Fudan University professor Liang Yongan argues one-third of youth are unsuited for marriage due to emotional maturity gaps. As 2026 marriage rates decline by 7.46% in China amid economic pressures and changing social norms, online debate surges over single life and relationship readiness.
Tags:A Chinese university professor has triggered a major online discussion after arguing that a significant proportion of people may simply not be suited to married life.
Liang Yongan, a 72-year-old professor of Chinese language and literature at Fudan University in Shanghai, suggested that at least one-third of people are not suitable for marriage because a successful marriage demands emotional maturity, responsibility, compromise and the willingness to care for another person.
The comments were not made recently. They came from an interview recorded around three years ago, but clips from the discussion have recently resurfaced on Chinese social media, bringing Liang's views back into the spotlight.
Liang has become a well-known commentator on relationships, young people and social change in China, attracting close to one million followers online.
Marriage Requires More Than Finding the Right Person
Liang's argument focuses less on whether people can find a romantic partner and more on whether they have the personality and emotional capacity required to maintain a long-term relationship.
In his view, marriage requires two people to accept responsibilities that go beyond their individual preferences.
Partners sometimes need to compromise, support one another during difficult periods and consider the needs of the family rather than always putting themselves first.
For that reason, Liang has encouraged young people to develop themselves before becoming deeply involved in romantic relationships.
His basic message is that people should first understand who they are, become emotionally independent and learn how to deal with other people before expecting marriage to provide them with happiness.
Is 40 a Better Age for Love?
One of Liang's more controversial ideas is that people may actually be better prepared for meaningful romantic relationships at around the age of 40.
His reasoning is that younger adults are often still discovering their personalities, careers, ambitions and values.
After gaining more life experience, he believes people may have a clearer understanding of what they want from life and what kind of partner would genuinely suit them.
That does not mean everyone should wait until 40 to date or marry. Rather, Liang's broader argument is that emotional maturity may be more important than reaching a traditional marriage age.
He has also described the current era as something of a "golden age" for single people, as modern lifestyles make it increasingly possible for adults to build independent and fulfilling lives without marriage.
Chinese Social Media Divided
The resurfaced comments quickly generated debate.
Some people strongly supported Liang's position, arguing that marriage should no longer be considered an obligation that every adult must eventually fulfil.
Supporters pointed out that people who are extremely self-centred, unwilling to compromise or unable to take responsibility for another person's wellbeing may create unhappy relationships if they marry simply because society expects them to.
Others were far less convinced.
Critics questioned how anyone could determine that one-third of the population is unsuitable for marriage and argued that relationships are too complicated to reduce to a simple percentage.
Others challenged the idea that marriage should primarily involve "sacrifice", saying modern relationships should instead be based on equality, cooperation and mutual benefit.
Another criticism is that Liang often discusses relationships through literature and cinema. Critics say romantic relationships portrayed in books and films can be idealised and may not adequately reflect the financial pressures, family obligations and gender expectations experienced by real couples.
Marriage Is Becoming Less Automatic for Young Chinese
The debate comes at a significant moment for China.
For previous generations, marriage was commonly viewed as a normal and almost unavoidable stage of adulthood.
For many younger Chinese, that assumption is weakening.
Living alone has become increasingly accepted, while businesses catering to single consumers have expanded. Solo restaurants, smaller apartments, pet-related services, personalised travel and other parts of the so-called single economy have developed alongside this social shift.
Meanwhile, China's official marriage statistics continue to attract attention.
In the first half of 2026, 3.275 million couples registered marriages in China, according to figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
That represented a decline of approximately 264,000 marriages, or 7.46%, compared with the same period a year earlier.
During the same period, approximately 1.383 million couples registered divorces, an increase of roughly 52,000, or 3.91%, from the previous year.
The statistics therefore show that fewer couples are entering marriage while registered divorces have increased compared with the same period in 2025.
Why Are Young People Delaying Marriage?
Changing attitudes are only one part of the story.
Economic and practical concerns also influence decisions about marriage.
Housing remains expensive in many major Chinese cities, while younger workers face uncertainty regarding employment and career development.
Marriage may also be connected with large expenses involving housing, weddings, raising children and education.
For some couples, the financial commitment associated with starting a family can therefore feel considerably greater than it did for previous generations.
Changes in gender expectations have also influenced the discussion.
More women now have their own careers, income and educational opportunities, reducing the economic necessity of marriage.
At the same time, both men and women increasingly expect relationships to provide emotional compatibility rather than simply economic stability or family approval.
As expectations rise, some people would rather remain single than enter a marriage they believe could make them unhappy.
China Is Trying to Encourage Marriage and Families
The decline in marriage has become an important demographic concern for Chinese policymakers because marriage and childbirth remain closely connected in China.
Authorities have introduced a variety of measures intended to make marriage and family formation easier.
Marriage registration procedures have been simplified, allowing couples greater flexibility to register outside their original household-registration area.
Some regions have experimented with financial incentives, extended marriage leave, health services and other benefits intended to encourage couples to marry and have children.
China has also introduced a nationwide childcare subsidy providing 3,600 yuan per year for eligible young children for up to three years, part of broader efforts to reduce the financial cost of raising families.
However, critics argue that incentives alone may have limited impact if larger issues remain unresolved.
Young adults frequently cite employment security, housing prices, childcare expenses, education costs and work-life balance when explaining why they delay marriage or children.
A Bigger Question About What Marriage Means
The controversy surrounding Liang's comments therefore goes far beyond whether his "one-third" estimate is correct.
It reflects a broader transformation in how younger Chinese think about adulthood.
Marriage is increasingly becoming something people believe should be entered voluntarily and under the right circumstances rather than simply because they have reached a certain age.
Liang's message is essentially that finding a partner should come after developing a stable sense of one's own identity.
His critics counter that personal maturity is only one part of the equation and that economic conditions, family expectations and gender roles can shape relationships just as strongly.
Whatever people think of his argument, the enormous reaction to an interview recorded several years ago demonstrates how sensitive the subject has become.
For China, the discussion is simultaneously personal and national.
For individuals, it concerns love, independence and what makes a successful relationship.
For policymakers, declining marriage and birth rates are connected with much larger questions involving population ageing, the future workforce and the country's demographic trajectory.
And for a growing number of younger Chinese, perhaps the most important change is simply this:
Marriage is no longer automatically considered the required next step in life.
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