Are you still single? You’re not the only one. In China more and more people are choosing to remain “单身 (dānshēn) single.” In fact, the number of single people in China has reached 200 million. So what’s the reason? There are a few, actually:

1. 性别失衡 (Xìngbié shīhéng) Gender Imbalance.

Do you know about China’s one-child policy? It limited the number of girls that were allowed to be born in China. This law stems from the traditional Chinese culture perspective that boys are considered to be more valuable to the family and to the society, whereas girls are shunned.

2. 钱 (Qián) Money.

When men and women in China are dating, money is definitely an issue. For men in particular it is important for them to take their own income into consideration before choosing a spouse. For women, they are in search of men who are financially stable. When it comes to most families in China, if a man doesn’t have a car, a house, and a stable job, he would not be eligible, or “单身 (dānshēn) single” women would not be encouraged to marry this man. But this economic expectation stands in stark contrast to the fact that it is difficult for young people in China to buy these things. Often they rely on their parents to support them.

3. 受高等教育的女性增加 (Shòu gāoděng jiàoyù de nǚxìng zēngjiā) An Increasing Highly-Educated Female Population...