中国式爱情与婚姻：中国在玩的相亲游戏

For a gathering of thousands of single men and women, it was surprising to note that there was very little flirting going on.
虽然这里聚集了成千上万的单身男女，你会惊讶地发现这几乎没有什么打情骂俏。

People wandered the corridors picking up brochures from match-making companies and stopped in to listen to self-help lectures from "life coaches," who were schooling women in how to "brand" themselves.
人们在走道上徘徊，收集相亲公司派发的小册子，也会停下来听听“人生导师”的自助演讲，教女性如何自我“推销”。

At times, the Love and Marriage Expo felt like a job fair. Online match-making entrepreneur Li said that was an accurate comparison. Finding a spouse is "almost like finding a job," he said.
有时候，这场婚恋博览感觉就像是一场招聘会。婚恋网站创办者李松说这个比喻很确切。找对象“就好像找工作，”他说。

"People tend to be very pragmatic," he explained. "[Being single] is a problem that you have an obligation to fix. And your parents feel that it is their obligation to see to it -- to get this problem fixed."
“人们越来越现实，”他解释说。“（单身）这个问题你有义务要去解决。而且你的父母会觉得他们有义务去留意、去解决这个问题。”

Another startling revelation was that there were nearly as many parents at the Love and Marriage Expo as there were single men and women.
另一点让人惊讶的是，出席这场婚恋博览会的父母几乎和在场的单身男女一样多。

Some parents stood at the bustling entrance to the convention holding up printed posters advertising the details of their single children. Others walked alongside their adult sons and daughters, inspecting the booths of different match-making agencies.
有的父母站在人来人往的活动入口，举着印有各种细节的招牌，为他们单身的孩子打广告。还有的和他们的成年孩子走在一起，打量着各家相亲机构的展台。

One match-maker told cnn she had to prohibit parents accompanying their children to the speed-dating tables.
一位相亲机构工作人员告诉cnn，她不得不阻止父母们在快速约会环节陪在孩子身边。

"I respect my parents' opinion," said May. "If my parents say this guy is no good, then I won't date [him]. But if my parents say this one is good, that they are happy with this boy, then I will try."
“我尊重我父母的想法，”May说。“如果我的父母说这个男孩不好，我就不会跟（他）约会。但是如果我的父母说这个人不错，他们对这个男孩很满意，那我就会试试。”

In some cases, mothers and fathers clearly played a role as social icebreakers for their children.
在某些情况下，父母很显然在为他们的孩子打开社交的局面。

At one point, while wandering the corridors of the convention, May got a phone call. It was her father who was also there. May found him standing next to another father he had just met.
在大会的走道里徘徊时，May接了一个电话。是她的父亲打来的，他也在现场。May看到她的父亲和另一名父亲站在一起，他们刚刚遇见。

The man happened to have a single son who worked in a bank and did not attend the convention. Fortunately he carried a photo -- and a passport -- of his son, which he showed to May. "His picture looks good. A little bit handsome," May responded.
那名父亲刚好有一个单身的儿子，在银行工作，今天没来出席博览会。幸运的是他带了他儿子的照片和护照，让May看了看。“他的照片看上去不错，有点帅，”May回应说。

Then she stood somewhat awkwardly as the man's father took a photo of her in the crowded corridor. May's father looked over his counterpart's shoulder, murmuring advice as the digital image was taken.
那位父亲在拥挤的走道里给May拍了照片，她站在那，多少有点不自在。May的父亲从他的肩上看过去，在他拍照时嘴里念叨着给出建议。

May seemed pleased and grateful to the two dads. "They are both trying to help their child find their Mr. Right and Miss Right."
面对这两位父亲，May看上去开心又感激。“他们都是想帮自己的孩子找到各自的真名天子和真名天女。”