词汇掌故:不停游下去

    Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.
    这里是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。

    On this program we explain the origin and usage of common phrases and expressions in American English.
    在这个节目中,我们会讲解美式英语中常见短语和表达的起源和用法。

    Popular culture has a strong influence on language. The expressions that come from movies and television shows can be especially powerful.
    流行文化对语言有很大影响,来自影视节目的表达可能尤为影响巨大。

    When we use expressions that come from a movie or television experience shared by others, it can create a feeling of closeness with them. If someone says a line from one of your favorite movies, it is kind of like you both belong to the same club.
    当我们使用出自他们分享的影视作品体验中的表达时,可以产生一种与之亲近的感觉。如果有人说出你最喜欢的其中一部电影的台词时,那就有点像你们是一伙的。

    Some of these pop culture expressions have become so common that you might not even know the shows they come from. But you can still use them!
    其中一些流行文化表达已经变得非常普遍,以至于你可能甚至都不知道它出自什么节目,但是你仍然会使用它。

    English has many phrases that have found their way into common usage. Today we talk about a water-based phrase and useful adjectives that relate to it.
    英语中的很多短语都已经进入了日常应用之中。今天我们来谈谈一句基于水的短语,以及与之相关的一些有用的形容词。

    If I say to you, just keep swimming, I am quoting a fish -- a really famous fish.
    如果我对你说,just keep swimming,我是在引用一条非常著名的鱼说的话。

    In the movie Finding Nemo, Dory is a friendly, helpful, optimistic fish. She becomes friends with Marlin, a clown fish who has just lost his only son.
    在电影《海底总动员》中,多莉是一条友好、乐于助人、乐观向上的鱼。她同玛林成为了朋友,玛林刚刚丢了自己唯一的儿子的小丑鱼。

    Dory offers to help Marlin find Nemo. (Actually she does not take "no" for an answer.) The search is very difficult. Along the way, they face bloodthirsty, confused vegetarian sharks; bloodthirsty, but very clear-headed pelicans and dentists!
    多莉提出帮助玛琳找到尼莫。寻找过程非常艰难。他们一路上遇到了残暴、迷糊的素食鲨鱼,以及残暴但是头脑非常清醒的鹧鸪和牙医。

    Every time Marlin feels like giving up Dory says to him, "Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming."
    每次玛林感觉要放弃,多莉就对他说:“只要继续游下去,只要继续游下去。”

    DORY: When life gets you down, you know what you got to (gotta) do?
    多莉:当生活让你失望时,你知道该怎么做吗?

    MARLIN: I don't want to know what you got to (gotta) do.
    玛林:我不想知道你要做什么。

    DORY: Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. What do we do? We swim,swim.
    多莉:只要不停游下去,只要不停游下去,只要不停游下去。游啊,游啊。我们要怎么做?我们游啊,游啊。

    MARLIN: Dory, no singing.
    玛林:别说了,多莉。

    With these words, Dory is telling her friend that he should not give up. He should keep looking for his son.
    通过这些话,多莉告诉她的朋友,他不应该放弃,应该继续寻找他的儿子。

    At some point, we all face a difficult situation. We may feel frightened, sad or just overwhelmed. And we may want to give up. But then a friend says, "Just keep swimming," and it gives us the hope we need to reach our goal – to finish strong.
    在某些时候,我们都会面临一些困境。我们可能会感到害怕,悲伤或只是不堪重负,我们可能想要放弃。但是一位朋友说:“继续加油!”,这给了我们实现强势收场的目标所需的希望。

    The expression may come from a children's film, but its meaning is not childish. And even if someone has not seen the film Finding Nemo, they most likely will know what you mean when you say it.
    可能这句表达是出自儿童电影,但是其含义并不幼稚。即使有人没有看过《海底总动员》这部电影,他们可能也会懂你说出这句话时的意思。

    If you keep swimming you will not drown. Another expression, to keep your head above water, expresses a similar message. Don't drown. Take action to survive, even if that is all you can do.
    如果你不停游,你就不会被淹死。另一种表达,to keep your head above water,也表达了类似了意思。不要被淹死,采取行动活下去,即使这是你所能做的一切。

    English has some great adjectives to describe people and things that do not give up.
    英语中有一些很棒的形容词用来描述永不放弃的人和事物。

    One is resilient. Resilient people do not give up in the face of adversity. "Resilient" can refer to things, also. For example, a tree that keeps growing even after lightning strikes it, could be called a resilient tree.
    其中一个形容词就是resilient(有韧劲的)。有韧劲的人不会在逆境中放弃。有韧劲也可以指代事物。例如,一棵树即使被雷击之后仍然继续生长,它就可以被称之为一棵有韧劲的树。

    Another adjective to describe someone who will not give up is indefatigable. Now, it does have six syllables. So, you may need to practice saying it. I know I did. A lot. Just remember that the stress is on the third syllable: in-de-FA-ti-ga-ble.
    另一个用来形容人们不会放弃的形容词是indefatigable(不屈不挠的)。它有6个音节,所以可能你需要练习才会拼读。我做到了。记住,重音在第三个音节。

    So, would I say "just keep swimming" in a very serious situation or to a very serious co-worker who I don't know well? Probably not. But we do have other words of encouragement. You can say "Hang in there!" "You can do it!" or "Don't give up!"
    那么,在一种非常严峻的情势下,或是跟一位非常严肃的同事说话,我会说 just keep swimming吗?可能不会。但是我们还有其它鼓励的话,你可以说 Hang in there(坚持下去)! You can do it(你能行)! 或者是 Don't give up(不要放弃)!

    When we use expressions or phrases from movies or television shows, it is a way of sharing culture with another.
    当我们使用出自影视节目的表达或短语时,这是一种同他人分享文化的方式。

    And that's it for Words and Their Stories! I'm Anna Matteo.
    以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。我是安娜·马特奥。(51VOA.COM原创翻译,禁止转载,违者必究!)