“闪婚”（lightning marriage / flash marriage）是闪电式结婚的简称。当今社会，青年男女闪电恋爱（whirlwind romance），爱情速配，已成为一种时尚。然而，闪婚双方没有经过充分的了解和交往，有可能婚后不久就草草离婚，即“闪离”（lightning divorces）。中国网就此现象登载特写：

       Lightning marriages first appeared in big cities as a result of the high cost of living and the idea that "two can live as cheaply as one." But as society develops, lightning marriages have also become a trend among migrant workers.

       The Chutian Metropolis Daily reported the unhappy outcome of such a whirlwind romance for a young couple from a small town in Hubei Province. ...

       Not all flash marriages between migrant workers result in furious violence and divorce. Another common pattern is for young people to get married during Chinese New Year then return to the city to work. The result is often long-term separation, which can be called a type of "cold" domestic violence. ...

       Divorces have jumped from 200 in 2002 to more than 1,600 last year, and Zhang reckons half of these were lightning marriages followed by lightning divorces.

—— Excerpt from Lightning marriages no road to domestic bliss

       中国社会的发展日新月异，这一点也反映在年轻人的婚恋观上。在很短的时间里，未婚同居（pre-marital cohabitation）和一夜情（one night stands）在这个依然非常保守的国家里，呈现爆炸式的发展态势。因特网也让一切成为可能，从网上约会（online dating）到裸聊，甚至还出现了网络专有的一些词汇，比如MBA，意思是“已婚但还可以恋爱”（Married But Available）。请看中国网的报道：

       People born after the 1980s are more open in love and marriage. In fact some of them care little for marriage, as a result of liberated ways of thinking. According to a survey, sexual affairs before marriage are no longer a secret among young people in China.

       Additionally, as the Internet has made it much easier for young people to find partners, it has also promoted casual relationships. One night stands, flash marriages, pre-marital cohabitation; all of these are new challenges in Chinese society.

—— Excerpt from Changing marriage and love in China