泡良族：pick-up artists

It’s said that the movie “The Bridges of Madison County” presents a richly-textured emotional tapestry. However, in some sense, the male protagonist – the National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid who has won the lonely heart of a married country housewife, is not so much a charming prince as a pick-up artist.

据说电影《廊桥遗梦》向观众展示了一份精心编织的情感世界。然而，在某种意义上，与其说男主人公——《国家地理》杂志摄影师罗伯特•金凯是拯救已婚寂寞农妇的白马王子，不如说他是名副其实的泡良族。

“Pao liang zu”（泡良族）is an online buzzword, referring to a lowlife sleaze who is skilled at seducing married women. In English, such people are called pick-up artists. Pick-up artists chase after young married women and as soon as they succeed they evaporate like water. The romantic and sentimental pick-up artist usually talks to a lady in a friendly way, with the hope of developing a casual sexual relationship with her. As for most pick-up artists, paid companionship is not their target.

“泡良族”这个网络流行词指擅长勾引良家妇女的骗子。英语中把他们成为“pick-up artists”。泡良族将良家妇女作为猎艳对象。一旦得手，便立刻转身走人，像真气一样消失在空气中。泡良族以浪漫多情做幌子，却行着猎艳之实。大多数泡良族对接头女郎并无兴趣。

What’s more, a car is a must in such scams. If they haven’t got one, they will try their best to borrow one. Pick-up artists may say “I love you” more than a thousand times a day to their prey, but never once mention marriage. The more reserved a woman is, the more of an interest she becomes, because such women are perceived as chaste. Pick-artists seldom like to spend money lavishly to attract a woman. Beware of such pick-up artists!

此外，车是他们必须的道具。即使自己没有车，也会千方百计去租借一辆。泡良族每天都会对自己心仪的女性说一千遍“我爱你”，却绝口不提结婚一事。越矜持的女性对他们越有吸引力，因为他们觉得这样的女人不随便。当然，泡良族绝少用出售阔绰来吸引女性。总之，遇到这样的泡良族一定要小心！

（中国日报网英语点津 Bernard）