要加班。
Work overtime.
Littéralement: Want/Need + Add + Shift/Work
Use `要加班` to explain you're working late; it's the perfect, socially acceptable reason to cancel any plan.
En 15 secondes
- Means you must work past your scheduled hours.
- The most common excuse for missing social events.
- Used in both professional offices and casual texts.
- Reflects the high-pressure work culture in modern China.
Signification
This phrase is the universal way to say you have to stay late at work. It is the ultimate excuse for missing dinner or canceling plans in China.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Declining a dinner invitation from a friend
不好意思，我今晚要加班。
Sorry, I have to work overtime tonight.
A boss telling the team about a deadline
这个项目很急，大家周末可能要加班。
This project is urgent; everyone might need to work this weekend.
Texting a partner that you'll be late for home
又要加班，晚饭别等我了。
Have to work overtime again, don't wait for me for dinner.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is central to the '996' work culture debate in China's tech industry. It represents the intense professional pressure in urban centers like Shenzhen and Beijing. While once seen as a badge of honor, it is now often discussed with a sense of 'involution' or 'neijuan' (meaningless competition).
The 'Again' Trick
Add `又` (yòu) before the phrase to sound like a local. `又要加班` (Working overtime again) shows you're a hardworking (and slightly tired) professional.
The 996 Culture
If you hear people talking about '996', they are talking about the ultimate form of `加班`: 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week.
En 15 secondes
- Means you must work past your scheduled hours.
- The most common excuse for missing social events.
- Used in both professional offices and casual texts.
- Reflects the high-pressure work culture in modern China.
What It Means
要加班 literally means you need to add a shift. It is the most common way to say you are working overtime. You will hear this in every office from Beijing to Shanghai. It is a simple statement of fact. It often carries a tone of slight exhaustion or duty.
How To Use It
You can use it as a standalone sentence. If a friend asks if you are free, just say 我要加班. You can also add how long you are working. For example, 我要加班到九点. It is very flexible. You can use it as a verb or a noun in different contexts.
When To Use It
Use it when your boss drops a pile of papers at 5 PM. Use it when texting your partner that you will be late. It is perfect for professional settings. It also works for casual chats with friends. It is the most polite way to decline a social invitation. Everyone in China understands the pain of 加班.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for schoolwork or studying. That is usually called 补课 or just 学习. Do not use it if you are working your normal hours. It specifically refers to time outside your contract. If you are a freelancer, you might use it less formally. Avoid saying it with a big smile unless you love your job. Usually, a small sigh makes it more authentic.
Cultural Background
China has a famous '996' culture in tech companies. This means working 9 AM to 9 PM, six days a week. Because of this, 加班 is a huge part of the social conversation. There are thousands of memes about 加班. It is often seen as a sign of being a 'hard worker.' However, younger generations are starting to push back against it. It is a word that defines the modern Chinese urban lifestyle.
Common Variations
You might hear 加个班 which sounds a bit more casual. If someone is a 'workaholic,' they are called a 加班狂. If you are forced to work, you might say 被迫加班. If you are working through the night, use 熬夜加班. These variations help express exactly how much you are suffering at your desk.
Notes d'usage
The phrase is neutral and safe for all audiences. It is primarily used in work contexts and serves as a standard explanation for being unavailable.
The 'Again' Trick
Add `又` (yòu) before the phrase to sound like a local. `又要加班` (Working overtime again) shows you're a hardworking (and slightly tired) professional.
The 996 Culture
If you hear people talking about '996', they are talking about the ultimate form of `加班`: 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week.
Don't Overuse with Bosses
While it's a fact, constantly telling your boss `我要加班` might sound like you're inefficient. Use it sparingly in upward communication unless they assigned the extra work.
Exemples
6不好意思，我今晚要加班。
Sorry, I have to work overtime tonight.
A very standard and polite way to cancel plans.
这个项目很急，大家周末可能要加班。
This project is urgent; everyone might need to work this weekend.
Used here to set expectations in a professional setting.
又要加班，晚饭别等我了。
Have to work overtime again, don't wait for me for dinner.
Adding `又` (again) expresses frustration or annoyance.
天天都要加班，我太累了。
I have to work overtime every day, I'm so tired.
Uses `天天` to emphasize the frequency of the overtime.
我的男朋友就是加班。
My boyfriend is 'working overtime'.
A common joke implying you spend more time at work than with a partner.
你今天也要加班吗？
Do you have to work overtime today too?
A common way to start a conversation while leaving the office.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'I am very busy, I need to work overtime.'
我很忙，我___加班。
`要` (yào) indicates the necessity or requirement to perform the action `加班`.
How do you say 'Work overtime until 10 PM'?
加班___十点。
`到` (dào) is used to indicate the time until which an action continues.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of '要加班'
Texting a friend: '又要加班...'
又要加班
Telling a neighbor why you're home late.
我要加班
In a formal email explaining a delay.
由于需要加班完成工作...
When to use '要加班'
Office Deadline
Boss asks for a report by morning.
Canceled Date
Texting your partner you'll miss the movie.
Group Projects
Telling teammates you're staying late to finish.
Small Talk
Complaining about work-life balance.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, it is a neutral statement of fact. However, if you are asking for permission to work overtime (for pay), you might say 我想申请加班.
Not really. For school, use 熬夜写作业 (staying up late for homework). 加班 is strictly for professional jobs.
加班 is the full term for overtime. 加点 is a bit more informal and literally means 'adding a bit of time,' often used in the phrase 加班加点.
You can say 我不想加班. It's direct, so maybe only say it to close friends or family!
People often use 搬砖 (moving bricks) as a humorous slang for working hard or working overtime. For example, 我要去搬砖了.
In this context, 要 usually means 'need to' or 'have to' because of external pressure. It can also mean 'will' (future tense).
You would mention 加班费 (jiābān fèi). For example, 加班有加班费吗？ (Is there overtime pay?)
Absolutely. If you are doing work tasks outside your normal hours, it is still 加班 regardless of where your laptop is.
You can say 节假日加班. This usually implies you should be getting 3x the normal pay rate in China!
Yes, it is one of the most common topics for 'water cooler' talk. Complaining about 加班 is a bonding activity for many Chinese employees.
Expressions liées
熬夜
To stay up late (general)
996
The 9am-9pm, 6 days a week work schedule
加班费
Overtime pay
忙死了
Busy to death / extremely busy
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