Sí-sí

[fglorca]

I’m looking for an accurate translation of ‘sí-sí’ below:
• Con la recuperación de la economía ha llegado la hora de los sí‐sí. Son jóvenes que sí estudian y que sí trabajan. Se pasan el verano ganándose dinero extra.

Would the second sentence translate as:
• They are young people who ‘do’ work and who ‘do’ study, where ‘do’ in this context acts as an auxiliary, and not as a main verb.

Many thanks in advance.

[Rusty]

I see that this is being translated literally. A 'yes-yes' person would be someone who makes the most of their time, by working and studying throughout the summer vacation. You could say they're taking a no-nonsense approach to life, or just taking care of business. They aren't wasting any time away.

The use of sí before a verb emphasizes the action, so it can be translated as you stated (using the auxiliary 'do'). We can also just give emphasis to the verb while speaking and not use the auxiliary.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty.
Also, I this is said in opposition to the people called "ni-ni" (ni estudia, ni trabaja).
These are mostly young people who dropped school and don't work (in English they're called NEET-- No Education, Employment, or Training). They've been stigmatized as lazy young people, but this is a complex economic and social problem, as many of them have been forced out of school and can't find a job, due to social, cultural and economic conditions they can't always control.

[poli]

I never heard of the term NEET . Ninny is an older term coincidentially related NEET. I think ninny comes from nincompoot ( una persona incapaz) .

[fglorca]

Many thanks!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Poli: I didn't know that. I just found the term through a quick Google search. ;(

[poli]

Angelica, I just realized that my answer had a typographical error. In case you didn't catch my error, the correct word is nincompoop.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Thank you, Poli, I didn't realize it.