For this study, published in two parts in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior and in the journal Human Nature, the team step up an online questionnaire and queried 900 adults about the importance of kissing in both short-term and long-term relationships. The answers, primarily from the U.S. and the U.K., provided some some key insights.

　　这项研究分两部分发布在《性行为档案》和《人类本质》杂志中。研究团队展开了一个在线调查，研究接吻在短期和长期关系中的重要性，900名来自美国和英国的成年人参与了调查。他们的答案为研究提供了一些关键的看法。

　　"Men are more likely to initiate kissing before sex, when it might be used for arousal purposes," the authors wrote, "whereas women are more likely to initiate kissing after sex, where it might better serve a relationship maintenance function."

　　“男性更喜欢在性行为开始之前接吻，这可能用来唤起性欲。”作者写到，“然而女性更喜欢在性行为结束后接吻，这可能用来稳定双方关系。”

　　In short-term relationships, participants noted that kissing was more important "before sex, less so during sex, [and] was less important again after sex."

　　在短期的关系中，参与者称接吻的重要性从大到小依次为：进行性行为之前，性行为进行中和性行为结束后。

　　But perhaps the biggest and most useful takeaway from the survey was this: That lots of kissing was associated with a satisfying and ultimately healthy long-term relationship. Oddly enough, the same couldn't be said about couples that merely had lots of sex. "There seems to be something special about kissing," co-author Rafael Wlodarski told NPR. Indeed. Smooch away.

　　这项调查最大及最有用的成果可能是：大量的亲吻与满意和最终健康的长期关系有关。奇怪的是，这个理论对只进行大量性行为的伴侣并不适用。“接吻好像有一种特别的作用，”研究着之一拉斐尔在接受NPR采访时说到。

　　相关词汇：

　　Deliberately：故意地;谨慎地

　　Saliva：唾液

　　Germ：细菌

　　Pastimes：消遣

　　Courtship：求爱;求偶

　　gladiator pit：角斗场

　　finesse：策略;纤细;灵巧

　　arousal：觉醒、激励

　　neuroscience：神经系统科学

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