TheRiseof“Dazi”Culture:ANewSocialPhenomenoninModernChina
Inrecentyears,anovelsocialconceptknownas“搭子”(dázi)hasquietlypermeatedthedailylivesofyoungChinese,particularlyinurbansettings.Thisterm,whichlooselytranslatesto“activitypartner”or“companionforaspecificpurpose,”representsasignificantshiftincontemporarysocialdynamics.Unliketraditionalfriendshipsthatdemanddeepemotionalbondsandlong-termcommitment,“搭子”relationshipsarecharacterizedbytheirlightness,specificity,andlowsocialcost.