[Grammar] Is YOUTH a noun like PEOPLE?

[jiaruchan]

My question is whether we treat YOUTH as plural.

The Chinese youth are (is) breaking up with traditions.

Which is correct? Thank you.

 

[Raymott]

My question is whether we treat YOUTH as plural.

The Chinese youth are (is) breaking up with traditions.

Which is correct? Thank you.

It can be singular or plural.
As a plural, you'd say "Chinese youth are breaking with tradition." or "The youth of today are breaking with tradition."

As singular, you could say, "A Chinese youth was arrested for smuggling. The youth will face trial next month."

 

[jiaruchan]

I see. The Chinese youth is referred to a particular young person.

Chinese youth means the whole group.

 

[Raymott]

I see. The Chinese youth is referred to a particular young person.

Chinese youth means the whole group.

Hmm, you might occasionally see "the Chinese youth" to mean the plural (as your original sentence intended).
Generally you'd know from the context. "The youth" occurs twice in my examples - one is plural and one singular.