Key HSK Vocabulary
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | HSK | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 工资 | gōng zī | pay, salary | HSK 3 | |
| 凭什么 | píng shén me | how/why could you | ||
| 完了 | wán le | be over, be done | HSK 5 | |
| 意思意思 | yì sī yì sī | to mean, to signify | HSK 5 | |
| 哪里 | nǎ lǐ | where, wherever | HSK 1 | |
| 气人 | qì rén | to anger, to annoy | ||
| 游戏 | yóu xì | game , to play | ||
| 跟着 | gēn zhe | to follow after, immediately afterwards | ||
| 这么 | zhè me | so much, this much | ||
| 准备好了 | zhǔn bèi hǎo le | to be ready | ||
| 重复 | chóng fù | to repeat, to duplicate | ||
| 四条 | sì tiáo | four of a kind, quads | ||
| 大王 | dà wáng | king, magnate | ||
| 开始 | kāi shǐ | to begin, beginning | ||
| 智商 | zhì shāng | IQ |
Grammar Notes
凭什么他可以去，我不能去？
Píng shénme tā kěyǐ qù, wǒ bùnéng qù?
On what basis can he go, but I can't?
我哪里胖了？我最近明明瘦了。
Wǒ nǎlǐ pàng le? Wǒ zuìjìn míngmíng shòu le.
Where am I fat? I clearly lost weight recently.
不信是吧？那我们打个赌。
Bú xìn shì ba? Nà wǒmen dǎ ge dǔ.
You don't believe me, right? Then let's make a bet.
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.
Video Overview
In this hilarious comedic sketch, an employee demands a salary raise based on his good looks, but is told his IQ is too low. To prove his intelligence, he agrees to a word-repetition game with a 10-yuan wager, only to repeatedly fall into clever linguistic traps set by his challenger.
✨ Dialogue Highlights
凭什么不给我涨工资？
Píng shénme bù gěi wǒ zhǎng gōngzī?
Why on earth won't you give me a raise?The phrase "凭什么" (píng shénme) literally means "on what grounds" or "by what right" and is the ultimate colloquial way to express disbelief and indignation in Chinese. Combined with "涨工资" (to get a salary raise), this line perfectly captures the universal frustration of overworked employees, making it a highly relatable, cathartic, and dramatic phrase for venting about workplace injustice.
那是你的本职工作。
Nà shì nǐ de běnzhí gōngzuò.
That is your basic job duty.In the skit, Tang Seng uses this line to dismiss Sun Wukong's heroic feat of fighting off monsters. "本职工作" (primary/essential job duty) is a classic piece of Chinese corporate jargon. It is humorously used here to parody "manager speak" and gaslighting—perfect for playfully downplaying someone's massive efforts or teasing a friend who is bragging about doing their basic chores.