Pointed questions may disrupt holiday joy

Some young people dread the inevitable personal inquiries from relatives during the celebrations. Yang Zekun reports.

Spring Festival is a joyous time for almost all Chinese, but like many members of the younger generation who work in big cities and are single, Zhang Ziyu has mixed feelings about the forthcoming celebrations.

In recent weeks, the 27-year-old has thought a lot about how to answer the inevitable questions from parents and relatives, such as when he will find a girlfriend and get married, but he still scratches his head when discussing the topic.

"I am still not well-prepared for the upcoming 'killer serial inquiries' from my relatives," he said. At last year's Spring Festival, he promised his parents he would find a girlfriend, but has yet to do so.

Being asked endless questions by relatives is a common experience for young Chinese. Students are quizzed about marks in their exams, while those who work away from home are questioned about such things as relationships, jobs, income, promotion prospects, car and home ownership.

Therefore, every year, Spring Festival is a battle of wits and courage between young people and their relatives.