The rocketing cost of betrothal gifts in China is placing an increasing burden on men and their families. Such gifts are traditionally given by the groom's family to the bride's.
中国彩礼的飞快增长，正在加重男方及其家庭的负担。这些彩礼传统上是由新郎一方给新娘一方的。
The problem, according to a new map produced by the People's Daily, appears to be especially acute in rural areas.
根据《人民日报》发表的一份最新彩礼地图，这个问题在农村地区尤为严重。
The map shows the average amount of betrothal gifts in different regions of China and has prompted heated debate online.
该地图显示了在中国不同地区的彩礼平均花费，并在网上引起了激烈讨论。
Compared with a similar map produced by a Chongqing real estate company in 2013, the cost of betrothal gifts in many places, especially in rural areas, has soared in the last four years, with "flats" and "cars" becoming "must haves", according to People's Daily.
据《人民日报》报道，与2013年重庆一家房地产公司制作的类似地图相比，很多地方的彩礼在过去四年里迅速飙升，有车有房成为必备，农村地区则更为明显。

The survey shows that although there are some regional disparities, the cost of betrothal gifts in most regions has been increasing, with the cost in the west of China generally higher than that in the east, and rural areas higher than urban areas.
调查显示，虽然有地区差异，一般西部地区高于东部地区，农村高于城镇，但是大多数地区的彩礼成本一直在增加。
The average cost of betrothal gifts in southwest China's Guizhou Province, for example, has increased from 20,000 yuan in cash, plus some electrical appliances in 2013, to 88,000 yuan in cash plus a pair of gold bracelets, a diamond ring and diamond necklace in 2017, the study shows.
以中国西南地区贵州省的彩礼平均成本举例，研究表明，在2013年是两万元现金，加上一些电器。到2017年，彩礼就涨到了8.8万现金加上一对金手镯、一颗钻戒、一条钻石项链。
But official data show that disposable personal income for rural residents in Guizhou was around 7,400 yuan (about 1,076 USD) in 2016. That means that, at present, the betrothal gifts are some 12 times higher than a villager's annual income.
但官方数据显示，2016年贵州农村居民税后个人所得大约是7400元左右。这意味着，现在的彩礼钱是一些村民年收入的12倍。