21世纪第一个十年对于年轻一代是“杯具”还是“洗具”

21 世纪第一个十年对于年轻一代是“杯具”还是 “洗具” What are Chinas most popular online slang terms as we approach the end of the decade? One popular choice could be “Life is a cup, its up to you to decide whether its a drinking cup or a toothbrush cup.“ 在即将挥别过去十年之际，试问中国最流行的网络语录是哪一句？相信很多人 都会提到“人生就是一个杯子，而它是杯具还是洗具 ，全由你自己选择。” Drinking cup (beiju) is a homophone for “tragedy“ in Chinese, while toothbrush cup (xiju) is homophone for “comedy“. Theres a whole range of beiju vs xiju debates running across the post-80s and post-90s online talk. In the background, however, lurks something thats far less funny. “杯具”是中文中 “悲剧”一词的谐音，而与 “喜剧”相对应的则是“ 洗具”。80 后及 90 后的聊天记录中也出现了各式各样的关于“杯具，洗具”的讨论。但在走红背后， 却蕴含着严肃的思考。 While the remarkable development in China over the past 10 years has brought a range of opportunities, young people are struggling with pressures that came with them. 过去十年期间，中国发展显著，也衍生出众多的机遇。但随之而来，年轻人们 却要顶着压力，苦苦奋斗。 Some of their first observations on life are influenced by changes in education. 当他们第一次审视人生时，想必多数人会觉察到教育变革所带来的影响。 Compared with the beginning of the decade, getting into a university now is much easier. The number of college students went from about 5 million in 2000 to over 27 million in 2009. 与十年之初相比，现在上大学要容易得多。截止 2009 年，各大专院校在校学 生人数由 2000 年的约 500 万人增长到 2700 多万人。 What they do after graduating is another story. The employment rate of college grads has fallen from 80 percent in 2002 to 74 percent in 2009 (Ministry of Education stats) in the same period. The increased enrolment policy that took effect in 1999 opened the path of dreams for many, but the bridge to employment led to a narrower path for more. 但他们在毕业后的遭遇则是另一番景象。教育部统计数据显示，同期内各高校 毕业生就业率由 2002 年的 80%跌至 2009 年的 74%。虽然 1999 实施的高校 扩招政策为许多人铺设了通向理想的坦途，但就业之路却成了千军万马要过的 独木桥。 Individual incomes are growing-thats the xiju; but our houses are getting smaller-thats the beiju. 个人收入增加了这是“洗具”；但我们的房子却变小了这是“杯具”。 At the beginning of the decade, we told our parents, “Dont worry about my scores, Ill be good and make a fortune and buy you a big villa!“. Now, at the end, its, “Sorry, Mom and Dad, I cant even get a bathroom without some help.“ 21 世纪初，我们告诉父母， “不要操心我的学习，我会取得好成绩，努力赚大 钱，以后给你们买大大别墅！” 现在，我们即将挥别十年，我们对父母说的话 也变成了，“对不起，爸妈，如果没人帮忙，我甚至连一个卫生间都买不起。” The average monthly income of Beijing college grads in 2008, according to MyCOS, has 2,700 yuan, or about double what it was 10 years ago. A square meter of Beijing housing now costs 13,100 yuan on average, or about triple the cost a decade ago. Its like trying to ride a motorbike to catch a Ferrari. 根据 MyCOS 的调查显示，2008 北京高校毕业生的平均月收入达到 2700 元， 差不多是 10 年前的两倍。同时，北京住房每平米均价达到 13100 元，差不多 是 10 年的三倍。这就好比你骑着一辆自行车去追赶一辆法拉利。 To get a break from the overcrowded job market and the shoe-box housing, we look to the Internet and the much bigger virtual world. That means a world of movies and games just lying there, out in front of us. So, a beiju becomes a xiju. 为了避开人山人海的就业市场以及小得可怜的居住环境，我们将目光投向了网 络一个更广阔的虚幻世界。那也就意味着一个充满电影与游戏的世界就在 那，在我们面前。所以，“杯具”又变成了“洗具” 。 The economic and social development have given people greater variety in education, work, travel, entertainment and information, but the more opportunities people have access to, the fiercer the competition. When some young people look at that, they also see it as catalyst for social improvement. 在教育、工作、旅行，娱乐以及信息方面，经济与社会的发展使它们变得更加 多元化，但同时人们得到的机会越多，竞争也就变得越激烈。当一些年轻人目 睹这一现状时，他们也理所当然地将其视为社会改良的催化剂。 For example, Xu Yue, 20, is majoring in Cambodian at Beijing Foreign Studies University. Shes also studying English as a second major and taking Japanese courses in her spare time. 比如 20 岁的徐乐，正就读于北京外国语大学柬埔寨语专业。同时，她还辅修 二外英语并利用业余时间学习日语课程。 Ten years ago, she notes, people might have felt relieved to get admitted to college, and they went on to settle down with a job in their hometown. Now, however, were pressed to learn more. 她提笔写道：10 年前，人们也许会轻而易举地考入大学，接下来他们将会接受 分配，在自己的家乡工作。但现在，迫于压力，我们必须要学习更多的知识。 “Without the competition, maybe wed be satisfied with the status quo, and willing to be ordinary,“ says Xu. “没有竞争，或许我们更愿意安于现状，心甘情愿地做一个普通人，”徐乐说。 So, is life a beiju or xiju? In some cases, it appears to be a matter of choice in how you view it and how you deal with the pressure. 所以，人生究竟是“杯具”还是“洗具”？有时，这似乎要取决于你怎样看待它以 及如何处理压力。 In any case, theres more progress in store for the next decade. Do we just sit there, sighing and complaining a