Meaning:
Literally meaning “a big factory,” this term is used by Chinese netizens to refer to leading companies in China that hire thousands of employees. Most such companies also have their individual nicknames. For example, Tencent is called “鹅厂” (é’chǎng, short for “penguin factory,” since the logo of its first product QQ is a penguin); and NetEase is called “猪厂” (zhūchǎng, meaning “pig factory,” because its CEO William Ding started a sideline business of raising pigs, hoping to feed his employees well).
Example:
A: 你弟弟找好工作了吗？
Nǐ dìdì zhǎohǎo gōngzuò le ma？
Has your younger brother found a job?
B: 他还在犹豫，是去大厂还是当公务员。
Tā háizài yóuyù，shì qù dàchǎng háishì dāng gōngwùyuán。
He is hesitating over his choices: whether to work with a leading company or as a civil servant.