“Lying Flat” and Rejecting the Rat Race: The Survival Anxiety of Chinese Youth

“Lying Flat” is the literal translation of Chinese slang term “Tang Ping,” which alludes to current youth culture giving up and living a life without ambition. The was coined against backdrop worldwide economic downturn reflects mental confusion disillusionment young people. Multiple variables, including excessive social competition, unsuitable school education, permissive parents, contribute adolescents’ inactive attitudes. This article presented some typical lying-flat cohorts, explored underlying causes, provided solutions for this problem in an effort provide suggestions encouraging younger generation regain hope attain self-actualization.