美国国家公共电台 NPR Japan's 'Purikura' Photo Booths Offer Snapchat-Like Filters

 

STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:

In the age of Snapchat and Instagram, where almost anybody can have the equivalent of a photo studio in their hands, some people still use old-style photo booths. That's especially true in Japan, where the photo booths are called purikura. It's something Elise tries, in her series of that name. NPR's Elise Hu, here with Code Switch's Kat Chow in Tokyo.

ELISE HU, BYLINE¹: So the whole reason we're on this street is because we're going to try out Japanese print clubs, and that's where the word purikura comes from.

KAT CHOW, BYLINE: All right.

HU: It's short for purinto kurabu. (Reading) Insert four coins and touch the display screen to start.

(SOUNDBITE OF PURIKURA SOUND EFFECT)

HU: Get in there. One part of the booth, you actually take the photo. And then you, like, rush over to the other one and decorate your photo.

Decorate with sparkles and emojis, sure. But you can also enhance your image a lot - resize your features, even out skin tone, elongate² your legs, change your makeup³. You name it.

Kat, I'm about to do this to your face.

CHOW: Are you fixing my eyebrows⁴?

HU: I think you need bigger eyes. And I'm going to make your face smaller.

Once you're finished, the booths print out a set of photos you can share with your friends.

Ooh, our photos are out. Our photos are out.

CHOW: Aw, those are cute.

HU: Purikura arcades⁵ feature several booths with various backgrounds. And one photo session is only about $4. So after school, hordes⁶ of Japanese teenagers stop by in groups. Since they're the experts, we asked them.

How do you make a really purikura experience? How do you look really good?

Sixteen-year-old Honami.

HONAMI: (Through interpreter) You should hide your face by your hairs to make it...

HU: ...Oh, cover your face.

HONAMI: (Through interpreter) Yeah, to smaller.

HU: So maybe the best purikura look for us is one where we're barely seen at all. Elise Hu, NPR News, Tokyo.

INKSEEP: Video of the purikura experience is at npr.org/elisetries.

1 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

2 elongate   

v.拉长，伸长，延长

参考例句：

• We plan to elongate the cooperation with that company in Australia.我们打算延长与澳洲那家公司的合作关系。
• Corn is treated when the stalk starts to elongate.在玉米秆开始拔节时，给玉米打药。

3 makeup   

n.组织；性格；化装品

参考例句：

• Those who failed the exam take a makeup exam.这次考试不及格的人必须参加补考。
• Do you think her beauty could makeup for her stupidity?你认为她的美丽能弥补她的愚蠢吗？

4 eyebrows   

眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Eyebrows stop sweat from coming down into the eyes. 眉毛挡住汗水使其不能流进眼睛。
• His eyebrows project noticeably. 他的眉毛特别突出。

5 arcades   

n.商场( arcade的名词复数 )；拱形走道（两旁有商店或娱乐设施）；连拱廊；拱形建筑物

参考例句：

• Clothes are on sale in several shopping arcades these days. 近日一些服装店的服装正在大减价。 来自轻松英语会话---联想4000词(下)
• The Plaza Mayor, with its galleries and arcades, is particularly impressive. 市长大厦以其别具风格的走廊和拱廊给人留下十分深刻的印象。 来自互联网

6 hordes   

n.移动着的一大群( horde的名词复数 )；部落

参考例句：

• There are always hordes of tourists here in the summer. 夏天这里总有成群结队的游客。
• Hordes of journalists jostled for position outside the conference hall. 大群记者在会堂外争抢位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》