'Xīnshuǐ nú' (salary slave) is a slang term describing someone who works full-time and earns a steady income but remains financially trapped—often by high living costs, debt, or lifestyle inflation—leaving little or no disposable income or savings. Though 'xīnshuǐ' literally means 'salary' (薪 = firewood/fuel, historically used as payment; 水 = water, here a phonetic component with no literal meaning), and 'nú' means 'slave', the compound evokes helplessness despite employment: one serves their salary just to survive, not to thrive.

This term reflects modern urban economic stress, especially among young white-collar workers in China’s major cities. It carries mild irony and self-deprecating humor but also conveys genuine anxiety about financial insecurity, housing costs, and social expectations. Unlike 'workaholic', which emphasizes overwork, 'xīnshuǐ nú' centers on economic entrapment—even with income, freedom is limited by obligations.