The New Generation: Understanding the 'Zhai' youth

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The Chinese character Zhai means home or residence. Now it's taking on a new meaning—and is being used to describe people, particularly some who were born in the 90s and spend a lot of time indoors. But as CGTN's Wang Hui finds out, many who fall into this category are feeling misunderstood.

Playing games 25 year old Yang Xin is obsessed with playing video games. She spends most of her spare time staying at home, working on her gaming skills.

YANG XIN GAMING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "I sometimes have dinner after work with friends, but other than that I like to stay home. I always spend at least half of my weekends at home."

At home, Xin enjoys her video games, and the company of her pet snake. She considers herself a so-called Zhai person. Many Chinese identify this group of people as homebodies, or those who rarely venture outdoors. But Xin disagrees.

YANG XIN GAMING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "Simply being a homebody or just playing games for fun doesn't mean the person is Zhai. You also have to be passionate about certain things, and devote a lot of time to your passions.

Xin is not playing games just to pass time. She is becoming a modder. She creates new figures and plots for the games.

online community talking

Zhai people have their own way of socializing. Xin has a group of online gaming friends to play together. Interactions with her friends also takes place offline. Xin sometimes even invites them home to talk about gaming strategies. They believe this is a good way to make friends with those who share the same interest.

XU RUI YANG XIN'S FRIEND "Maybe some people think, if you stay Zhai, you can't make friends. I think it's just a different way of making friends. The traditional way is you meet a person, and if you like them, then you stay connected. For Zhai people, they've already screened a lot of people, and only pick a few. Then they go out.

WANG HUI BEIJING "The culture of Zhai originated in Japan where it referred to a small group of people who immersed themselves in games and animation. The term Zhai is now widely used in China, but people have different impressions about what it means."

ADAM WHITTAKER TOURIST "Like Homebody? Like people who don't like to go out that much, and don't like to socialize."

YU JING INSURANCE COMPANY EMPLOYEE "Zhai are not good. They close themselves off from the outside world, making themselves susceptible to depression or other mental problems."

FAN YINHUA "I wouldn't allow my grandchildren to be Zhai. Young people should go out or travel to broaden their horizon."

Xin now works for a gaming company. Many of her colleagues are also Zhai. They don't think the public understands them.

YANG XIN GAMING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "Staying at home is not Zhai. For example, if you Zhai games, you need to have a goal to pursue. For example, I want to play through entire games using only one life, and have a lot of tips and tricks to share with my friends. And you can Zhai about all sorts of fields, not just games, such as animation, the military, and technology."

LIANG CAIXIN YANG XIN'S COLLEAGUE "Zhai emphasizes your dedication to certain things. There is no limit on the approaches, no matter is online or offline, indoors or outdoors. So even if you go out to meet friends to discuss things in this field, it's Zhai too."

LI XINNING YANG XIN'S COLLEAGUE "At least 50% of the people born in 90s are Zhai. I think many people think of Zhai people in a bad way. But I don't think they truly understand us. We don't have mental problems."

Xin used to be a PR specialist dealing with governmental relations, but her love of playing games has helped her get a job at this gaming company.

WANG HUI BEIJING "You have been working in the gaming industry for a year. How do you feel about it?"

YANG XIN GAMING COMPANY EMPLOYEE "I feel I'm the luckiest person in the world--as I've turned my hobby into a career."

Wang Hui, CGTN, Beijing.