`减负` is more than just a phrase; it's a window into the immense pressures of modern Chinese society. Its significance is most profound in the realm of education. For decades, the Chinese education system has been defined by the 高考 (gāokǎo), the grueling, life-deciding national college entrance exam. This single test creates a hyper-competitive environment that trickles down to the earliest grades. Parents, fearing their child will fall behind, often enroll them in endless after-school tutoring and extracurricular classes, a phenomenon known as 鸡娃 (jīwá), or raising “chicken babies” (as in, pumping them with academic stimulants). This has led to a nationwide crisis of student burnout, anxiety, and the loss of childhood. In response, the Chinese government has made `减负` a national policy priority. The most famous initiative is the 双减政策 (shuāngjiǎn zhèngcè), or “Double Reduction Policy,” launched in 2021. This policy drastically cracked down on the for-profit tutoring industry and limited the amount of homework schools could assign. Comparison to Western Culture: In the West, we talk about “work-life balance” or “reducing stress.” These are often viewed as matters of personal choice and individual wellness. `减负`, however, is a top-down, systemic concept. It acknowledges that the “burden” is often external and institutional, requiring large-scale government intervention to fix. It's less about an individual choosing to relax and more about the system itself being redesigned to be less crushing.
`减负` is a common term in news reports, government documents, school meetings, and workplace discussions.