Graduating and Unemployed: The 'Ranweiwa' Phenomenon Takes Over Chinese Social Media

A graduate from a “985” top university breaks down in tears, saying she can’t find a job. (Video screenshot)

[People News] A new term, 'Ranweiwa', has recently gone viral on social media platforms in mainland China. This topic has sparked passionate discussions among young people, and even parents are sharing numerous videos to express their views.

The term 'Ranweiwa' carries a somewhat bitter connotation, reflecting the helplessness and struggles faced by several generations.

So, what does 'Ranweiwa' mean? In simple terms, it is similar to a 'half-finished building' in real estate that has been left incomplete. Parents invest substantial amounts of money, energy, and time, pushing their children through extra tutoring, university, and even graduate studies, with the hope that their children will secure respectable jobs upon graduation, completing the 'construction' successfully. However, the reality is stark: graduating often leads to unemployment! Many either struggle to find jobs or face salaries so low that they can barely support themselves, ultimately being forced to rely on their parents or adopt a 'lying flat' lifestyle at home, as if their lives have come to a halt.

Record High Unemployment! Young People Face Extreme Difficulty in Job Hunting

Finding a job has become exceedingly challenging for young people! This is not merely a baseless complaint from the youth.

According to data released by the Ministry of Education of the Communist Party of China, the number of graduates from national ordinary universities in 2026 is projected to reach 12.7 million, setting a new historical record! When considering those who have not yet found jobs, along with returning overseas students, the influx of job seekers is overwhelming.

The youth unemployment rate for August, as officially announced, has surged to 18.9%, marking a one-year high. However, experienced financial experts have pointed out that this figure is actually 'beautified.' This is because if you engage in low-paying, unprotected gig work, or stay at home 'studying for exams' while depending on your parents, you are not counted as unemployed in the official statistics. The reality of job-seeking is likely even harsher than the numbers indicate.

An article that struck a chord: My life has hit a dead end.

On October 5, an article titled 'In Shanghai, the number of young people facing unfinished lives is on the rise' went viral on WeChat Moments. The piece features a young woman named Xiao Nan, born in 1992, who previously worked at the renowned company 'ByteDance.' She used to calculate daily how to save for a down payment on a house, planning to marry and have children before turning 30.

But what about now? She carries a faded canvas bag, orders two bottles of ice-cold beer, and laughs as she says, 'My life has hit a dead end; my down payment has been lost in financial investments, I quit my job nearly six months ago, and now I spend my days gardening at home.'

Such stories are prevalent in major cities. Many young people have even relocated to rural areas to embrace a 'premature retirement' lifestyle. They have come to realise that what they once believed—that 'if you study hard, the future will be bright'—is now understood differently: it's not that they didn't put in the effort, but rather that the winds of change have ceased.

In light of this reality, discussions among netizens in mainland China have become quite poignant.

Transitioning from being 'the favoured child of heaven' to becoming 'unfinished assets'

People often joke that they once believed they could change the world, then came to realise that simply being able to support themselves was sufficient, and now they find that not being a financial burden on their parents is considered a form of filial piety! Referring to themselves as 'rotten tail kids' serves as a psychological defence mechanism when they feel powerless to alter their circumstances.

With the avenues to high salaries and home ownership effectively closed off, many young people have chosen to disengage! They no longer participate in the pressures of marriage, childbirth, and home buying, opting instead for a lifestyle with lower desires. As one netizen put it: 'Houses may go unfinished, but my life will not.' By escaping the grind of high-pressure overtime, enjoying a cold beer, and tending to flowers, they are quietly reclaiming their autonomy in life.

The New 'Kanglao' Phenomenon and 'Full-time Children'

In addition to the phenomenon of 'rotten tail kids,' a new model of 'Kanglao' has recently gained popularity in mainland China.

For many years, China has had 'Kanglao' groups, which refer to young people who do not work, live at home, and rely entirely on their parents for support. However, the new 'Kanglao' model consists of young individuals who generally have jobs but earn just enough to barely sustain themselves, leaving them unable to save any money. Essentially, they still cannot achieve economic independence in society and must depend on their parents' pensions or savings to survive. Consequently, they return home to live with their parents, but they do not ask for financial assistance.

According to a report by Hunan Daily's new media outlet 'New Hunan,' a recent annual expenditure report from an unemployed girl in Yunnan has sparked significant discussion online, as she only spent 2,858 yuan (RMB, the same below) over the course of a year, averaging less than 8 yuan a day, while living at her parents' house without requesting money from them.

Critics argue that since housing, utilities, and meals are all provided by her parents, every penny saved by the girl merely shifts the cost of living onto them. This phenomenon is referred to as 'new-style dependency on parents.' However, some netizens contend that this does not qualify as dependency, as the girl does not ask her parents for money; at most, it just means there are extra chopsticks at home.

Supporters of the girl assert that true dependency involves depleting parents' lifetime savings for a down payment, with ongoing monthly payments requiring further financial support from elderly parents. It also includes getting married and having children while still relying on parents for daily meals. Notably, this unemployed girl only spent 2,858 yuan in a year and did not request any money from her family.

Many individuals opt to return to their hometowns to become 'full-time children,' assisting their parents with household chores and providing emotional support in exchange for free food and accommodation. This has emerged as the most rational 'damage control choice' for many ordinary families during economic downturns.

Additionally, numerous young people working in major cities find themselves in a situation where, due to generally low salaries, they become part of the 'moonlight clan' (living paycheck to paycheck) after deducting rent and living expenses. Consequently, they return home to live with their parents, thus becoming part of the 'new-style dependency on parents.'

Despite spending significant amounts of their parents' money, they still struggle to achieve independence. Their journey transitions from initial anxiety and anger to a resigned acknowledgement of being 'unfinished,' reflecting the confusion of young people who are unable to find a way forward or answers to the meaning of life.

For the parents of these 'unfinished children,' witnessing their once-proud and hopeful offspring transform into 'unfinished children' after exhausting their life savings and efforts results in a profound psychological shift, moving from immense pride and anticipation to shock, anxiety, disappointment, and ultimately a reluctant acceptance.

This sentiment cannot be simply encapsulated as 'anger' or 'disappointment'; it reflects the collapse of beliefs held by parents and even grandparents, representing a tragic era that the entire family endures together.

In essence, the 'rotten tail kids' are a generation that was nurtured as if they were a 'deluxe edition,' only to end up as a 'standard edition' or even 'useless.' Both parents and children share a profound disappointment in this outcome. It has thoroughly shattered the long-held belief among several generations that 'hard work can change one's fate.' Furthermore, it signifies a reluctant compromise made by both generations, who, under the pressures of a high-stress society and a challenging job market, have sought to preserve their mental health and the last remnants of dignity by mutually understanding each other and retreating to the family sanctuary.

(Originally published by People News) △