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Let’s iPartment 寂屋出租：爱情公寓

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In today’s Internet age, more and more people are turning to dating websites for a helping hand with their love lives. ___1___

当今的网络时代，有越来越多人求助于交友网站寻觅可能的交往对象。现在，台湾有一个突发奇想的网站也顺势加入这股在线交友的潮流，希望能抢占这块蒸蒸日上的市场。

Launched in 2003, iPartment takes the basic level of personalization offered by traditional dating websites to a whole other level. Users don’t just make a simple profile. ___2___ By “visiting” each other’s apartments, users can get to know potential partners in a non-threatening and cute online environment. Budding lovebirds can then take the next step and “move in together.” ___3___

爱情公寓成立于2003年，将一般传统交友网站提供的基本个人化功能提升到全新的层次。使用者不再只是建立简单的个人档案而已，反之，他们能设计自己的网络替身，并且亲手布置一整幢虚拟公寓让网络替身住在里头！使用者还可互相「拜访」对方的公寓，藉此机会在不具威胁又可爱的虚拟环境里认识未来可能的交往对象。坠入情网的小两口如要更进一步，就能一起「网络同居」。这项服务甚至也吸引了谈远距离恋爱的情侣，以及在现实生活中不能住在一起的小两口！

Perhaps understandably, iPartment scope for creativity and its emphasis on cuteness have attracted a majority of women to the site. Given this, it might come as a surprise to learn that iPartment was actually the brainchild of four 20-something men. ___4___ This brainwave set their venture apart from the mostly male-oriented websites already on the market. To understand what women wanted in a dating website, they asked female friends and even conducted street surveys.

不难理解，爱情公寓的创意理念以及主打的可爱路线已受到多数女性网友的青睐。出乎意料的是，一手策划出这个深受女性欢迎的爱情公寓竟是四位20来岁的大男生。由于一场模拟创业大赛，使他们灵机一动，决定要设立一个以女性为主的交友网站。这起灵感让他们的网络事业从市场上大多数以男性为主的交友网站中脱颖而出。为了了解女性对交友网站的需求，他们向身边的女性朋友请教，甚至还到街上做问卷调查。

By standing out from the crowd, iPartment has carved out a significant niche in the Taiwanese social website market. Currently, it boasts nearly 2 million users. ___5___ iPartment now has its sights set on the Japanese market. With the Internet becoming an ever-increasing presence in our lives, iPartment’s cyber success seems sure to grow to new levels.

由于网站与众不同，爱情公寓已经成功在台湾的社群网站市场打下了一片天。目前台湾会员人数已逼近200万人。2005年进军中国后，爱情公寓后来成了中国第二大交友网站。爱情公寓目前锁定的是日本市场。随着网络在我们生活的比重与日俱增，爱情公寓在网上的成功势必还会持续成长，更上一层楼。

−by James Laughton-Smith

(A)   Inspired by an entrepreneurial workshop, they decided to set up a dating website aimed at women.

(B)   Instead, they create an avatar and decorate an entire virtual apartment for it to live in!

(C)   In 2005, iPartment expanded into China, eventually becoming the country’s second biggest online dating service.

(D)  Now, a Taiwanese website with a creative twist has jumped into the online dating fray, hoping to make a chunk out of this booming market.

(E)   This last option has even attracted long-distance lovers and couples who can’t live together in the real world!

(F)    The hustle and bustle of modern life cuts down on social life and stops a number of people from looking for their spouses.

Vocabulary

单词发音

turn to 向...寻求帮助(或指教等)

launch [lɔntʃ] v. 开办；发起；使开始从事

potential [pəˋtɛnʃəl] adj. 潜在的，可能的

budding [ˋbʌdɪŋ] adj. 开始发展的; 成长中的

scope [skop] v. 审视，仔细研究[（+for）][+to-v] to examine or investigate, especially visually

creativity [͵krieˋtɪvətɪ] n. 创造力

emphasis [ˋɛmfəsɪs] n. 强调，重视，重点

a majority of 大部分, 大多数

venture [ˋvɛntʃɚ] n. 冒险事业; 企业

stand out 突出, 显著 to be conspicuous, distinctive, or prominent

boast [bost] v. 自吹；夸耀

inspire [ɪnˋspaɪr] v. 赋予……灵感，给……以启示

virtual [ˋvɝtʃʊəl] adj.【计算机】虚拟的

expand [ɪkˋspænd] v. 扩张；发展

More Information

单词发音

personalization ['pɜsənələzeʃən] n. 个人化

to a whole other level 全新的境界; 另一个层次

profile [ˋprofaɪl] n. 人物简介；概况

threatening [ˋθrɛtnɪŋ] adj. 威胁（性）的

given [ˋgɪvən] prep. 假如；考虑到 granted as a supposition; acknowledged or assumed

brainchild [ˋbren͵tʃaɪld] n.（某人的）创作，独创的观念

brainwave [ˋbrenwev] n. 灵感；灵机

set ... apart from 使某人/某事物与众不同或优于其他的

carve out 开创出...事业/谋得合适的职位/赢得名声 to achieve or gain

niche [nɪtʃ] n. 利基

cyber [ˋsaɪbɚ] n. 电脑的；网络的; 与计算机有关的﹐与互联网上的信息传递有关的

entrepreneurial [͵ɑntrəprəˋnɝrɪəl] adj. 企业家的；创业者的

workshop [ˋwɝk͵ʃɑp] n. 专题讨论会，研讨会

avatar [ˋævə͵tɑr] n.【计算机】（术语）指在虚拟现实中互动地呈现一个人

twist [twɪst] n. 窍门，花样

fray [fre] n.【文】吵架；打架; 争斗 a noisy quarrel

chunk [tʃʌŋk] n. 相当大的部分（或数量）

booming [ˋbumɪŋ] adj. 景气好的；大受欢迎的

hustle and bustle 忙忙碌碌,  熙来攘往  busy and noisy activity

Answer