【Catch Phrase】被年会(bèi nián huì)

Meaning:

“年会” means “year-end party,” which in the Chinese context often refers to the parties held by companies, and “被” is a mark for passive voice. As Chinese year-end parties normally consist of banquets, lucky draws as well as singing, dancing and talk show performances contributed by company staff, those who have no talent in stage performing will find it daunting if their boss requires them to perform, and they will say they are “year-end partied.”

Example:

A: 你们公司的年会开完了吗？

Nǐmen gōngsī de niánhuì kāi wán le ma?

Have you celebrated your company’s year-end party?

B: 上周开了，我都不会唱歌，也被迫加入一个小合唱。

Shàngzhōu kāi le, wǒ dōu bùhuì chànggē, yě bèipò jiārù yīgè xiǎo héchàng。

We had it last week. I can’t sing, but was forced to join a small choir performance.

A: 原来你也被年会了。

Yuánlái nǐ yě bèiniánhuì le。

So you too are “year-end partied.”

(Edited by Stephanie Yang)