completed on time.
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