The Rise of ‘Da Zi’: China’s Novel Approach to Avoiding Loneliness

A new trend among youth in China is da zi, meaning “everything can be matched.” The South China Morning Post defines this phenomenon as one whereby the young seek temporary companionship to avoid the complexities of traditional relationships. Where gender or personal acquaintance are not taken into consideration, this novel form of social interaction centres on common interests rather than face-to-face meetings.

These temporary partners come from platforms such as Xiaohongshu, where young men search for like-minded people in areas such as food, gaming, fitness, travel, farming, and music. Surprisingly enough, these connections do not have to occur through face-to-face encounters. They entail ongoing daily conversations over platforms such as WeChat.

For some of the respondents, having a stranger as this person’s temporary partner adds another level of seriousness to the interactions. One aspect that was highlighted is that having this stranger oversee the arrangement guarantees higher levels of commitment from both sides. They said that inviting friends or family members could not lead to such high levels of dedication and could even result in disagreements.

Most people are attracted to this trend as an answer to loneliness without the pressure of starting social interactions. One person said he felt really lonely and was not willing to initiate social interaction. He said that they want to make friends with a stranger who won’t ask them about their personal lives but will prevent them from feeling alone while watching movies or eating hotpot.

Despite its popularity, there were some disappointments. One 20-year-old told how he had arranged a meal with a temporary partner and unexpectedly fell in love with another female partner already in a relationship.