闪约

shǎnyuē

Meaning: "闪" means "flash," and "约" means "date, appointment." As Chinese use the character "闪" in the sense of "quick and speedy," as in "闪婚" (quick marriage) or "快闪" (flash mob), this term actually means "speed dating," a matchmaking and dating system whose purpose is to encourage people to meet a large number of new people. Usually advance registration is required for speed dating events. Men and women are rotated to meet each other over a series of short "dates" usually lasting from three to eight minutes depending on the organization running the event. At the end of each interval, the organizer rings a bell, clinks a glass, or blows a whistle to signal the participants to move on to the next date. At the end of the event participants submit to the organizers a list of who they would like to provide their contact information to. If there is a match, contact information is forwarded to both parties. In existence since 1998 in the United States, the new way of dating became popular in big Chinese cities in 2005.

Meaning:

A: 周末干什么了？

Zhōumò gàn shénme le?

What did you do for the weekend?

B: 我参加了一场闪约。

Wǒ cānjiā le yīchǎng shǎnyuē。

I went to a speed dating event.

A: 找到可以发展的女生了吗？

Zhǎodào kěyǐ fāzhǎn de nǚshēng le ma?

Did you meet anyone you'd like to date?

B: 可惜没有。

Kěxī méiyǒu。

Unfortunately no.