Young people seek partners, but not necessarily for romance(2)

Goals and interests

Early last month, a study of 1,335 respondents conducted by China Youth Daily's social survey center and online survey platform wenjuan.com found that 72.6 percent said they had one or more dazi. Nearly 69 percent of the young people surveyed believe that finding a dazi is a brave step in moving out of their comfort zone to seek a new form of social interaction.

More than half the respondents said they go for meals with a dazi, while over 30 percent seek dazi for sports, travel, learning and playing games. More than 20 percent of the respondents have dazi for shopping or walking their children.

Those seeking dazi usually consider factors such as hobbies, whether they are a good match for one another, personality, physical appearance, and if they can provide mutual help.

Young Chinese are increasingly seeking like-minded peers on social media, such as partners to study at a library until it closes, those to buy another cup of coffee for an extra 1 yuan (0.14 cents), travel partners to share a hotel room with, and those to help them bargain on the e-commerce platform Pinduoduo.

Sha said: "If you can imagine it, you can find it. All kinds of dazi can be matched as long as the same goals or interests are shared.

"Can you imagine that I once had a 'toilet dazi' on campus? We went to the toilet together," she added.

Sha also has an online games partner. Initially, she knew nothing about the partner's gender, age, or where he or she lived, but this did not prevent them making appointments to play games together.

"We later added each other on WeChat to collect and exchange cards for the games. It was then that I learned my partner was female and that she was studying at an elite school in the United States," Sha said. "I do not talk to her about studying or living abroad. All we discuss is the video game."

When Sha was preparing for her graduate exam, she found herself an all-nighter dazi — studying with the partner until the early hours of the morning.

"Sometimes, we studied until 4 am. We then met two dazi who studied early in the day. My partner and I failed the exam, while the other two passed. This proves that 'early to bed and early to rise' produces a higher success rate," Sha said.

Sha, who graduates next month, believes that after she starts work, she will quickly find a variety of partners to enjoy a relaxing time with.

She believes that socializing with a dazi is a more open way of having fun that will yield numerous fresh and unique experiences.

"If you happen to know a very compatible person, it is natural to develop an intimate relationship. But there is a tacit understanding between myself and the dazi. We are partners, our communication is casual, and to avoid pressure, we don't interfere in each other's lives apart from our interests," Sha said.

"It is easy to disconnect just as easily as it is to get connected."