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China is grappling with a sluggish economy and a high youth unemployment rate. Photo: Bloomberg
Many young people in China have been “lying flat” – or doing the bare minimum to get by – in recent years, or at least talking about it.
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Local government cadres have meanwhile been accused of lying flat at work.

The social movement known as tang ping in Chinese grew out of a meme that went viral in 2021. Now, to lie flat is to stop striving to meet society’s expectations – from career goals to accumulating wealth – and instead embrace a slower, more passive lifestyle.

While it has been criticised by official media, this has become a prevailing sentiment among young Chinese. It has also been linked with another online buzzword, nei juan – or “inward roll” – which metaphorically refers to the intense competition among a group of people of similar age or background.

Academics and educators have pointed to a lack of hope about the opportunities available to young people in China, even if they work hard.

Surviving China's high unemployment and cost of living

The country is grappling with a sluggish economy after the pandemic, and youth unemployment is high. University graduates face fierce competition for jobs – or postgraduate courses if they want to delay the job-hunting process. And the outlook is even more grim for those who do not have a degree from what is seen as a good university.

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