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內卷

简内卷 · 繁內卷

Mandarin · pinyin nèi juǎn

(embryology) to involute; involution
(neologism, attested by 2017) (of a society) to become more and more of a rat race; to become increasingly competitive (due to limited resources)

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內: nèi · inside, interior; domestic
卷: juǎn · scroll; curl; make a comeback
内: nèi · inside

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Mandarin tones

4–3 · nei4 juan3

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb

(economics, social sciences, of a society or nation) to undergo involution: to stop developing or progressing despite intense inner competition
(neologism, slang) to be in a state of increased competition for limited resources, requiring great effort to stay ahead
(neologism, slang) to study harder or work longer as a result of intense competition among peers

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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