Navigating 2023 through 12 neologisms

Dazi

The Chinese term dazi, translating to "activity partners", captured the essence of contemporary social dynamics in 2023.One can have a "meal dazi", "shopping dazi" or "working out dazi", among others.

While the strength of interpersonal relationships was traditionally measured by factors like endurance and emotional connections, dazi challenges these metrics, existing only for the immediate satisfaction of shared activities without heavy commitments.

"This signifies an increased emphasis on personal time and space," wrote an opinion piece in Guangming Daily. "People are intentionally filtering out less cost-effective and less efficient social interactions, along with the associated stress and anxiety. Instead, they are channeling their limited time and mental energy into constructing a life centered around a 'me-first approach'."

Dopamine dressing

Characterized by vibrant colors, bold patterns, and expressive designs, "dopamine dressing" goes beyond the aesthetic appeal of clothing, focusing on the idea that our outfit choices can influence the neurotransmitters in our brain, including dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward.

The concept suggests that by selecting and wearing clothes that make us feel good, it can positively impact our mental well-being in turn.

"Typically, we're dressing for external factors — the weather, other people, special events," said Dawnn Karen, a psychology professor at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology, in an interview with TODAY. "During the pandemic, there was a shift that occurred. Since no one was around to tell you what to wear, you gave yourself permission to find styles that make you happy."

AIGC

The application of artificial intelligence-generated content, or AIGC, has become increasingly popular globally in 2023.

According to the video platform Bilibili, as of October, video content related to AIGC has exceeded 9 billion views.

"If we can effectively utilize this technology, it can significantly improve the user experience, enhance the content creators' experience, and also boost the efficiency of business conversion," Chen Rui, chairman and CEO of Bilibili, said at a scientific event held by the platform in October.

Videos like Taylor Swift speaking Mandarin and Harry Potter series characters posing for the Balenciaga fashion show have gone viral globally.

However, as AIGC gains popularity and attention, it is also facing heated debates and rejection regarding copyright issues due to its strong text, audio, and image-generation capabilities.