Word origin

今天的 Buzzword Rat race是由 Rat 和 Race 组成，但它绝不仅仅就是word-for-word translation “老鼠之间的赛跑” 那么简单。

说Rat Race之前，要先说一个快被各大媒体“说烂了”的词-“内卷”，其实内卷还真有一个对应的英文单词"involution"，最早由美国人类学家Clifford Geertz 在1963年Agricultural Involution一书中提到的这个概念。

Geertz’s theory of involution holds that a greater input (an increase in labor) does not yield proportional output (more crops and innovation).

在劳动力等等方面投入的增加并不能相应地提高产出，这样的现象被他叫做"involution".

上文中，对“involution”的解释不免过于学术，那到底什么是我们理解意义上的“内卷”呢？

In the Chinese context, it is used to represent the competitive circumstances in academic or professional settings where individuals are compelled to overwork because of the standard raised by their peers who appear to be even more hardworking.

我们说的内卷，更多的是指代学校、职场乃至生活的方方面面因为竞争愈演愈烈，所以每个人在竞争之下，都不得不变更加努力。

“比你有钱比你漂亮/帅的人还比你更自律和努力，你还不努力吗？“，这个网络上的段子也是狠狠戳了不少人的心。

"Involution" has been described as an endless cycle of self-flagellation.

"It's the experience of being locked in competition that one ultimately knows it's meaningless,”anthropologist Xiang Biao said.

残酷的真相是，大家都知道“内卷”是毫无意义的，它并不能够创造更多的价值。

It is acceleration without a destination, progress without a purpose, 看似在努力和前进，但实际上没有真正的目的和结果。

这样的语义看来，在英语语境下对应的词就是 Rat Race了。

Rat Race

内卷

The phrase equates humans to rats attempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain. It is an endless self-defeating, or pointless pursuit. It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead financially or routinely.

字典给 Rat Race 的定义其实很形象，无休无止的作茧自缚（ endless self-defeating）和毫无意义的竞争和努力（ pointless pursuit）。

It equates humans to ratsattempting to earn a reward such as cheese, in vain.

It may also refer to a competitive struggle to get ahead financially or routinely.

The term is commonly associated with an exhausting, repetitive lifestyle that leaves no time for relaxation or enjoyment.

它将人比做为了得到芝士（奖励）的老鼠，在迷宫里忙忙碌碌，劳心费力，无暇休息和娱乐，但一切努力终是徒劳。

现在的都市人，很多也都觉得自己像- rats in a single maze, expend a lot of effort running around, but ultimately achieving nothing -徒劳的迷宫里的老鼠一般。

In general terms, if one works too much, one is "in the rat race".

说到无用功，无意义的努力，另一个跟鼠类有关的词叫做 "stuck in a hamster wheel" .

是不是很形象，小仓鼠在小轮里奋力的跑着，终究还是困住小轮里。

随着中国的影响力越来越大，起源于中国的一些 social trend（热词） 也会被很多外国媒体报道。抛开各自的政见和观点不说，很常见的做法就是只提语言本身。

比如将“内卷”直接翻译成“involuted ”或者“involution”然后打上引号加上解释说明。其他的热词诸如“佛系”“躺平”“剩女”都可以这么来描述。

所以，写英语文章的时候想要表达此类词语的，也可以这么做。

相关衍生

Solutions

应对内卷的办法：

"Escaping the rat race" can have a number of different meanings:

· Movement from work or geographical location into (typically) a more rural area.

我们知道，越是大城市，竞争越是激烈，生活节奏也越快；所以，不想压力那么大，也许可以去到人口更少的三四五六线城市。

·Retirement, quitting or ceasing work.

实在辛苦，不妨考虑“按下暂停键”。毕竟，人生除了努力工作，享受生活也是很重要的一部分。

·Moving from a job of high strenuosity to one of lesser strenuosity.

选择自己能接受的工作强度，毕竟，想要“躺平”也不是罪过。

·Adopting a Buddha-like mindset.

偶尔佛系

·Changing to a different job altogether.

换个工种试试，也许就不会那么心累了

·Working from home

在家办公（可减少通勤等压力）

·Becoming financially independent from an employer.

家有“余粮”，可能会少点慌张

·Developing an inner attitude of detachment from materialistic pursuits

尝试“断舍离”，培养超脱物质追求的态度。

·Alienation from the norms of society

试着跳脱出社会的各种“条条框框”

新词拓展

Example 1：

- The Company's environment feels like a rat race. Everyone's trying to step on others to get to the top.

Example 2：

-She got tired of the rat race in the capital and moved back to her hometown.

Key Words

本期关键词

Rat Race

内卷

involution

内卷（更学术性）

competitive circumstances in academic or professional settings

学术/职场方面的竞争环境

endless cycle of self-flagellation

无休止的“作茧自缚”（自我鞭挞）

pointless pursuit

毫无意义的追求

exhausting, repetitive lifestyle

精疲力尽重复的生活方式

no time for relaxation or enjoyment

无暇休息和放松

in vain

徒劳