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Mandarin Phrase Lesson-All Kinds of “族 (Zú) Groups” in China

“族 (zú)” refers to a group of people possessing common features. People who think they share similar culture, history, and who are descendants of the same ancestor belong to the same “民族 (mínzú) nation.” As the development of society, “族 (zú)” is widely used in Chinese language to indicate groups generated within certain social backgrounds.

Urbanization has brought about the development of numerous big cities in China. Within the cities live several different groups. For example, many countryside migrants move to big cities to seek employment. These migrants become known as “打工族 (dǎ gōng zú).” Another very important group of people who work and live within the cities are the “工薪族 (gōngxīn zú) wage earners” or “上班族 (shàngbān zú) office workers,” who are usually made up of college graduates. Whether one is a countryside migrant or a college student, people prefer to live in big cities and struggle toward their dreams. They do this because they believe there are more opportunities in bigger cities than in countryside or small towns. Beijing is one of the most typical places for people who are searching for employment. We call the group fighting for success in Beijing “北漂族 (bĕi piāo zú).”

The biggest dream of most Chinese people who are trying to achieve their goals in the big city is purchasing a home in the city. Having a house is very important in the eyes of the majority of Chinese people. However, due to the high price of houses, a large number of countryside migrant workers and wage earners have to settle in cheaper, compact areas. They are regarded as “蚁族 (yǐ zú).” Others who live in very small houses of their own are called “蜗居族 (wōjū zú).”

In addition to the difficulty of purchasing a nice home, finding a good job can also be challenging for many young people. There is a talent surplus in the big cities, which causes job scarcity. More and more young people have to live off their parents even after they become adults or college graduates. They are often criticized by society, and are known as “啃老族 (kěn lăo zú).”

Another pressure for most Chinese people nowadays is child rearing. The high price of raising a child can cause great pressure. As a result, many young couples are choosing to become members of “丁克族 (dīngkè zú) DINK (Double Income No kids).” Of course, not all the DINK families do this because of financial concerns. Some couples think DINK is a more free way of life.