英倫翻譯社/ Trsmaster

Kissing helps us assess potential partners if, like a Jane Austen heroine, we cannot wait forever for Mr Darcy to come along, a study suggests.

研究顯示，親吻有助於我們評估可能的伴侶，如果我們像（英國小說家）珍奧斯汀書裡的女主角一樣，沒辦法永遠等待達西先生到來。

Scientists believe kissing helps people judge the quality of a potential mate through taste, smell and fitness.

科學家認為，親吻有助人們透過味道、氣味與體格，來評斷可能的伴侶好不好。

Women were found to value kissing more highly in long-term relationships.

女性被發現比較重視長期關係中的親吻。

An online survey of 900 adults by the Oxford team, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behaviour, showed that men and women who were more attractive were more selective in choosing mates, and those groups valued kissing more highly.

牛津大學團隊線上調查900名成年人、刊登在期刊「性行為檔案」的研究顯示，比較具吸引力的男女，對於伴侶比較挑，也比較重視親吻。

This suggests that kissing helps in sizing up a potential partner, the study says.

這份研究說，這顯示親吻有助評量可能的伴侶。

新聞辭典

Mr Darcy：達西先生，英國小說家珍奧斯汀作品「傲慢與偏見」的男主角。

come along：片語，出現，抵達。例句：Go now and I’ll come along later.（先走，我等等就到。）

size up：片語，品評，打量。例句：The two cats walked in circles around each other, sizing each other up.（兩隻貓互相繞著對方轉，打量著對方。）