Source: South China Morning Post (4/14/25)
China slang term ‘rat people’ for those who shun success, attracts 2 billion views
New low-energy lifestyle choice sees young people slouch in bed, live on takeaway food, avoid socialising, embrace being a recluse
By Zoey Zhang
A new slang term, “rat people”, is being embraced by millions of young people in China who shun success and lead a sluggish lifestyle. Photo: SCMP composite/Shutterstock
Young people in China who shy away from success and embrace low-energy lifestyles are calling themselves “rat people”, a slang term that has gained widespread attention online.
Unlike the hyper-disciplined crowd that usually gets up at 5am, goes to the gym, and powers through packed schedules, so-called rat people live in the slow lane.
They spend their days in bed, live on takeaway food, avoid socialising, and have no clear goals in life. The term took off after a video appeared online in late February, in which a young woman from Zhejiang province in eastern China, known as @jiawensishi, shared her day of extreme lethargy.
She stayed in bed for three hours after waking, washing up, then sleeping for another five hours.
So-called “rat people” spend hours on end in bed glued to their mobile phones. Photo: Weixin
The woman did not have her first meal until her parents woke her up in the evening. At midnight, she finally started unpacking a week’s worth of parcels and did not shower until 2am.
By calling herself a “rat person”, she likened her sluggish, reclusive routine to that of a sewer-dwelling rat.
The video went viral online, attracting more than 400,000 likes and comments like: “Most relatable vlog ever”.
One popular comment summed up the mindset of so-called rat people perfectly.
“We are tired of the polished, fast-paced, hyper-efficient lifestyle forced on us. We just want the freedom to lie down whenever and wherever we want.”
The slang echoes China’s earlier “lying flat” trend, where young people used humour and self-deprecation to push back against relentless societal pressure.
A woman, surnamed Lin, from Beijing told the Post that she works from home, avoids unnecessary communication with colleagues, lives on takeaway food, and spends her weekends sleeping and gaming at home.
“There is no need to act energetic or ambitious,” she said, adding: “We do not live to impress anyone. Being comfortable is enough.”
Chinese students studying abroad in the UK are among the most visible examples of rat people.
Faced with grey, rainy skies and high living costs, many of them choose to stay indoors, avoiding social interaction to conserve their mental and physical energy.
Online posts related to rat people have racked up more than 2 billion views on mainland social media.
A cartoon character called Big Rat, created by illustrator Sugar Xianbei, has become the unofficial mascot of rat people.
Posts about the subject have racked up more than 2 billion views online. Photo: Weixin
As of April, merchandise featuring Big Rat has brought in over one million yuan (US$140,000) in sales.
Some netizens worry the popularity of the lifestyle could deepen negative social attitudes.
Zhang Yong, a social worker from central China’s Hubei province, said that rat people reflect a broader trend of “social withdrawal” among young people.
“It is a passive coping mechanism after setbacks. They reduce social contact and simplify their lives to recover,” said Zhang.
He also warned that being a rat person is not sustainable.
“After some rest, it is important to reconnect with what you love and actively engage with life again.”