大学生谈恋爱应该AA制吗

 　　After a seemingly endless 12-year journey, students finally reach their cherished destination and settle down as freshmen¹. After the struggles of middle and high school, college is a haven² for freshers: A warm bed, new friends and, most important of all, freedom. Only one thing is missing: A romantic partner who can bring vitality³ and flavor to the college experience.

　　12年的求学之途看似漫漫无期，但学生们最终到达了一直期盼的目的地，迈入了大学校门。相对于初中和高中的艰苦奋斗，大学就是避风港：温暖的床铺，新的朋友，最重要的，就是自由。而对大学生来说，唯独缺少的一样东西，就是一位能够为大学生活增添活力与回味的情感伴侣。

　　But this flavor can often be soured by that well-worn poisoner of relationships everywhere: Money.

　　不过，在一个东西面前，这种味道就变质了，虽然这个东西平凡得不能再平凡，却是所有感情的毒药，那就是：钱。

　　And money issues can damage such a fragile butterfly as campus love.

　　钱能破坏如蝴蝶般脆弱的校园爱情。

　　Male students, as a result of both societal conditioning and a sense of chivalry⁴, often take it for granted that paying the bill is symbolic⁵ of both their value in a relationship and the embodiment of politeness.

　　出于社会习惯以及绅士风度的考虑，男孩往往认为付账是天经地义的，因为这既是他们价值的象征，又是礼貌的体现。

　　“I never let a girl pay the bill, or I feel embarrassed,” said Wei Xu, an 18-year-old freshman⁶ at Sichuan Agricultural University.”

　　“我从来不让女孩买单，这会使我感到尴尬。”18岁的四川农业大学大一新生魏叙（音译）是这样认为的。

　　According to an online survey on Sohu.com that quizzed 6,000 students, 8.8 percent of them (mostly male) get an extra “relationship budget” from parents.

　　搜狐网针对6000名学生做了一项网上调查，其中有8.8%的人（大部分是男生）从父母那里获得了额外的“恋爱预算”。

　　Every month, Wei’s father gives him another several hundred yuan so that he can sustain the status of generous boyfriend. Whereas, according to female students, having a boyfriend that acts like an ATM machine is not always welcome.

　　每月，魏叙（音译）都从父亲那额外获得几百块，维系他作为一个慷慨男友的形象。但是，在女生看来，一个像自动取款机一样的男友并不总那么受欢迎。

　　“Spending parents’ money is not something to be proud of,” said Pan Tongtong, 18, a freshman at Beijing Normal University. “I would view such a boy as an irresponsible type.

　　“花父母的钱不值得骄傲，在我看来是没有责任心的表现。”北京师范大学大一新生潘彤彤（音译）如是说。

　　Liu Na, 18, a freshman at Shenzhen University, echoed those sentiments by saying that she prefers going Dutch as a way to show each other respect.

　　深圳大学18岁的新生刘娜（音译）也持有同样的观点，她更倾向于AA制，这样可以表示对互相的尊敬。

　　“The nature of a relationship is sharing not taking,” said Liu. “Plus, I don’t want to feel as though I am relying on my boyfriend financially.”

　　“爱情的本质是分享不是索取，另外我不想让人觉得我是在被男朋友养着。”

　　However, male students find it hard to accept the dawning reality of financial co-existence. Wei Xu believes that it would hurt his pride to ask a girl to share the cost. “I just don’t know how to open my mouth to raise the subject,” Wei said.

　　然而，逐渐兴起的经济独立并不容易被男生接受。魏叙认为请求女孩分担花销是伤自尊的事。他说：“我都不知道该如何开口提出这个要求。“

　　Girls, however, prefer setting ground rules regarding such matters so as to rule out any possible misunderstandings.

　　而女孩更喜欢先定好基本原则，以防出现可能的误解。

　　“It’s better to get things straight before dating, so that neither part feels undue⁷ pressure on the matter of money, which could be a sensitive subject in a relationship,” said Qin Xiaolan, a 19-year-old freshman at Wuhan University.

　　“在约会前最好先把事说清楚，这样双方都不会在钱的问题上感到过分的压力，这在双方相处中是个敏感问题。”武汉大学19岁的新生秦小兰（音译）说。

　　Some, however, balance things differently. Ma Shunyang, 20, a sophomore⁸ student at Guangdong Foreign Studies University, always gives some money to her boyfriend before going out for a dinner or a movie.

　　当然有些人也有不同的处理方式。广东外语外贸大学20岁的二年级生马顺阳（音译）在吃饭或者看电影前总是先给他男朋友钱。

　　“It is understandable for my boyfriend to be the one in charge in front of others,” said Ma.

　　她说：“我能理解我的男朋友在其他人面前愿意表现出占主导的姿态。”

　　Ma also thinks that having expensive dinners or going to expensive movies doesn’t guarantee a happy relationship. “The key is how much thought is put into the relationship, not how much money,” said Ma.

　　她还认为吃饭看电影花大价钱并不能保证幸福的爱情。她认为：“问题的关键在于投入了多少感情，而不是多少钱。”

1 freshmen   

n.（中学或大学的）一年级学生( freshman的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We are freshmen and they are sophomores. 我们是一年级学生，他们是二年级学生。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• University freshmen get lots of razzing, but they like the initiation. 大一新生受各种嘲弄，但是他们对这种入门经验甘之如饴。 来自辞典例句

2 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

3 vitality   

n.活力，生命力，效力

参考例句：

• He came back from his holiday bursting with vitality and good health.他度假归来之后，身强体壮，充满活力。
• He is an ambitious young man full of enthusiasm and vitality.他是个充满热情与活力的有远大抱负的青年。

4 chivalry   

n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤

参考例句：

• The Middle Ages were also the great age of chivalry.中世纪也是骑士制度盛行的时代。
• He looked up at them with great chivalry.他非常有礼貌地抬头瞧她们。

5 symbolic   

adj.象征性的，符号的，象征主义的

参考例句：

• It is symbolic of the fighting spirit of modern womanhood.它象征着现代妇女的战斗精神。
• The Christian ceremony of baptism is a symbolic act.基督教的洗礼仪式是一种象征性的做法。

6 freshman   

n.大学一年级学生(可兼指男女)

参考例句：

• Jack decided to live in during his freshman year at college.杰克决定大一时住校。
• He is a freshman in the show business.他在演艺界是一名新手。

7 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。

8 sophomore   

n.大学二年级生；adj.第二年的

参考例句：

• He is in his sophomore year.他在读二年级。
• I'm a college sophomore majoring in English.我是一名英语专业的大二学生。