Recently, a new type of socializing has swept the internet and gradually become a trend among young people—“buddy socializing”.
The earliest “dazi” likely originated from Shanghainese. In the 2007 Shanghai Dialect Dictionary, “dazi” is defined as: “someone you play cards with, extended to mean a partner.”
Nowadays, “dazi” appears in various forms and frequently trends. Dazi-style socializing has become prevalent and a common way of relating to others.
In young people’s eyes, “dazi” means anything can be “paired”—
It could be a meal buddy based on similar tastes, a travel buddy based on a similar curiosity about the world, a reading buddy based on the same reading interests... In this small world, in ordinary daily life, finding a partner with matching interests and goals forms a new kind of relationship.
Among the posts seeking various kinds of dazi, international students are no exception and have joined this trend. Although the new semester started a while ago, interactive posts looking for ‘study abroad buddies’ online are still hotly active.
What Do “Study Abroad Buddies” Do Together?
One can go fast, but a group can go further.
Study abroad buddies have become an indispensable part of international student life, helping you better adapt and integrate into a foreign culture. They can assist you in learning a new language, finding suitable housing, and even sharing life’s trivial matters and joyful moments.
The essence of a dazi lies in “just the right amount of companionship”.
Study Buddy
“Attend class together, encourage each other after class!”
When studying alone, it’s always hard to resist playing on your phone. Scroll through Xiaohongshu, then Weibo, then Douyin—any app seems more interesting than the books on your desk. In short, when it’s time to study, everything else is fascinating!
But with a study “dazi,” this situation is largely curbed. You can meet your dazi friend at the study room, exchange ideas, and encourage each other. Don’t worry about lacking a study atmosphere; looking up and seeing your study buddy buried in writing, you won’t have the urge to play on your phone.
Fitness Buddy
Training alone is dull and lacks motivation; why not find a fitness “dazi”!
Sometimes when you train alone at the gym, it’s easy to be influenced by mood, condition, and other factors. The repetitive movements can feel tedious, and willpower alone isn’t always reliable.
At this moment, if your fitness “dazi” gives you a push, things will be very different. When you feel lazy, they’ll motivate and supervise you, likely helping you overcome inertia and get moving.
Gaming Buddy
Playing competitive games and being let down by others, playing otome games with no one to vent to!
A gaming “dazi” comes in handy at such times, offering a better gaming experience! With similar gaming hobbies, a shared language environment, and familiarity with game details, a gaming dazi lets you share and grumble together.
You can communicate directly in gaming lingo without worrying about being misunderstood.
Travel Buddy
It’s not easy to invite friends to travel together...
But traveling with a travel dazi who matches your pace is indeed cost-effective and efficient!
Sharing the same spending philosophy, similar preferences for destinations, and of course, comparable physical stamina. On one hand, it saves travel costs, and on the other, you can “quickly form a group”...
Be Alert to Scams When Looking for a Dazi!
Although a good study abroad dazi is a cure for loneliness, as the trend of “finding a dazi” heats up, dazi scams are emerging one after another.
A netizen posted on a travel app looking for a travel buddy to go on a road trip to Europe. Soon after, many people sent private messages.
Initially, chat within the travel app back-end, generally asking about the travel content you posted, then adding each other on WeChat. Then they naturally shift from travel topics to life... They might even start asking your views on current socio-economic issues or financial planning (to gauge your attitude towards wealth management), and then ask you to download an app.
Such incidents happen frequently. In short, when looking for a study abroad dazi, you must stay vigilant to avoid becoming a victim of scams. Everyone must keep the following points in mind:
Be Cautious with Personal Information
Before fully confirming the other’s authenticity, do not disclose too much personal privacy, such as passport number, ID number, bank account details, and family information. Also, always choose to meet in public places with many people, and try to avoid monetary transactions.
Beware of the Ghostwriter Dazi Deception
Ghostwriters are everywhere. Many international students, after finding a study dazi from the same school, discover it’s actually a ghostwriter in disguise. Such incidents are common. These people share a common trait: they pretend to share your interests, making you feel a perfect match.
But if we ask some specific questions, like: major, class, area of residence, hobbies... the other party probably won’t be able to answer.
Reject Negative and Undisciplined People
If your dazi does something that makes you uncomfortable or unbearable, be sure to take timely self-protective measures. Don’t force yourself to accept unreasonable behavior just to fit into the study abroad community.
While social relationships are very important in international student life, don’t forget that academics are always the top priority. If your dazi constantly spreads negative energy and can’t progress with you, then ending the partnership may be the best choice.
Finally, what I want to tell everyone is that although “dazi culture” is prevalent, not everyone is lucky enough to find a soulmate dazi. In fact, the chances are very slim...
Studying abroad is not easy. I hope everyone can be wary of “dazi scams” and have a happy and joyful study abroad life.
