Meaning:
“鄙视” means “disdain,” and “链” means “chain.” According to Baidu, published record of this term (literally, chain of disdain) first appeared in Southern Metropolis Daily on April 7, 2012, referring to the phenomenon of a group of people despising another group, whom they think not as good as themselves. Similar to a food chain, those close to the end of the chain are the most dispised group for lack of wealth, taste, education, good appearance, etc. “Chain of disdain” reportedly exists everywhere in China, from TV watchers, moviegoers, magazine readers, clothing brands, to more serious arenas like marriage markets.
Example:
A: 听说过北京的相亲鄙视链吗？
Tīngshuō guò běijīng de xiāngqīn bǐshìliàn ma?
Have you heard of the “chain of disdain” in Beijing’s marriage market?
B: 听说了，财富、学历、家庭背景那些还可以理解，特别奇怪的就是鄙视属羊的。
Tīngshuō le, cáifù、xuélì、jiātíng bèijǐng nàxiē hái kěyǐ lǐjiě, tèbié qíguài de jìushì bǐshì shǔ yáng de。
Yes. I can understand such criteria as personal wealth, education and family background, but it’s extremely strange that they despise people born in the Chinese year of the goat.
(First editor: Debra Li)