Second Generation of XXX
XXX二代 (XXX èrdài)
Related buzz words:
Second generation of Chinese officials/ wealthy/farmers

"二", er, is the number two; "代", dai, refers to generation. X二代refers to the second generation of Chinese people with various family backgrounds. For example, descendants of Chinese officials will be called "官二代"(gūanèrdài, 官, guan, means "officials"), while the second generation of wealthy Chinese are called "富二代"(fùèrdài, "富" means "wealthy") Of course, most Chinese people are neither officials nor rich. Among ordinary Chinese, the descendants of the poor are called "貧二代"(pínèrdài, "貧", pin, is "poor". )

It is not the names that make people with different family backgrounds so different. In today's China, if you are born rich, you have more possibilities to be rich either by inheriting family assets or by earning assets with help from your family. If your parent is an official, especially a high-level official, it will be easier for you to gain the position of a public servant. Yes, you may argue that you were not aided by either your parents or their friends, but your family background will make you better-positioned than your peers. 

Accordingly, young people whose parents are farmers or migrant workers will have less access to good education and job opportunities, forcing them to remain at the bottom of society.

The phenomenon of the fates of young people being set by their families rather than personal competency is an indicator that today's China is doing something wrong. It hints towards a fixed society with little vibrancy. Though it can be explained via various reasons, the expanding income gap and the existence of overwhelming corruption are the most significant causes for the phenomenon.

China has just risen from its place as a poor and backward country; it should provide equal opportunities for its citizens to become rich and powerful, especially when they are born poor and weak.

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