kěnlǎozú: 啃老族 - NEET, Sponger, Boomerang Generation

• Keywords: kěnlǎozú, 啃老族, NEET in China, sponger, boomerang generation, adult living with parents China, freeloader, gnawing on the old, filial piety, Chinese social issues.
• Summary: The term 啃老族 (kěnlǎozú) refers to a social phenomenon in China where able-bodied adults continue to rely on their parents for financial support, rather than being independent. Literally meaning the “gnaw on the old tribe,” this term carries a strong negative connotation, as it directly conflicts with the traditional value of filial piety. This page explores the meaning of `kěnlǎozú`, its cultural significance, and its practical use in modern China, comparing it to related concepts like the “boomerang generation” or “NEET” (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) in the West.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): kěn lǎo zú
• Part of Speech: Noun
• HSK Level: N/A
• Concise Definition: A social group of young adults who are capable of working but choose to live off their parents' finances.
• In a Nutshell: `啃老族` is a vivid, modern Chinese term that literally translates to the “gnaw the old tribe.” It paints a picture of an adult child slowly and persistently “gnawing away” at their parents' savings and resources. It's not just about living at home; it's about a complete financial dependency that is seen as a failure of one's duty as a child. The term is almost always used with a sense of criticism or social concern.

• 啃 (kěn): To gnaw, nibble, or gnaw on. This character implies a slow, persistent, and consuming action, like a rodent chewing on wood. It's not a quick bite, but a gradual erosion.
• 老 (lǎo): Old, elderly. In this context, it specifically refers to one's parents or the older generation.
• 族 (zú): A clan, tribe, or a social group of people with a common characteristic. Adding `族` turns the individual action of “gnawing on the old” into a recognized social phenomenon or subculture.

The characters combine to create a powerful metaphor: a “tribe” of adults who are slowly consuming the life savings of their elderly parents, reversing the natural order of children supporting their elders.

The term `啃老族` is deeply significant in Chinese culture because it represents a direct violation of 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - filial piety. For millennia, Chinese society has been built on the Confucian principle that children have a moral obligation to respect, obey, and, most importantly, care for their parents in their old age. This includes financial support. A person who is part of the `啃老族` is doing the exact opposite: they are a financial burden on parents who should be enjoying their retirement.

• Comparison to Western Concepts: In the West, a similar phenomenon might be called the “Boomerang Generation” (adults who return home after college) or “basement dwellers.” However, there's a crucial difference. In Western cultures, this is often viewed through a lens of economic hardship or personal failure. While those elements exist in China, the primary criticism of `啃老族` is moral and ethical. It's seen as a profound failure of character and a shameful disregard for one's familial duty.
• Modern Pressures: While the term is critical, its rise is also a symptom of modern China's intense socio-economic pressures. Sky-high housing prices in major cities, fierce job competition for graduates, and the “one-child policy” have created a generation of “little emperors” (小皇帝, xiǎo huángdì) who were doted on, while also placing the entire burden of elderly care on a single child. For some, becoming a `啃老族` is less a choice and more a consequence of a system where achieving financial independence is incredibly difficult.

`啃老族` is a widely understood and frequently used term in everyday life, from media reports to family arguments.

• Connotation: It is overwhelmingly negative. Calling someone a `啃老族` is a harsh criticism, implying they are lazy, ungrateful, and a parasite on their family. There is virtually no positive context for this term.
• Formality: It's used in both informal conversation and semi-formal contexts like news articles and social commentaries.
• Usage Scenarios:
  • In the Media: News reports often discuss the `啃老族` as a growing social problem, analyzing its causes and consequences.
  • In the Family: Parents might use the term to scold their adult child, or relatives might gossip about someone who fits the description. “Don't become a `啃老族`!” is common advice given to young people.
  • On Social Media: The term is a popular hashtag and topic of discussion, with users debating the responsibilities of young people versus the economic realities they face.

• Example 1:
  • 他快三十岁了，还是个啃老族，什么工作都不做。
  • Pinyin: Tā kuài sānshí suì le, háishì ge kěnlǎozú, shénme gōngzuò dōu bù zuò.
  • English: He's almost 30, still a sponger, and doesn't do any work at all.
  • Analysis: This is a very typical and direct use of the term, expressing clear disapproval of the person's situation.
• Example 2:
  • 高昂的房价是很多年轻人成为啃老族的主要原因之一。
  • Pinyin: Gāo'áng de fángjià shì hěnduō niánqīngrén chéngwéi kěnlǎozú de zhǔyào yuányīn zhīyī.
  • English: High housing prices are one of the main reasons many young people become financially dependent on their parents.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the term in a more analytical, sociological context, pointing to external factors rather than just blaming the individual.
• Example 3:
  • 父母很担心他毕业后会变成啃老族。
  • Pinyin: Fùmǔ hěn dānxīn tā bìyè hòu huì biànchéng kěnlǎozú.
  • English: His parents are very worried that he will become a freeloader after graduation.
  • Analysis: This shows the perspective of the parents, highlighting the anxiety and fear associated with this outcome.
• Example 4:
  • 我不想被别人叫做啃老族，所以我必须努力工作，尽快独立。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ bùxiǎng bèi biérén jiàozuò kěnlǎozú, suǒyǐ wǒ bìxū nǔlì gōngzuò, jǐnkuài dúlì.
  • English: I don't want to be called a sponger, so I must work hard and become independent as soon as possible.
  • Analysis: This sentence demonstrates the social stigma attached to the label and how it can motivate someone to avoid it.
• Example 5:
  • 当啃老族不是长久之计，你得为自己的未来着想。
  • Pinyin: Dāng kěnlǎozú búshì chángjiǔzhījì, nǐ děi wèi zìjǐ de wèilái zhuóxiǎng.
  • English: Being a freeloader is not a long-term solution; you have to think about your own future.
  • Analysis: This is a piece of advice or a warning, often given from an elder or a friend to someone in this situation.
• Example 6:
  • 有些人是“被动啃老族”，不是不想工作，而是真的找不到合适的工作。
  • Pinyin: Yǒuxiē rén shì “bèidòng kěnlǎozú”, búshì bùxiǎng gōngzuò, érshì zhēn de zhǎo bú dào héshì de gōngzuò.
  • English: Some people are “passive spongers”; it's not that they don't want to work, but that they truly can't find a suitable job.
  • Analysis: The qualifier “被动 (bèidòng) - passive” adds nuance, acknowledging that structural issues, not just personal laziness, can lead to this situation.
• Example 7:
  • 这篇社会评论文章深入分析了啃老族现象。
  • Pinyin: Zhè piān shèhuì pínglùn wénzhāng shēnrù fēnxī le kěnlǎozú xiànxiàng.
  • English: This social commentary article provides an in-depth analysis of the “gnawing on the old” phenomenon.
  • Analysis: This shows the term used in a formal media context, where it is treated as a defined social issue.
• Example 8:
  • 如果你每个月都向家里要钱，那跟啃老族有什么区别？
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ nǐ měi ge yuè dōu xiàng jiālǐ yào qián, nà gēn kěnlǎozú yǒu shénme qūbié?
  • English: If you ask your family for money every month, what's the difference between that and being a sponger?
  • Analysis: A rhetorical question used to confront someone about their behavior. It's direct and accusatory.
• Example 9:
  • 他只是暂时住在家里省钱，他有自己的收入，所以他不是啃老族。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhǐshì zànshí zhù zài jiālǐ shěng qián, tā yǒu zìjǐ de shōurù, suǒyǐ tā búshì kěnlǎozú.
  • English: He's just temporarily living at home to save money, he has his own income, so he is not a freeloader.
  • Analysis: This sentence is important for clarification. It shows the key distinction: having an income and being financially independent means you are not a `kěnlǎozú`, even if you live with your parents.
• Example 10:
  • 为了买房，他不得不向父母求助，感觉自己有点像啃老族。
  • Pinyin: Wèile mǎifáng, tā bùdébù xiàng fùmǔ qiúzhù, gǎnjué zìjǐ yǒudiǎn xiàng kěnlǎozú.
  • English: In order to buy an apartment, he had no choice but to ask his parents for help, and he feels a bit like a sponger.
  • Analysis: This expresses the internal conflict and guilt someone might feel when forced into financial dependency by circumstances like the high cost of housing.

• “Living with Parents” ≠ `啃老族`: The biggest mistake for English speakers is to equate `啃老族` with the simple act of an adult living with their parents. In Chinese culture, multi-generational households are common. An adult child who lives at home but works, is financially independent, and contributes to the household (either with money or by helping out) is NOT a `啃老族`. In fact, an adult child living at home to care for aging parents is seen as highly virtuous—the complete opposite of a `啃老族`. The key components of `啃老族` are financial dependency combined with the ability but unwillingness to be independent.
• Incorrect Usage:
  • `他和他父母住在一起，所以他是个啃老族。` (Tā hé tā fùmǔ zhù zài yīqǐ, suǒyǐ tā shì ge kěnlǎozú.) → “He lives with his parents, so he is a sponger.”
  • Why it's wrong: This is a flawed conclusion. The sentence doesn't state whether he is financially dependent. He could be a millionaire who lives at home to care for his parents. The correct way to describe the situation requires mentioning the financial aspect: `他和他父母住在一起，而且生活全靠他们，所以他是个啃老族。` (…and he relies on them completely for his living expenses, so he is a sponger.)

• 孝顺 (xiàoshùn) - Filial piety; the traditional virtue of caring for one's parents. `啃老族` is the conceptual antonym of `孝顺`.
• 躺平 (tǎng píng) - “Lying flat”; a recent youth subculture of rejecting societal pressures to overwork and choosing a minimalist, low-desire lifestyle. This attitude can lead to or be used to justify being a `啃老族`.
• 月光族 (yuèguāngzú) - “Moonlight clan”; people who spend their entire salary before the month is over (“moonlight” as in “gone by the end of the month”). Related through the `族` suffix and themes of financial immaturity.
• 佛系 (fó xì) - “Buddha-like”; a state of being calm, detached, and non-competitive. Similar to `躺平`, it can overlap with the mindset of a `啃老族` who has given up on striving.
• 独生子女 (dúshēngzǐnǚ) - “Only child”; the generation born under China's one-child policy. The social context that often contributes to the `啃老族` phenomenon.
• 房奴 (fángnú) - “House slave” or “mortgage slave”; someone heavily burdened by their mortgage payments. The fear of becoming a `房奴` can sometimes push people to remain a `啃老族`.
• 啃小族 (kěn xiǎo zú) - “Gnaw the young tribe”; a newer, less common term describing retired parents who place an excessive financial and emotional burden on their adult children. It's a fascinating reversal of the `啃老族` concept.