【精英翻譯】的部落格

Japan：More than four million middle-aged ’parasite singles’ still live with their elderly parents 日本逾400萬中年「單身寄生族」仍與年長父母同住

精英翻譯社轉自http://iservice.ltn.com.tw/Service/english/english.php?engno=1114607&day=2017-06-29

◎孫宇青

Japan had an estimated 4.5 million unemployed － or under-employed － and unmarried 35- to 54-year-olds who still lived at home in 2016. They have been dubbed "parasite singles" by researchers.

日本2016年計有450萬名無業或非全日性雇用者，及35至54歲未婚者仍住家裡。他們被研究人員稱為「單身寄生族」。

Japan’s population is set to plummet from 127 million to 88 million by 2065 - and is projected to drop even further to just 51 million by 2115 if current trends continue.

日本的人口在2065年將從1億2700萬減至8800萬；若這股趨勢持續，2115年將降至5100萬人。

By then nearly 40 percent of the country will be senior citizens. There will be 1.3 workers for every person over the age of 65. Economists have described the situation as a “demographic time bomb”.

屆時，國家有近4成人口都是年長者。每1.3名勞工就要負責扶養一名65歲以上老人。這種情況被經濟學家形容為「人口定時炸彈」。

About 20 percent of “parasite singles” rely solely on parents for financial support. When their parents pass away, they could become a burden on the state. “Once they use up inherited assets and savings, when nothing is left, they will go on the dole”.

約20％的「單身寄生族」完全仰賴父母的金錢支援。當父母過世後，他們可能成為國家的負擔。「一旦花完繼承的資產和存款，變得一無所有後，他們就得靠救濟金過活」。

But many “parasite singles” argue that they did not choose their lifestyle, but were handed it by the economy.

不過，許多「單身寄生族」主張，並非他們選擇這種生活方式，而是國家經濟一手造成。