老啃族

    lǎokěnzú

    Meaning: "老" means "old," "啃" means to "nibble at," and "族" refers to a group of people sharing similarities. While another term "啃老族" (boomerang kids) has equivalents in the English language, this one is quite unique to the Chinese society. Literally it means people who are "eaten away by their parents." This group of people, often growing up in the rural area but living in the city now, are the hope and pride of their parents who stay behind in the village. Not earning a lot of money themselves, they have to support their parents and help their siblings or other relatives financially, who live even worsely off.

    Example

    A: 小萍平时花钱很谨慎，一定存了不少钱。

    Xiǎopíng píngshí huāqián hěn jǐnshèn, yīdìng cún le bùshǎo qián。

    Xiaoping is careful with her money. She must have saved quite a sum.

    B: 她是老啃族，每个月工资都寄回家了，她父母在农村要建房子。

    Tā shì lǎokěnzú, měigèyuè gōngzī dōu jìhuíjiā le, tā fùmǔ zài nóngcūn yào jiàn fángzi。

    She is the sole breadearner in her family and sends back all her salaries each month, because her parents back in the village want to build a new house.