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| 码农 [2025/08/12 23:14] – created xiaoer | 码农 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== mǎnóng: 码农 - Coder, Code Monkey, Programmer ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** mǎnóng, 码农, Chinese for programmer, Chinese for coder, code monkey meaning, what is a manong, Chinese slang, programmer in Chinese, IT culture in China, 996 culture, software engineer in Chinese | |
| * **Summary:** Discover the meaning of **码农 (mǎnóng)**, a popular and culturally significant Chinese slang term for programmers and software engineers. Literally translating to "code farmer," this term humorously and self-deprecatingly captures the perceived reality of the tech industry in China: long hours of repetitive, laborious work, similar to a farmer toiling in the fields. This page explores the term's origins, its connection to China's "996" work culture, and how to use it authentically in conversation. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** mǎ nóng | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** N/A | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A popular, informal slang term for a programmer or software engineer, often with a self-deprecating connotation. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** "码农 (mǎnóng)" is the go-to informal word for a programmer in China. It paints a vivid picture of someone who "farms" lines of code day in and day out, highlighting the repetitive and grueling nature of the job. While it can sound negative, it's most often used with a sense of camaraderie and dark humor among tech workers to describe their shared experience. It's not a formal job title, but a cultural identity. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **码 (mǎ):** In this context, "码" is short for `代码 (dàimǎ)`, which means "(computer) code." The character originally referred to weights or numbers. Think of it as the building blocks or units of a program. | |
| * **农 (nóng):** This character means "farmer" or "agriculture." It evokes images of hard, manual labor, long days, and working with the soil. | |
| * When combined, **码农 (mǎnóng)** creates the powerful metaphor of a "code farmer." This name suggests that the work of a programmer isn't always intellectually glamorous but is often a grind of producing vast amounts of code, line by line, much like a farmer planting rice, stalk by stalk. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| The term **码农 (mǎnóng)** is a direct product of China's rapid technological boom and the intense work culture that accompanied it. It rose to prominence alongside the infamous "996 work culture" (working from 9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week), which was common in many Chinese tech companies. | |
| The term reflects a dual reality for Chinese programmers: on one hand, they are part of a high-growth, often well-paid industry that is a source of national pride. On the other, they face immense pressure, fierce competition (`内卷 - nèijuǎn`), and burnout from long working hours (`加班 - jiābān`). **码农** perfectly captures this tension—it's a label worn | |