So what does revenge spending mean?

那麼報復性消費是什麼意思呢？

And why did it start trending?

而為什麼它會流行起來呢？

In Chinese, using "revenge" before a verb is quite common.

在中文中，把「報復」放在一個動詞前是很常見的。

For example, revenge dating means going on a Tinder spree after you've been dumped.

比如，報復性約會是你在被甩後大玩特玩Tinder。

Revenge eating is what happens after you come off a diet and you end up binge eating everything in front of you.

報復性飲食是你在節食後去大吃特吃你眼前的各種東西。

So you might be able to guess what revenge spending is.

所以你也許能猜到報復性消費是什麼意思了。

In this context, the revenge is not literal.

在這個情況下，報復不是字面上的意思。

You're not necessarily getting back at someone or something per se.

你不一定是在報復某人或某事本身。

Rather, it's irrational overcompensation for something.

事實上，是不理性的過度消費或做某件事。

So back to revenge spending.

回到報復性消費。

The phrase actually dates back to the 1980s, when there was a surge in spending after China's economy opened up.

這個詞實際上可以追溯到 1980 年代，當時中國經濟開放後消費激增。

It was a reaction to years of abject poverty and economic paralysis.

這是對多年來的貧困和經濟癱瘓所做出的反應。

Finally, people had money to spend and demand for luxury goods spiked.

終於，人們有錢花了，對奢侈品的需求量激增。

This year, revenge spending is resurfacing in another context:

今年，報復性消費又在另一個背景下重現。

The coronavirus.

新冠疫情。

It's specifically referring to post-quarantine shopping sprees.

具體指的是隔離後的購物狂潮。

After a lockdown, China started reopening its economy in March.

在封城後，中國從3月份開始重新開放經濟。

The belief was that shoppers would come out of quarantine and overcompensate for months of boredom by making more purchases than normal, with or without rationality.

大家相信消費者結束隔離生活後，會通過購買比平時更多的東西來補償這幾個月以來的無聊生活，無論是否是理性的。

Like these guys.

就像這些人一樣。

"Revenge spending" already started trending in February, when China was in the middle of its coronavirus battle, and peaked on March 5th, when the economy started reopening.

「報復性消費」在2月份已經開始出現趨勢，當時中國正對抗新冠病毒，然後在在3月5日，經濟重新開放時，達到頂峰。

When lockdown restrictions in China were eased in early April, long lines could be seen at popular tourist destinations.

4月初，當中國的隔離限制放鬆時，可以在熱門旅遊點看到長長的隊伍。

Government started giving away vouchers to encourage spending, and this Hermes shop in Guangzhou made 2.7 million in sales when it reopened on April 11th.

政府開始發放消費券來鼓勵消費，在4月11日重新開業時，廣州這家愛馬仕的銷售額達到270萬。

Tatler reported this to be the highest revenue made in a single day for a boutique in China.

《 尚流》報道稱這是在中國精品店的單日最高收入。

So are most people revenge spending?

那麼大多數人都會報復消費嗎？

We went to the streets of Shanghai to find out.

我們到了上海的街頭來尋找答案。

So while revenge spending might be trending online, in real life, the response is mixed.

所以說，雖然報復性消費在網路上蔚為風潮，但現實中的反應各異。

According to one survey conducted by a Chinese consulting company, most people would rather make and save money than spend.

根據中國一家諮詢公司的調查，大多數人寧可賺錢省錢，也不願意花錢。

Most people simply can't afford to spend.

大多數人根本無力消費。

These households said that their income would shrink in 2020.

這些家庭的收入將在2020年縮水。

So while "revenge spending" is a buzzword on the Chinese Internet, it seems like it's just a trend for the people who can afford it.

所以，雖然「報復性消費」是中國互聯網上的一個流行語，但這只是對有能力買的起的人而言的一個風潮。