《中英對照讀新聞》South Korean condom sales, motel bookings surge after North’s nuclear test 南韓保險套銷售與汽車旅館訂位在北韓核試後大增

◎羅彥傑

Condom sales and bookings at several of South Korea’s pay-by-the-hour "love motels" surged in the aftermath of North Korea’s nuclear test, according to statistics released.

保險套銷售與南韓數家計時收費的「戀愛汽車旅館」訂房在北韓核試後大增，根據發表的統計數字顯示。

South Koreans are used to living in the shadow of war, and life has continued as normal across the country in the wake of the Oct. 9 explosion. But statistics on the number of condoms sold in recent weeks suggest that despite their apparently blase reaction to the North’s nuclear bluster, many South Koreans may be seeking solace in sex.

南韓人習慣在戰火陰影下度日，而在10月9日核試爆炸後，全國一切如常。但最近數週的保險套銷售數量統計結果顯示，儘管他們對北韓核爆的反應明顯漠不關心，但許多南韓人可能設法尋求性愛慰藉。

A leading chain of convenience stores reported that their condom sales rose to an average of 1,930 a day in the week after Oct. 9, compared to 1,508 a day for the year to Sept. 30.

一家首屈一指的連鎖便利商店指出，它們的保險套銷售在10月9日後的這一週揚升，平均每天賣出1930個，相形之下，9月30日前的一年，每天賣出1508個。

"People tend to have urges to procreate in times of extreme situations," an expert said. "Stress is released through sex … it’s one of the top 10 reasons why sex is good for the body." A popular online reservation site for several business hotels and South Korea’s ubiquitous "love motels’’ also reported a rise in bookings in the two weeks after Oct. 9.

「人們傾向於在極端局勢時期有生殖衝動，」一名專家說。「透過性愛可以紓壓…這是為何性愛對人體有益的前十大理由之一。」專門預約數家商務旅館與南韓到處都有的「戀愛汽車旅館」的一個熱門網址，也宣稱在10月9日後的兩週出現訂房人數上升的情形。

《新聞辭典》

in the aftermath of：片語，在∼之後，與 in the wake of 同。例句：In the aftermath of the war against Lebanon, a political crisis is unfolding in Israel.（在黎巴嫩戰爭過後，以色列的政治危機才正要開始。）

blase：形容詞，因司空見慣而無動於衷、漠不關心的。例句：He remained totally blase about the alarming news.（他對這項令人驚恐的消息全然無動於衷。）

tend to：片語，傾向於。例句：His political opinions tend to the left.（他的政治言論左傾。）

ubiquitous：形容詞，無所不在的。例句：Christians and Muslims believe that "God" is ubiquitous.（基督徒與回教徒相信「神」是無所不在。）