Work hard play hard (努力工作努力玩) — Chinglish Slang

Slang Name：Work hard play hard

Chinese：努力工作努力玩

Type：Business Speak / Chinglish Slang

English：
"Work hard play hard" is a phrase widely adopted in Chinese companies as a motivational slogan. While the phrase exists in Western corporate culture, its usage in China often carries additional meaning. In Chinese workplaces, "work hard" is emphasized first and foremost, while "play hard" typically refers to structured company events like team building, annual parties, and group trips rather than personal leisure. The phrase is commonly displayed on office walls and used in company culture presentations to encourage productivity while promising entertainment.

中文：
「Work hard play hard」是在中国公司中广泛使用的励志口号。虽然这个短语在西方企业文化中也存在，但在中国的使用有额外的含义。在中国职场中，"努力工作"被首先强调，而"努力玩"通常指的是公司组织的团建、年会和集体旅游等结构化活动，而非个人休闲。这个短语经常出现在办公室墙上，用企业文化展示中来鼓励效率并承诺娱乐。

The phrase was imported from Western corporate culture in the 2000s as Chinese companies began adopting international management styles. However, the Chinese interpretation differs: in the West, "play hard" tends to mean individual work-life balance; in China, it often means company-organized group entertainment. The phrase is a favorite of Chinese HR departments for recruitment brochures and office decor.