Until recently, few people outside of South Korea had heard of Gangnam, an upscale neighborhood in Seoul's southeast that houses roughly 5% of the capital's population.
直到不久前,韩国以外还很少有人知道“江南”(Gangnam)这个位于首尔东南部的一个上流社区,这里的居民数量约占首尔人口总数的5%。
Then came Psy.
然后,朴载相(Psy)横空出世。
More specifically, the K-pop musician's 'Gangnam Style,' which went viral on YouTube over the summer. Most of us know what happened next: An Internet-wide slurry of video imitations; 'Gangnam Style' flash mobs from Australia to Peru; a U.S. record deal sealed in soju, chased with domination of American primetime television; and even chin-stroking analyses of that horsey-dance clip.
更具体地说,应该是这位韩国流行歌手的单曲《江南Style》横空出世,这首歌今年夏季在YouTube上红透半边天。我们大多数人都知道接下来发生的事情:整个互联网到处都是模仿它的视频;从澳大利亚到秘鲁都有以《江南Style》为主题的快闪活动;喝着烧酒签下美国唱片合约,占据美国电视黄金时段;甚至还有人深入分析骑马舞。
But for many, the question still remains: What goes on in Gangnam, anyway?
但对于很多人来说,那个老问题仍然存在:“江南”到底是什么样的?
We have five suggestions, loosely inspired by Psy's lyrics. For good measure, we've divided them up so you can see what he means when the singer calls Gangnam 'noble' during the day and 'crazy' after dark.
我们对此有五种意见,基本上是受朴载相的歌词启发。另外,我们还将它们分了类,这样你就可以了解,当这位歌手说“江南”白天“高贵”、夜晚“疯狂”时,他想表达的是什么。
Noble by Day
白天高贵
1. Get the 'Gangnam Style' look
1.“江南Style”的装扮
There's no shortage of brand names in Gangnam, but for a range of upscale, niche boutiques, head to the subdistricts of Cheongdam and Shinsa. This is where you'll find fashion-forward international concept stores like Milan's 10 Corso Como alongside home-grown havens of chic such as Jardin de Chouette and Johnny Hates Jazz.
江南区不乏知名品牌,但要想找到高端、小众的精品时装店,可以去Cheongdam和Shinsa等街区。在这里你会找到前卫的国际品牌概念商店,比如米兰的10 Corso Como,还有本土时装大牌如Jardin de Chouette和Johnny Hates Jazz。
Stores here aren't cheap, but that's the price you pay to 'dress classy, and dance cheesy,' as Psy puts it.
这里的商店都价格不菲,但要像朴载相所说的那样“穿得优雅、舞得奔放”,就得花这个代价。
While you're here, whip that coif into shape at one of several hair salons that cater to celebrities such as nine-piece K-pop group Girls' Generation. Try Soonsoo, Ra Beauty Core and Jenny House, to name a few.
在江南区,你可以去专为名人──比如有九名成员的流行乐团“少女时代”(Girls’Generation)──服务的几家美发沙龙之一打理发型。Soonsoo、Ra Beauty Core和Jenny House都可以一试。
2. Glimpse the future of technology (before everyone else)
2. 抢先领略未来科技
Gangnam-daero, a road in Gangnam's outskirts, houses corporate heavyweights like Samsung Electronics, the world's largest technology firm by revenue. Pay a visit to the company's flagship store, Samsung D'light, a three-floor palace of consumer electronics located at its Seoul headquarters.
江南区外围的江南大道上坐落着三星电子(Samsung Electronics)等企业巨头。以营收计,三星电子是世界最大的科技公司。可以去逛逛该公司的旗舰店Samsung D’light,这座三层建筑位于三星电子首尔总部,犹如电子消费产品的殿堂。
Dedicated to selling, and simply showing, Samsung's newly released products, this is where you can buy its latest tablets and Galaxy smartphones, as well as witness the latest Samsung technology (think solar-powered handsets and fridges with see-through liquid-crystal display doors) long before it hits the broader market.
这家旗舰店专门销售以及展示三星最新发布的产品。在这里你可以买到最新款的三星平板电脑以及Galaxy智能手机,同时,在最新的三星科技进入大众市场之前,你就可以亲眼见证(想想太阳能手机,还有带透明液晶显示屏的冰箱)。
Interactivity is encouraged you're welcome to sit down and play videogames and a host of staff is on hand to field questions in Korean, English, Chinese, Japanese and Spanish.
在这里,工作人员鼓励顾客参与互动,你可以坐下来玩视频游戏──有大量的工作人员在现场用韩语、英语、汉语、日语和西班牙语回答游客的提问。