From one perspective， Singapore is a singletons paradise. Young adults can often live rent-free， waited on by doting parents， in exchange for little more than an occasional hug.

從某種角度來(lái)看，新加坡是單身者的天堂。年輕人通常可以住在免租金的房子里，被寵愛(ài)他們的父母照顧著，而這些只需要用偶爾一個(gè)擁抱作為交換。

The secret of this cushy lifestyle is to live with ones parents， as many Singaporeans do well into their 30s. Almost 80% of Singaporeans live in subsidized public housing. They do not become eligible for a flat of their own until they marry or turn 35.

這種舒適的生活方式的秘訣就是和父母同住。許多 30多歲的新加坡人都是如此。幾乎 80%的新加坡人都住在有補(bǔ)貼的公共住房（組屋）里。他們只有結(jié)婚或者年滿35歲才有資格購(gòu)買(mǎi)屬于自己的組屋。

Yet a small but growing number of Singaporeans are defying the nanny state.

然而，一些新加坡人正在反抗這種保姆式政府，這樣的人數(shù)量雖然不多，但在持續(xù)增加。

For many people it was COVID-19 pandemic that pushed them out of the nest. Serene Chee， a 25-year-old lawyer， did not greatly mind living with her parents until travel restrictions and workfrom-home policies kept her stuck at home all the time. “Life just felt intensely stagnant，” she says.

對(duì)許多人來(lái)說(shuō)，是新冠疫情把他們推離了家庭。塞林·錢(qián)是一名25歲的律師，她以前并不是非常介意與父母一起生活，直到旅行限制和居家辦公的政策使她一直被困在家里。她說(shuō)：“生活簡(jiǎn)直感覺(jué)完全停滯了?！?/p>

Fending for yourself takes getting used to. First you must inform your parents. It took Lydia Yang， an illustrator who was then 28， three months to pluck up the courage. Then you must learn to pay bills and do basic chores. When Lenne Chai， a photographer， moved out seven years ago at the tender age of 23， she did not know how to cook.

自食其力是需要適應(yīng)的。首先你必須告知你的父母。插畫(huà)師莉迪亞·楊在28歲時(shí)，花了三個(gè)月才鼓起勇氣。然后你必須學(xué)會(huì)支付賬單和做基本的家務(wù)。攝影師萊恩·柴七年前從家里搬出來(lái)住，當(dāng)時(shí)年僅 23歲的她并不知道怎樣做飯。

Life on your own can be lonely. But living apart may improve relationships. Both Ms Yang and Ms Chai say that they got on better with their parents after moving out. When cooped up， they paid each other little attention. Now their weekly visits are “quality time”， says Ms Chai.

獨(dú)居生活可能會(huì)很孤獨(dú)。但是分開(kāi)居住可能會(huì)改善關(guān)系。楊女士和柴女士都表示，搬出去后她們和父母的關(guān)系更好了。被困在家里時(shí)，家人之間很少關(guān)注彼此?，F(xiàn)在他們每周的串門(mén)都是“寶貴的時(shí)光”，柴女士說(shuō)。

Word Study

perspective /p?'spekt?v/ n.觀點(diǎn);態(tài)度;客觀判斷力

doting /'d??t??/ adj.溺愛(ài)的;寵愛(ài)的

eligible /'el?d??bl/ adj.有資格的;合格的;具備條件的

Only those over 70 are eligible for the special payment.

defy /d?'fa?/ v.違抗;反抗;經(jīng)受住;抗住

I wouldnt have dared to defy my teachers.

stagnant /'st?ɡn?nt/ adj.停滯的;不發(fā)展的;無(wú)變化的