Learn Chinese with Comedy: Asking for a Raise Trick
Key Vocabulary 20
Core vocabulary featured in this video
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Level | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 哪里 | not at all; you're too kind; oh, it's nothing; i'm flattered | HSK 1 | ||
| 工资 | pay; salary; wages | HSK 3 | ||
| 意思意思 | to mean; to signify; to imply | HSK 5 | ||
| 完了 | finished; completed (a task) | HSK 5 | ||
| 智商 | IQ (intelligence quotient) | HSK+ | ||
| 重复 | variant of 重複|重复[chong2 fu4] | HSK+ | ||
| 开始 | to begin; beginning; to start; initial; CL:個|个[ge4] | HSK+ | ||
| 跟着 | to follow after; immediately afterwards | HSK+ | ||
| 气人 | to anger; to annoy | HSK+ | ||
| 四条 | four of a kind; quads (poker) | HSK+ | ||
| 凭什么 | how/why could you (do sth); (used to call sb/sth to account) what ground is there (for doing sth) | HSK+ | ||
| 准备好了 | to be ready | HSK+ | ||
| 游戏 | game (CL:場|场[chang3]); to play | HSK+ | ||
| 这么 | so much; this much; how much?; this way; like this | HSK+ | ||
| 大王 | king; magnate; person of the highest class or skill in sth.; ace; barons; person having expert skill in something | HSK+ | ||
| 几 | a small table | HSK 1 | ||
| 来 | come; arrive | HSK 1 | ||
| 给 | supply; provide | HSK 1 | ||
| 错 | be interlocked and jagged; be intricate | HSK 1 | ||
| 想 | think; consider; figure out | HSK 1 |
We’ve all been there: you’ve been grinding at your desk, taking on extra responsibilities, and you finally muster up the courage to ask your boss for a raise, only to be met with a masterclass in corporate dodging. If you want to laugh through the pain of the universal workplace hustle while mastering authentic, high-speed conversational Chinese, you need to watch the hilarious animated skit “凭什么不给我涨工资？” (Why Aren’t You Giving Me a Raise?) by the popular creators Daihua Xiyou (呆話西遊).
This viral video is an absolute goldmine for intermediate and advanced Chinese learners, offering a front-row seat to realistic office dialogue, sharp comebacks, and essential modern slang you’ll never find in a textbook. Whether you’re looking to boost your listening comprehension or learn how to negotiate like a native, this comedic masterpiece is the perfect, stress-free way to upgrade your real-world Chinese vocabulary.