【看川普推特學英文】 「神選總統」川普 平衡美中貿易
【大紀元2019年08月27日訊】美中貿易議題,持續延燒!早在去年3月開始,美國即採漸進式與談判式的作法,擘劃時程,展開對中國政府加徵關稅的舉動。原因當然包括從2000年以來,持續超額的貿易逆差與層出不窮的智慧財產竊盜問題,迫使川普總統不得不採取行動,以維護美國國家與國民的權益;當然,期間中國政府企圖採取的手段與談判策略,最終卻都以「無法履行承諾」而告終,講究誠信的美國,只好如實地採取必要行動。
我們來看看,川普總統,最近在他的推特裡說些什麼!
For many years China (and many other countries) has been taking advantage of the United States on Trade, Intellectual Property Theft, and much more. Our Country has been losing HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS a year to China, with no end in sight….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】多年來,中國(和許多其他國家),對美貿易、智慧財產盜竊、其他問題等等,都佔盡美國便宜。我們國家每年有數千億美元損失,並流向中國,不知何時結束。
…unfair Trading Relationship. China should not have put new Tariffs on 75 BILLION DOLLARS of United States product (politically motivated!). Starting on October 1st, the 250 BILLION DOLLARS of goods and products from China, currently being taxed at 25%, will be taxed at 30%…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】可悲的是,以前的政府,在公平與平衡的貿易前提下,卻過度寬容中國政府,時至今日已成為美國納稅人的巨大負荷。作為總統,我無法再允許這種情況繼續!本著實現公平貿易的精神,我們必須平衡這種非常不公平的貿易關係。
….having fun. I was smiling as I looked up and around. The MANY reporters with me were smiling also. They knew the TRUTH…And yet when I saw the reporting, CNN, MSNBC and other Fake News outlets covered it as serious news & me thinking of myself as the Messiah. No more trust!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】兩天前的記者會上,我抬頭仰天、開玩笑地說「我是被(神)選中的人」,指的是「與中國進行貿易交涉」這件事,根本沒有意識到媒體竟說,我有「彌賽亞情結」。他們知道我在開玩笑、朝諷,只是好玩。
【譯文】我微笑地望向天空與環顧四周。當時一起的許多記者也在微笑。他們知道事實…然而,當我看到CNN、MSNBC和其他假新聞的報導,卻將它嚴肅對待(非事實、客觀),說川普認為自己是彌賽亞。無法再相信他們了!
【單字/詞解析】
● lose…to,動詞/luːz/失去(虧損)…給…
自然發音:lose to
英解:a business that is losing money is spending more money than it is receiving
例句:The company will lose millions of pounds because of new legislation.(公司將因新法規的實施而虧損數百萬英鎊。)
用法:這裡指的是,美國估計每年損失數百億美元給(to)中國政府。另外也可用在輸掉比賽「輸給誰」,The US team lost to Taiwan’s from the baseball game last night.(昨晚的棒球比賽,美國隊輸給了台灣隊。)
● in sight,副詞片語/saɪt/視力所及之處
自然發音:in sight
英解:in any place that you can see from where you are
例句:There was nobody in sight.(看不見任何人。);相反詞「看不到的地方」用out of sight。The police officer was hidden out of sight to catch anyone without following traffic lights.(警察藏身在隱蔽處,以便取締不遵守交通號誌的用路人。)
用法:又可譬喻為「即將發生」(未來可看的到),After four years of working hard, the victory is finally in sight for Mr. Donald.(經過四年的努力,唐納先生終於看到了勝利。)
● Administrations,名詞/ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃ(ə)n/國家的政府團隊
自然發音:ad-mi-nis-TRA-tions
英解:the government of a country
例句:The Trump administration has created millions of jobs during his presidential years.(川普政府在總統任期內,創造了數百萬個就業機會。)
用法:最常用的意思是「行政」,簡稱「admin」,Jenny has little experience in admin.(珍尼幾乎沒有行政經驗。)
● get ahead of,動詞片語/əˈhed/超前
自然發音:get ahead of
英解:to react quickly so that you gain/keep an advantage
例句:Let’s cut through the woods and get ahead of them.(咱們穿過樹林,超前他們。)
用法:引申為「領先」,The young man worked very hard and soon began to get ahead.(這位年輕人非常努力,很快就開始領先群雄。)
● burden,動詞/ˈbɜː(r)d(ə)n/負荷
自然發音:BUR-den
英解:a heavy load that you carry
例句:Buying a house nowadays often places a large financial burden on young couples.(買房子往往會讓現今的年輕夫婦,背上沉重的經濟負擔。)
用法:可以當動詞,burden sb with sth,例:I don’t want to burden you with my troubles.(我不想給你帶來麻煩。)
● in the spirit of,副詞/ˈspɪrɪt/本著…精神
自然發音:in the spirit of
英解:based on a particular way of thinking, feeling, or behaving, especially a way that is typical of a particular group of people, an activity, a time, or a place
例句:We acted in a spirit of cooperation.(我們本著合作的精神行事。)
用法:「熱衷於做某事」,可用get into the spirit of (doing) sth,例如:Everyone gets into the spirit of wearing costumes on Halloween.(大家在萬聖節當天熱衷裝扮。)
● jokingly,副詞/ˈdʒoʊ.kɪŋ.li/開玩笑地
自然發音:JO-king-ly
英解:in a way that is intended to be funny
例句:I said it half jokingly.(我半開玩笑的說著。)
用法:言歸正傳、回到正題、話說回來,英文可以說,「Joking aside」或「Joking apart」,直譯是「把玩笑話,先擺一邊」。例如,Joking apart, will you be able to manage on your own?(言歸正傳,你自己應付得了嗎?)
● refer to,動詞/rɪˈfɜː(r)/談到…
自然發音:re-FER to
英解:to talk about something
例句:Pronouns are often used to refer to a noun that has already been mentioned.(代名詞通常指的是一個(剛剛)已經被提到過的名詞。)
用法:在申請英美等海外大學或研究所,甚至找新工作時,申請人經常被要求提交「推薦信」(Reference Letter),由之前的授課老師或雇主(公司主管)繕寫關於申請者之前的表現。
The postgraduate programs offered by the US colleges often need three reference letters for application.(美國研究所申請,通常需要繳交三份推薦信。)
● Little did I realize…,/ˈrɪəlaɪz/我幾乎沒有意識到…
自然發音:little did I realize
英解:I barely realize…or I almost don’t realize…
例句:Little did I dream of succeeding so well.(我沒想到會這麼成功。)
用法:將「little」放在句首,英文句子通常使用倒裝句。原句型:I realize little…,使用倒裝句時,必須把「助動詞」或「動詞」提前。通常含有「否定副詞」在句首時,都使用倒裝句。
例如:Never, Not until, Not only, Seldom etc. Never do I expect Mary will help me.(我從沒想過瑪麗(竟然)會幫助我。)
● claim,動詞/kleɪm/宣稱
自然發音:claim
英解:to say that something is true, even though there is no definite proof
例句:He claims he is innocent.(他聲稱自己是無辜的。)
用法:The report claimed that hundreds of thousands of civilians had crossed the border to escape the violent government.(報導指出,數十萬平民越過邊界,以逃離暴政。)
【背景知識】
● Intelleutual Property Theft (智慧財產竊盜)
對於未上市、剛上市或已經上市的產品,中國利用自己的製造實力,仿冒、設計、生產出與原產品相似或相同的產品(山寨品),通常以更低價格販售,獲取巨大商業利益。
這種不管智慧財產權的侵權、竊盜行為,早在中國與國際社會行之多年,甚至成為所謂「山寨文化」,對外聲稱這是中國特有的品牌(「山寨品牌」)。
● Messiah Complex (彌賽亞情節)
「彌賽亞」(Messiah),指拯救世人的救主(Saviour),基督徒認為是耶穌。
「彌賽亞情節」泛指某人相信自己是唯一救世者(對某事或議題),具備犧牲、奉獻與承擔重要使命的任務,可是也會被引申為有「精神錯亂」的貶仰之詞。
【慎思明辨】
你可以針對以下議題進行論述,甚至寫一篇英文短文,練習英文寫作或是口語表達。
● 對於中美貿易議題,例如,加徵關稅、談判溝通、其他衍生問題等。您認為,為何川普總統會笑稱自己是「神選的總統」?
● 對於美國多家媒體,(刻意)替川普總統扣上「彌賽亞情節」,您覺得用意何在?
● 美中貿易戰如火如荼,對台灣是利多?還是弊多?試著從不同角度(例如,政治、經濟、國防、社會、文化、價值等)分析之!
相關單字:Us-China Trade War(美中貿易戰)、Tarrif Adding(加徵關稅)、 God-chosen President(神選的總統)、National Defense(國防)
責任編輯:亦潔