“搭子”背后的孤独感 - The Loneliness Behind the 'Partner Culture' [HSK 6]

Chinese Short Dialogue | 听中文会话 | 中国語会話を聴く

A couple discusses the emerging 'partner culture' among young people.

Download the app here:

• Chinese Short Dialogue | Website
• Chinese Short Dialogue | App Store
• Chinese Short Dialogue | Google Play

Available in 8 languages on the app:

Learn Chinese | 중국어 배우기 | 中国語を学ぶ | Изучать китайский язык | Học tiếng Trung | Belajar bahasa Mandarin | Aprender chino | تعلم اللغة الصينية

《English Translation》

陈花: Honey, have you heard about the 'partner culture' lately? A student in my class said she found a 'study partner,' and I was stunned.
黄刚: 'Partner'? I saw it in the news. It seems like young people are looking for temporary partners for specific activities, like a dining partner or a travel partner. Sounds pretty new.
陈花: Yeah, at first I thought a 'partner' was just a friend, but then the student explained that they don't talk about personal matters or stay in touch often—they just do that one activity together. It feels a bit cold.
黄刚: This actually reflects a new social trend among young people. They might not want close relationships and prefer to maintain 'boundaries' to save time and energy. Don't you think there's a hint of loneliness behind it?
陈花: Maybe. Back then, we made friends gradually through life experiences. Now, it's more like choosing products: today I want to work out, so I find a 'workout partner'; tomorrow I want hot pot, so I switch to a 'dining partner.'
黄刚: There are positive sides too. At least they know exactly what they want and avoid unnecessary social formalities. But I'm worried that with such shallow connections, they might feel even more lost when they need real emotional support.
陈花: You're right. And I also read reports of people being scammed or having their privacy exposed while finding partners online. Online connections seem convenient, but they come with risks.
黄刚: That's why we should remind our students—and ourselves—that technology has changed, but human nature hasn't. No matter how trendy the new terms are, genuine social connections are built on trust and sincerity, not quick transactions.