消极怠工 (xiāo jí dài gōng) — to work slowly and deliberately underperform as a form of passive resistance; to slack off intentionally (as a protest or due to dissatisfaction)
Definition
Idiom for deliberately working slowly or underperforming as a quiet protest — passive resistance, not open refusal. Implies a political or workplace grievance, unlike casual slacking off.
idiom
to work slowly and deliberately underperform as a form of passive resistanceto slack off intentionally (as a protest or due to dissatisfaction)
Examples
- ，消极怠工。Yuán gōng duì gōng sī de zhèng cè bù mǎn, kāi shǐ xiāo jí dài gōng.The employees were dissatisfied with the company's policies and began to work slowly in protest.
- ，消极怠工。Tā suī rán méi yǒu cí zhí, dàn yì zhí zài xiāo jí dài gōng.Although he didn't resign, he has been deliberately slacking off.
- 消极怠工。Lǐng dǎo pī píng le nà xiē xiāo jí dài gōng de gōng rén.The leader criticized those workers who were deliberately underperforming.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.