【大紀元2019年09月10日訊】美中貿易這個燙手山芋,沒有一任美國總統願意採強硬態度處理!除了重拾美國第一、讓美國再次偉大的信念之外,還有什麼原因,讓這位「被賦予神聖使命的」總統,擇善固執?
川普總統最近在他的推特裡,引用了一位成功商人的談話,我們來看看他說些什麼!
“The Chinese are very adept at not accepting anything. You’ve got to be very tough, and that’s what Trump is doing. It’s in China’s interest to correct, and I think we’ll end up with a solution that’s dramatically better than we have today. Frankly, I think the impact of what…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】「(在談判中),中國人很擅長不輕易接受條件。你必須採取強硬(的手段),這就是川普正在做的事。企圖修正只符合中國利益(的雙邊關係),而且我認為我們最終會得到一個比現在好更多的解決方案。
….Trump is doing to China is not lost on the rest of the world. Europe has had among the most protectionist policies forever. They’re sitting there and saying, gee, are we next? Maybe you are! We’ve got to change the rules. The U.S. can’t defend the world and pay for it….
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】(接前文)坦白說,我覺得目前川普對中國所做的事(例如,提高關稅、施加改革的壓力等),並沒有在世界各地喪失影響力。歐洲(面對衝擊時)永遠採最保護主義政策。他們正杵在那說,哎呀,我們會是下一個嗎?也許就是!我們必須改變規則了。美國無法捍衛全世界並幫大家買單。
….We can’t have a system where we run our entire economy for the benefit of other countries, which have long charged us big tariffs. Don’t keep ducking the reality. The U.S. has been subject to Tariff Terrorism for 50 years. But a real deal can be done.” Sam Zell
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】(接前文)我們不可能為了他國的利益,去運作我們的整體經濟,如同長期以來,我們一直被索取大量關稅。不要繼續躲避現實了。50年來美國一直受到關稅恐怖主義的戕害。但現在有機會達成一個真正的(公平的)交易。」山姆‧澤爾(Sam Zell)在接受美國CNBC電視台@JoeSquawk訪問時說道。
So interesting to read and see all of the free and interesting advice I am getting on China, from people who have tried to handle it before and failed miserably – In fact, they got taken to the cleaners. We are doing very well with China. This has never happened to them before!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump)
【譯文】針對我目前與中國的交涉,看著很多不著邊際與有趣的建議,尤其來自那些以前試圖處理但卻慘烈失敗的人士,真的很富娛樂性。事實上,他們被騙得精光。我們目前與中國的交涉深具信心。他們從未有這般地處理!
【單字/詞解析】
● adept,形容詞/əˈdept/擅長的
自然發音:a-DEPT
英解:having a natural ability to do something that needs skill
例句:She’s very adept at dealing with the media.(她應付媒體遊刃有餘。)
用法:如後接動名詞(V-ing),則必須加at。類似用法:be good at V-ing,be able to V,be capable of Ving 等等。
● tough,形容詞/tʌf/強硬的
自然發音:tough
英解:strong and determined
例句:The US government is continuing to take a tough line on terrorism.(美國政府繼續對恐怖主義採取強硬的態度。)
用法:形容食物很硬、太老了、切不開、咬不動,可以說 tough. The steak or meat is too tough to chew or to cut. (這塊牛排/肉,太硬了,咬不動/切不開。) 另外,形容「真倒楣」,也可以說,tough luck!
● end up with,動詞片語,以…告終
自然發音:END up with
英解:to finally be in a particular place or situation
例句:Despite staying in the shade most of the time, I ended up with sunburn.(儘管大部分時間都待在陰涼處,但我最終還是曬傷了。)
用法:with + 名詞。end up + Ving,I ended up spending the night in the airport.(我最終在機場過夜了。)
● dramatically,副詞/drəˈmætɪkli/明顯地
自然發音:dra-MA-ti-ca-lly
英解:suddenly or obviously
例句:Our life changes dramatically when we have a baby to take care of.(有了孩子以後,我們的生活會有明顯的變化。)
用法:該字來源於drama(戲劇),所以dramatically也可以指「具戲劇效果地、誇張地」,She swept her hair back dramatically.(她誇張地把頭髮向後甩。)
● frankly,副詞/ˈfræŋkli/坦白地(說)
自然發音:FRANK-ly
英解:used when giving an honest and direct opinion, often one that might upset someone
例句:Quite frankly, the thought of it terrified me.(坦白說,這個想法嚇壞我了。)
用法:「坦白說」也可以寫成,Frankly speaking,…;To be frank 或 Let me be frank,…。
● impact,名詞/ˈɪmpækt/影響
自然發音:IM-pact
英解:a powerful effect that something has on a situation or person
例句:The tax on fuel will not have a serious impact on the better-off.(徵收燃料稅不會對富人產生嚴重影響。)
用法:當名詞時,可用have/make an impact on…;也可以當動詞,The failure of the transport system impacts daily on all our lives.(運輸系統的故障,會影響我們每天的生活。)
● protectionist,名詞 /prəˈtekʃ(ə)nˌɪst/保護主義(者)的
自然發音:pro-TEC-tion-ist
英解:protectionist laws or methods are intended to help a country’s trade or industry by putting taxes on goods bought from other countries or by limiting the amount of goods that can be imported
例句:Such protectionist measures penalize exporters in developing countries.(這些保護主義措施,苦了發展中國家的出口商。)
用法:來自「保護,protection」這個字。動詞,protect…from/against,保護…免於遭受/抵抗,例如:Clothing that protects you from/against the cold.(衣服可以(保護你)抵禦寒冷。)
● for the benefit of,為了…好處
自然發音:for the BE-ne-fit of
英解:particularly do something for somebody or something
例句:The money is to be used for the benefit of someone in need.(這筆錢將用於造福有需要的人。)
用法:接受補助/福利,on benefit,例如:She’s been on unemployment benefit for six months.(她接受失業補助已滿6個月了。)
● duck,動詞/dʌk/閃躲
自然發音:duck
英解:to lower your head or head and body quickly, in order to move under something or to avoid being hit
例句:Duck your head or you’ll bang it on the doorframe.(把頭低一下以免撞到門框。)
用法:He ducked behind the wall.(她躲到牆後面去。) 另外,to duck out,可指「偷溜到外頭…」例如,Kevin always ducked out for a smoke. (凱文總是找機會到外頭抽根菸。)
● take to the cleaners,動詞片語,騙光…所有的錢(海削)
自然發音:take to the CLEA-ners
英解:to get a lot of money from someone, usually by cheating them
例句:Dave was really taken to the cleaners on that deal.(大衛在那樁生意上確實賠得精光。)
用法:the cleaners,指的是「乾洗店」,take sb to the cleaners,把某人帶到乾洗店去「乾洗」(直譯);意指:將某人身上的財物「一洗而空」。本文的 got taken…被抓過去,採被動語法。另外,自助洗衣店(水洗+烘乾),則稱 laundromat。
【背景知識】
● Tarrif Terrorism(關稅恐怖主義)
企圖以關稅為手段,進行利益交換,以達成不同的政治目的。
恐怖主義(Terrorism),廣義來說,意圖使用暴力,以達成某些特定的政治目的。
● Sam Zell(人名)
山姆‧澤爾(Sam Zell)是一位公司總部在美國芝加哥的地產投資大師,擁有50億美元資本凈值。
● Joe Squawk(節目名)
電視新聞主播喬‧柯南(Joe Kernen)在CNBC電視台的節目。
【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。
● 針對中美貿易,為何川普總統會認為,以前的政府都不敢「直球對決」,以正面交涉的方式處理,為美國與美國人民爭取最大利益?
● 針對美中貿易戰,為何川普總統可以「有恃無恐」的堅持,難道他不怕從此美中關係決裂,損害更多利益?
● 如果川普總統說的是實話,以前的政府(總統)都遭到中國政府海削,如果不是團隊無能,那麼就是刻意為之,試討論背後可能原因?
相關單字:direct talk(直接對談)、being persevered(堅持不懈的)、break-up(名詞,決裂)、damage(動詞或名詞,損害)、incapable(無能的)、purposely(刻意地)
責任編輯:亦潔