Meaning:
“空巢” means “empty nest,” and “青年” means “young people.” Empty nest syndrome is a feeling of loneliness or sadness that occurs among parents after children grow up and leave home. Traditionally, we have phrases like “empty nest elderly” that refers to old people who feel lonely after their children have grown up and settled down in other cities. This newly coined phrase refers to single young people who have left their hometowns to work in big cities. Living alone in rented apartments, this group of people may also feel lonely. A report released by Taobao last month has revealed there are more than 50 million “empty nest” young people aged 20 to 39 in China, who collectively account for a large chunk of online shoppers.
Example:
A: 空巢青年最大的乐趣是什么？
kōngcháo qīngnián zuì dà de lèqù shì shénme?
What are the best things to do as an empty nest young person?
B: 当然是打游戏和网购。
Dāngrán shì dǎ yǒuxì hé wǎnggòu。
Playing games and shopping online, of course.
(First editor: Debra Li)