Recently on Threads in Taiwan, I keep coming across an interesting new buzzword: "初級大人" (Beginner Adult). It made me wonder: Do adults have levels now? Is it just like learning English or another language, where we are categorized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced? And is this classification based on how many life skills you have mastered? As it turns out, it actually is!
The word "初級"(beginner) literally means just starting out and still learning the ropes. Therefore, a "初級大人" refers to someone who has reached the biological age of adulthood but is still fumbling through daily chores and navigating how society works. For example, it describes an adult who needs to take a deep breath and mentally prepare before calling a clinic to make an appointment, calls their parents to ask what to do when home repair issues arise, or feels anxious when seeing government documents, insurance policies, or complex contracts.
On the flip side, the antonym is, of course, the "高級大人" (Advanced Adult). Being an advanced adult means knowing how to do a whole lot of things! They can calmly handle unexpected emergencies, navigate complex interpersonal relationships with grace, and keep their bills, insurance, and household chores perfectly organized. Most importantly, they are the ones who make the final decisions and take responsibility for them.
This term seems to have originated from a post on Threads. The author wrote that after their family's Lunar New Year's Eve dinner, their niece came over and secretly asked, "Can I go downstairs and play now?" The original poster replied, "You should probably go ask the adults." Unexpectedly, the niece retorted, "But aren't you one?" The OP concluded the post by adding, "Sorry, I'm just a regular adult. The ones who can decide whether you can go downstairs to play are the other 'advanced adults' at the dinner table."
Actually, I feel that the use of this term isn't meant to call someone immature. Rather, it highlights the realization that even after you become an adult, you suddenly find yourself still a beginner in certain areas of life. You are still learning how to handle all those things your parents used to take care of for you.
After reading these definitions and this funny little story, which type of adult do you think you are? Are you a beginner adult still trying to level up, or a seasoned advanced adult? Feel free to leave a comment below and share your "大人"(adulting) level with me!
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