佛系 is a direct cultural response to a phenomenon called 内卷 (nèijuǎn), or “involution”—a state of intense, zero-sum competition where everyone works harder and harder for diminishing returns. Faced with the infamous 996 work culture (9 am to 9 pm, 6 days a week) and skyrocketing living costs, many young Chinese people have adopted the 佛系 mindset as a form of passive resistance and self-preservation. A Westerner might compare 佛系 to being “chill” or “going with the flow.” However, there's a key difference. The Western “chill” attitude often stems from a place of individualistic freedom and a carefree spirit. 佛系, in contrast, is born from a sense of resignation and exhaustion. It's a coping mechanism for a system that feels overwhelming. While a “chill” person in the US might say “I'm not worried about it,” a 佛系 person might say the same thing, but with an underlying feeling of “It's pointless to worry because my efforts won't change the outcome anyway.” It’s less about optimism and more about pragmatic acceptance.
佛系 is an informal term used widely in conversation and on social media. Its connotation can range from neutral to slightly positive (praising someone's calm demeanor) or slightly negative (criticizing someone for being unmotivated). It's often combined with other nouns to describe a “Buddha-like” approach to a specific area of life.