Meaning:
“少巴胺” is a play on words and coined by Chinese netizens as the opposite of “多巴胺” (duōbā’àn, meaning dopamine), and “生活” means “life.” Dopamine, a neurotransmitter made in your brain, is known as the “feel-good” hormone. It gives you a sense of pleasure. It also gives you the motivation to do something when you’re feeling pleasure. The term “low dopamine-level life” refers to a simple thrifty lifestyle that focuses on a minimal satisfaction of desires. People following this lifestyle live a more leisurely life, earn less money and spend less. Some have come up with ingenious ways of saving money, such as buying groceries near expiration dates at discounted prices.
Example:
A: 为什么每天晚上楼下的生鲜超市里都那么多人？
Wèishénme měitiān wǎnshàng lóuxià de shēngxiān chāoshì lǐ dōu nàme duō rén？
Why are there so many people in the grocery store downstairs in the evening?
B: 因为他们在店铺关门前抢购打折商品，过着快乐的少巴胺生活。
Yīnwèi tāmen zài diànpù guānmén qián qiǎnggòu dǎzhé shāngpǐn， guòzhe kuàilè de shǎobā’àn shēnghuó。
They are snatching up discounted goods before the shop closes for the day. These people are happily leading a leisurely yet thrifty lifestyle.