断舍离

Borrowed from Japanese decluttering philosophy (danshari), 断舍离 went viral in China as a lifestyle mantra meaning: stop acquiring things you don't need, throw out the junk you already have, and free yourself from attachment to stuff. By 2019 it had expanded way beyond tidying — Chinese netizens started applying it to toxic friendships, soul-crushing jobs, bad relationships, and social obligations. Think Marie Kondo, but with a side of existential unburdening.

As China's consumer economy boomed, young urbanites found themselves drowning in possessions, obligations, and social pressure. The concept resonated amid growing anxiety about overwork (996 culture) and consumerism. 断舍离 became a rallying cry for a generation wanting to simplify, set boundaries, and reclaim mental space — a quiet rebellion against the pressure to accumulate more of everything.

源自日本整理理念，指断绝不需要的东西、舍弃多余的废物、脱离对物品的执念，引申为对一切负担的主动放手。