leftover people
[LEFT-oh-ver PEE-pul]
noun phrasepl: leftover people (invariable)
pessoas descartadas; pessoas sobrantes; pessoas deixadas para trás
1. Individuals who are marginalized, abandoned, or left behind by society; people considered disposable or unwanted
The leftover people from rural areas struggled to find opportunities in the city.
As pessoas sobrantes das áreas rurais lutavam para encontrar oportunidades na cidade.
2. In Chinese sociology, refers to unmarried individuals (particularly women) considered past the culturally acceptable age for marriage
The documentary explored the lives of leftover people in contemporary China.
O documentário explorou as vidas das pessoas sobrantes na China contemporânea.
3. People excluded from economic growth or social advancement; the disposable workforce
Globalization created leftover people who could no longer compete in the job market.
A globalização criou pessoas descartadas que não conseguiam mais competir no mercado de trabalho.
This term emerged prominently in Chinese sociology (剩女/shèngnǚ) in the 2000s as a sociological phenomenon, though it has broader applications to describe marginalized populations globally. It reflects concerns about social inequality, economic displacement, and changing demographic patterns. In Western contexts, it's used critically to describe people excluded from economic opportunity or social advancement due to systemic factors. The term carries sociological weight and is often used in academic discussions about inequality and social welfare.
NYC Slang
the forgotten; the disposables; the left-behinds
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