English：
A term from China's socialist era: "eating from the big pot" — meaning equal distribution regardless of contribution. Everyone gets the same portion whether they work hard or slack off. In modern business, it describes any system that rewards everyone equally, killing motivation and innovation.
中文：
一个来自中国社会主义时代的术语："吃大锅饭"——意为不管贡献大小都平均分配。无论努力还是偷懒，每个人都得到相同的一份。在现代商业中，指任何平均主义的奖励制度，扼杀了动力和创新。
"吃大锅饭" (chī dà guō fàn) originated from China's collective farming period (1950s-1970s) when everyone ate from the same big pot in the communal dining hall. It became a metaphor for the egalitarian wage system where everyone got paid the same regardless of performance. After China's economic reforms, "eating big pot rice" was criticized as inefficient and demotivating. Today it's used to criticize any workplace where effort isn't rewarded and mediocrity is protected.
中文："吃大锅饭"源于中国集体化时期（1950年代-1970年代），大家在公共食堂从同一口大锅里吃饭。它成为平均主义工资制度的隐喻，不管表现如何大家都拿一样的钱。中国经济改革后，"吃大锅饭"被批评为低效和打击积极性。今天用来批评任何不奖励努力、保护平庸的职场。
📌 Example 1
About office culture:
"Everyone gets the same bonus regardless of performance."
"This company is still eating big pot rice. No wonder people don't work hard."
关于办公室文化：
"不管表现如何大家都拿一样的奖金。"
"这家公司还在吃大锅饭。难怪大家都不努力。"
📌 Example 2
Comparing companies:
"My last job paid based on performance."
"My current job is big pot rice. Lazy people get the same as hard workers."
"Which one do you prefer?"
比较公司：
"我上份工作按绩效发工资。"
"我现在的工作吃大锅饭。懒人和努力的人拿一样。"
"你更喜欢哪个？"
📌 Example 3
Industry analysis:
"Why are state-owned companies so inefficient?"
"Big pot rice culture. No incentive to improve."
行业分析：
"为什么国企效率这么低？"
"吃大锅饭文化。没有改进的动力。"
📌 Example 4
Complaint about team:
"I'm doing all the work but we all get the same credit."
"That's big pot rice. Talk to your manager about individual KPIs."
抱怨团队：
"所有的活都是我在干，但我们都得到同样的认可。"
"这就是吃大锅饭。跟你经理谈谈个人绩效指标。"
📌 Example 5
Startup founder:
"In our company, no big pot rice."
"Good. Performance-based rewards motivate people."
创业者：
"我们公司不吃大锅饭。"
"好。绩效奖励能激励人。"
📌 Example 6
Union discussion:
"Some people say big pot rice is fair."
"Fair? It's fair to lazy people and unfair to hard workers."
工会讨论：
"有人说吃大锅饭是公平的。"
"公平？对懒人是公平，对努力的人是不公平。"
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