“Luó Mǎ Jiàrì” (Donkey-Horse Holiday) refers to workers’ “rest days” after working long stretches due to holiday schedule shifts. Chinese netizens jokingly call themselves “donkeys” or “horses” to mock how they toil like overworked pack animals—only to face overtime even on these precious days off.
The phrase’s pronunciation mimics the classic film Roman Holiday (Luómǎ Jiàrì in Chinese). Netizens quip: “Others enjoy a ‘Roman Holiday’ [the movie], while I get a ‘Donkey-Horse Holiday’ [a break after endless labor].”
English Equivalent: “Donkey-Horse Holiday”
Use this term to sarcastically describe a “day off” ruined by work obligations.
Origin: The term emerged online in 2023 and was added to Baidu Encyclopedia in 2024, reflecting widespread frustration with China’s exhausting work culture.
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