Boring Bangongshi - S0AE07
This one… ummm, doesn’t seem like an accurate depiction of office life, we gotta say. (Unless maybe there’s a team building karaoke trip going on here, and it only LOOKS like an office scene…)
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE06
This is how a third grader imagines office life to be. Not so off the mark, maybe?
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE05
OK, did we mention that this dialog was written by a third grader? Yeah, it might not be the most “realistic” portrayal of office life in China, but it did give us a chuckle…
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE04
Now the question is: how does a third grader know anything about this salve-like “you can’t go home” version of overtime that does really happen in China?
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE03
Ah, a return to “face mask humor.” (You know you missed it!) We’re definitely fans of this creative use of the medium (although it may be harder to type than to handwrite).
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE02
It seems that a third grader has a pretty firm grasp on the adult workplace. What is work, after all, if not incessantly searching for a few safe minutes to catch a nap?
Boring Bangongshi - S0AE01
It’s funny… we find ourselves identifying 100% with this gradeschooler scenario of forgetting how to write a Chinese character! Comic by 小A in Shanghai.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E20
You know the “post-vacation withdrawal syndrome“ is a real thing when there’s even a word in Chinese for it! 假期后遗症 (jiàqī hòuyízhèng) is that word, and it’s only now starting to fade in China.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E19
Although Shanghai has remained relatively safe and stable during this whole “time of COVID,” in early 2021, there were a few new cases of COVID reported, and even a case where part of an office building was shut down.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E18
This use of “flag” is a great example of the Chinese people taking an English word and making it their own as part of modern slang. You didn’t expect to have to relearn English to learn Chinese, did you??
Boring Bangongshi - S04E17
If you ever talk about movies with Chinese friends (and CNY holiday has traditionally been a popular movie-watching time), make sure that you know the word 剧透 (jùtòu)!
Boring Bangongshi - S04E16
Chinese New Year (AKA CNY, AKA 春节, AKA 过年) is a time when pretty much everyone in China goes back to their hometowns to spend the holiday with family. Not so this year! Thanks to COVID, it is unfortunately super 麻烦 (máfan).
Boring Bangongshi - S04E15
Bonuses are a part of many companies’ salary structures, but in China they’re especially common, since a “13th month” of pay (right before Chinese New Year) is the norm.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E14
People playing mobile games at work?? Don’t act so shocked. It’s a common occurrence in the PRC for sure. Although there are tons of different mobile games that people play, we chose 王者荣耀 (Wángzhě Róngyāo) because it’s been so popular for so long.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E13
Ah yes, the Chinese word 八卦 (bāguà): it’s a noun, it’s a verb, it’s a kind of “news” that doesn’t really have any value. But that doesn’t mean that people don’t follow it religiously!
Boring Bangongshi - Let There Be Templates!
Reading comics is good for your Chinese. But so is MAKING your OWN comics! Here are some templates to get you going.
Christmas Comics for 2020
Merry Christmas from AllSet Learning! if you’re paying attention, you will have noticed that the crew in Boring Bangongshi has been celebrating Christmas, Chinese office-style.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E12
The emphasis on Christmas Eve has been so strong that some Chinese people didn’t even realize that Christmas is actually December 25th rather than December 24th.
Boring Bangongshi - S04E11
It’s interesting seeing to what lengths some offices in China are willing to go for holiday cheer. Some Chinese companies really do go all out!
Boring Bangongshi - S04E10
Navigating the relative importance of foreign holidays and how exactly how to recognize them can be a little tricky in Chinese office contexts.