Micro dramas are short video series filmed vertically for mobile phones.
微短剧是为手机垂直拍摄的短视频系列。
Each episode lasts only a few minutes.
每集仅持续几分钟。
They are designed for people to watch easily at any time.
它们设计为让人们随时随地轻松观看。
People often watch them during breaks or after work.
人们通常在休息时间或下班后观看。
Unlike traditional films or TV shows, micro dramas depend heavily on dramatic storytelling techniques.
与传统电影或电视节目不同，微短剧严重依赖戏剧性的叙事技巧。
These techniques include strong hooks, exaggerated emotions, sudden plot twists, and cliffhangers.
这些技巧包括强烈的悬念、夸张的情感、突然的情节转折和悬念结尾。
Cliffhangers at the end of each episode keep viewers engaged and willing to pay to continue watching.
每集结尾的悬念让观众保持参与并愿意付费继续观看。
The micro drama “Grandma’s Moon” is used as an example.
微短剧《奶奶的月亮》被用作例子。
It stars 69-year-old actor Zhu Jian, who plays the head of a wealthy family.
它由69岁的演员朱健主演，他扮演一个富裕家族的族长。
During a birthday dinner, his character discovers that one of the workers is actually his granddaughter.
在一次生日晚宴上，他的角色发现一名工人实际上是他的孙女。
Although the story is unrealistic and over-the-top, it reflects the typical style of micro dramas.
尽管故事不切实际且夸张，但它反映了微短剧的典型风格。
Zhu explains that most viewers are middle-aged workers or retired people.
朱健解释说，大多数观众是中年工人或退休人员。
They no longer go to movie theaters and prefer the convenience of watching content on their phones.
他们不再去电影院，更喜欢在手机上观看内容的便利性。
According to Reuters, China’s micro drama industry is worth around five billion US dollars.
据路透社报道，中国的微短剧产业价值约50亿美元。
One major reason for its success is low production cost and fast filming speed.
其成功的一个主要原因是低制作成本和快速拍摄速度。
A micro drama can be made with a relatively small budget and sometimes filmed in just a few days.
微短剧可以用相对较小的预算制作，有时只需几天就能拍摄完成。
Usually, the first few episodes are free, while later episodes require payment.
通常，前几集是免费的，而后面的集数需要付费。
Cliffhangers play a key role in this business model.
悬念在这种商业模式中起着关键作用。
Viewers must pay to find out what happens next.
观众必须付费才能知道接下来会发生什么。
Micro dramas are now competing strongly with China’s traditional film and television industry.
微短剧现在正与中国传统影视产业激烈竞争。
Kuaishou is the leading platform, followed by apps such as Douyin, Xiaohongshu, and Bilibili.
快手是领先的平台，其次是抖音、小红书和哔哩哔哩等应用。
All of these platforms are investing more in this format.
所有这些平台都在加大对这种形式的投资。
As the industry grows, actors and writers are earning more money.
随着产业的发展，演员和编剧赚得更多。
Many professionals are leaving traditional film jobs to work on micro dramas instead.
许多专业人士离开传统电影工作，转而从事微短剧。
The themes of micro dramas are a major reason for their popularity.
微短剧的主题是其受欢迎的主要原因。
Many stories focus on revenge, sudden wealth, romance, and moving from a low social status to a high one.
许多故事聚焦于复仇、暴富、爱情以及从低社会地位向高社会地位的转变。
These themes appeal to audiences at a time when economic pressure is high, social mobility is difficult, and youth unemployment remains a problem in China.
这些主题在经济压力大、社会流动性困难、青年失业在中国仍然是一个问题时吸引观众。
Micro dramas offer viewers emotional satisfaction and fantasy escape.
微短剧为观众提供情感满足和幻想逃避。
The format is also spreading overseas.
这种形式也在海外传播。
Some micro dramas are now produced for Western audiences, especially in the United States.
一些微短剧现在为西方观众制作，尤其在美国。
They feature English dialogue and dramatic storylines.
它们以英语对话和戏剧性的故事情节为特色。
Although critics argue that micro dramas lack artistic value and compare them to fast food, many fans enjoy their addictive plots, attractive actors, and easy-to-watch style.
尽管批评者认为微短剧缺乏艺术价值，并将其比作快餐，但许多粉丝喜欢其令人上瘾的情节、有吸引力的演员和易于观看的风格。
