Catch Phrase | 陪伴式啃老（péibànshì kěnlǎo）

Meaning:

“陪伴” means “keeping company,” “式” means “style,” and “啃老” refers to the phenomenon of “grown-ups relying on their parents financially.” A recent survey conducted by China Youth Daily of more than 2,000 people found out that nearly 80 percent of the polled said they know someone who lives with their parents and relies on their parents to cover all their living expenses. To justify their exploitation, these people say in this way they can better take care of their parents. The English equivalent for this Chinese term is “boomerang child.”

Example:

A: 小林为什么工作了还和父母住在一起？

Xiǎolín wèishénme gōngzuò le hái hé fùmǔ zhù zài yīqǐ？

Why is Xiao Lin still living with his parents after he’s found a job?

B: 他说为了方便照顾父母，不过我觉得他是陪伴式啃老。

Tā shuō wèi le fāngbiàn zhàogù fùmǔ，búguò wǒ juéde tā shì péibànshì kěnlǎo。

He said he could take better care of his parents living with them, but in my point of view, he’s just a boomerang child.