中国光棍节成为全球最大的网上购物狂欢节
时间：2019-01-12 作者：英语课 分类：2015年VOA慢速英语(十一)月
AS IT IS 2015-11-11 Chinese Singles Drive the World's Biggest Shopping Day Online 中国光棍节成为全球最大的网上购物狂欢节
What’s the biggest online shopping day in the world?
Not Valentine’s Day.
Not Cyber Monday or Black Friday. They are the days that follow Thanksgiving in the U.S. and usher 1 in the start of the holiday shopping season.
The winner is China’s Singles’ Day, celebrated 2 November 11, or 11.11.
Singles’ Day began as a day for unmarried or uncoupled people to celebrate their lives. Single students, looking for an excuse to buy themselves presents, started it on November 11, 1993, reported The Guardian 3.
It is symbolized 4 by the four number ones in the date of November 11 – 11.11— and is also called Double Eleven, in reference to the day it was started, said the BBC.
It became a major shopping day in 2009. The CEO of an online shopping site -- Alibaba -- sought to increase sales at the e-commerce company. The CEO, Daniel Zhang, launched an annual online sale that day, said Fortune.
When it first began, “Singles’ Day was very much an offline solace 5 for actual single people,” noted 6 the website Atlas 7 Obscura. “A small group of students at Nanjing University are said to have chosen 11.11 as a day that singles could do activities like karaoke together.”
It quickly became a cultural phenomenon.
Last year, Alibaba sold more than $1 billion worth of products in the first three minutes of the sales, reported Bloomberg. Total sales on Singles’ Day soared to $9 billion within 24 hours.
That’s four times bigger than Cyber Monday in the U.S., which is the Monday after Thanksgiving and traditionally a big shopping day.
By comparison, online sales in the U.S. last year on Black Friday were just $1.5 billion, reported TechCrunch.
Today, Singles’ Day is a retail 8 blockbuster. Analysts 9 predict that this year, sales on China Singles’ Day will soar to a new high.
In the U.S., Dealmoon is a shopping site targeting Chinese-Americans. Jennifer Wang is co-founder of the company:
“We expect to have 3 million people coming to our site for the Singles’ Day launch.”
Some observers think Singles’ Day could catch on globally.
In West Hollywood, California, a group launched an American version of the event on January 11, 2014, reported Atlas Obscura. They want to make 1.11 an official American holiday, “a day of recognition for those who find themselves on the other side of the couple’s fence,” according to the website.
Words in This Story
online – n. done over the Internet
shopping – n. the activity of visiting places where goods are sold in order to look at and buy things (such as food, clothing, etc.)
Valentine’s Day – noun phrase February 14 observed as a time for sending valentines
usher in – phrasal verb to happen at the beginning of (something, such as a period of activity) and usually to help cause it
reference - n. the act of mentioning something in speech or in writing : the act of referring to something or someone
offline – adj. not connected to a computer, a computer network, or the Internet
solace – n. someone or something that gives a feeling of comfort to a person who is sad, depressed 10, etc. : a source of comfort
phenomenon – n. someone or something that is very impressive or popular especially because of an unusual ability or quality
blockbuster – n. something that is very large, expensive, or successful
soar – v. to increase very quickly in amount or price
- The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
- They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。
- He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
- The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。
- The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
- The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
- For Tigress, Joy symbolized the best a woman could expect from life. 在她看，小福子就足代表女人所应有的享受。 来自汉英文学 - 骆驼祥子
- A car symbolized distinction and achievement, and he was proud. 汽车象征着荣誉和成功，所以他很自豪。 来自辞典例句
- They sought solace in religion from the harshness of their everyday lives.他们日常生活很艰难，就在宗教中寻求安慰。
- His acting career took a nosedive and he turned to drink for solace.演艺事业突然一落千丈，他便借酒浇愁。
- The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
- Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。
- He reached down the atlas from the top shelf.他从书架顶层取下地图集。
- The atlas contains forty maps,including three of Great Britain.这本地图集有40幅地图，其中包括3幅英国地图。
- In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
- These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
- City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
- I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。