Sang (Chinese sub-culture) explained

Sang is a term used to describe a Chinese youth sub-culture in which some young Chinese are seen to possess feelings of loss or even defeatism. Memes representing this view are widely shared reflecting feelings of disenchantment with the official discourse in post-reform China. It is in a sense an opposite of the more official zheng nengliang or positive energy.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Notes and References

1. Tan, K. C., & Cheng, S. (2020). Sang subculture in post-reform China. Global Media and China, 5(1), 86-99. https://doi.org/10.1177/2059436420904459
2. Song, Yehui, Junkai Xue, Yali Ma, and Junhua Mo. "Linguistic expressions of despondency: an investigation of Sang ness-related Chinese catchwords." Language and Semiotic Studies 9, no. 3 (2023): 359-380.
3. Hizi, G. (2021). Zheng nengliang and pedagogies of affect in contemporary China. Social Analysis, 65(1), 23-43.