富二代 (fu'er dai): Rich Second Generation

Rich Second Generation 富二代 (fu'er dai)

Fu'er dai literally means the rich second generation, a colloquial term used to describe the children of wealthy families in China. The group comprises those born after the 1980s.

The "rich second generation" has become synonymous with rich young brats showing off their sports cars, or flaunting their designer bags and other luxury possessions. These youths are known for their extravagant lifestyle and even have a fancy relationship with social media. For example, the participation of some rich youths in an online competition to show off their wealth became a hot topic this week.

The public, in general, views such youths with suspicion, especially because of their abrasive behavior and lack of accountability. Through its actions and attitude, the Fu'er dai, however, has highlighted the inequality in education, the gap in income distribution and the changing values of a money-oriented society.

Some rich families' children are different, no doubt (some can even be cited as role models for today's youths), but in general Fu'er dai represents a special class, reminding us how important it is to reform the education system and the income distribution pattern.

(China Daily 04/12/2013 page9)