王了一《请客》 -英语翻译教程-中英双语赏析

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请客

王了一

 

中国人是最喜欢请客的一个民族。从抢付车费,抢会钞,以至于大宴客,没有一件事不足以表示中国是一个礼让之邦。我的钱就是你的钱,你的钱就是我的钱,大家不分彼此;你可以吃我的,用我的,因为咱们是一家人。这种情形,西洋人觉得很奇怪。恕我浅陋,我没有见过西洋人抢付过车费,或抢会过钞。我们在欧洲做学生的时代,因为穷,大家也主张“西化”,饭馆里吃饭,各自付各自的钱,相约不抢着会钞。西洋人宴客是有的,但是极不容易有一次,最普通的只是来一个茶会,并不像中国人这样常常请朋友吃饭。这些事情,都显得中国人比西洋人更慷慨更会应酬。

 

其实,中国人这种应酬是利用人们喜欢占便宜的心理。不花钱可以白坐车,白吃饭,白看戏,等等,受惠的人应该是高兴的。一高兴,再高兴,二高兴,高兴的次数越多,被请的人对于请客的人就越有好印象。如果被请的人比我的地位高,他可以“有求必应”助我升官发财;如果被请的人比我的地位低,他也可以到处吹嘘,逢人说项,增加我的声誉,间接地于我有益。中国人向来主张“受人钱财,与人消灾”的,不花钱而可以白坐车,白吃饭,白看戏,也就等于受人钱财,若不与人消灾,就该为人造福。由此看来,请客乃是一种“小往大来”的政策,请客的钱不是白花的。知道了这一个道理,我们就明白为什么对于亲弟兄计较锱铢,甚至对于结发夫妻不肯“共产”的人,为请客而挥霍千金,毫无吝啬;又明白为什么家无儋石、对泣牛衣的人偏有请客的闲钱。原来大多数人的请客不是目的,而是手段;不是慷慨,而是权谋!

 

青蚨在荷包里飞出去是令人心痛的,而“小往大来”的远景却是诱惑人的。在这极矛盾的心情之下,可就苦了那些一毛不拔的悭吝者。当在抢付车费,抢会钞,或抢买戏票的时候,为了面子关系,不好意思不“抢”,为了荷包关系,却又不敢坚持要“抢”,结果是得收手时且收手,面子顾全了,荷包仍旧不空。最糟糕的是遇着了同道的人,你一抢他就放松,结果是“求仁得仁”,却变了哑子吃黄连,心里有说不出的苦。不过,悭吝的人也未尝不请客;有时候,他们请客的次数要比普通人更多,因为吝者必贫,贫者毕竟抵不住那“小往大来”的远景的诱惑。于是他们想拿最低的代价去博取最大的利益;每次请客吃饭,东西拣最便宜的吃,分量越少越好,最好是使客人容易饱,容易腻,而主人所费又不多。甚至连请几天,昨晚剩的菜今天还可以吃,虽然让客人吃别人的余唾颇为不恭,然而请客毕竟是请客,余唾吃了之后,仍旧不怕他不说一声“谢谢”。这是手段之中有手段,权谋之外有权谋!

 

话又说回来了,请客真的是一种好风气吗?真的能联络感情吗?我曾经亲耳听见抢会了钞的人背面骂那让步不坚持要抢的人,说他小气,说他卑鄙。我又曾经亲耳听见吃了人家的酒饭的人一出大门就批评主人:五熘鱼只有半边,清炖鸡只有半只,烟臭如莸酒淡如水,厨子烹调无术,主人招待不周!可见中国既有了抢付钱的习俗,不抢付钱竟像是私德有亏于友谊有损;又有了滥请客的风尚,不请客的固然被认为不善交际,请客如果请得不痛快,那钱也只等于白花。勿谓郇厨既扰既尽衔恩;须防金碗虽倾,终难饱德。老饕未餍,微禄半销!“小往大来”的请客哲学真是害人不浅!

 

被请的人有时候也很苦:明知受人钱财就得与人消灾,但是又没有拒绝的勇气,于是计划“还席”或“回客”。受了人家的好处,再奉还若干好处给人家,这样就算两相抵消,不再报答的责任。其实这样设想是自寻烦恼。最干脆的办法是既不请人,也不怕被人请。如果有人抢着代我付车费或会钞,我就一声不响地,让我的青蚨“回龙”。如果有人请我吃大菜,我就两肩承一口,去吃了就走,不耐烦道一声谢,更不理会什么是一饭之恩。假使人人如此,中国可以归真反朴,社会上可以少许多虚伪的行为。而政府也不再需要提倡俭约和禁止宴会了。

 

请客

王了一

Playing the Host

By Wang Liaoyi

 

中国人是最喜欢请客的一个民族。从抢付车费,抢会钞,以至于大宴客,没有一件事不足以表示中国是一个礼让之邦。

Chinese people are most fond of being the host. Rushing to pay bus fare, vying to buy a meal, or even giving a banquet – all of these demonstrate that China is a land of manners and propriety.

🎈vie v.激烈竞争,争夺

to compete strongly with sb in order to obtain or achieve sth

和某人争夺某物 vie with sb for sth

争先恐后做某事 vie to do sth

彼此争抢生意的一排饭馆a row of restaurants vying with each other for business

例句

Screaming fans vied to get closer to their idol.

尖声喊叫的崇拜者争先恐后地涌向他们的偶像。


 

我的钱就是你的钱,你的钱就是我的钱,大家不分彼此;你可以吃我的,用我的,因为咱们是一家人。

It is the common mindset that my house is your house and your house is mine, because we share everything. You can share my meal and use my property, because we are family.

🎈mindset n.思维模式,思想倾向

例句

The greatest challenge for the Americans is understanding the mindset of Eastern Europeans.

对于美国人来说,最大的挑战在于理解东欧人的思维方式。

🎈property n. 财产,资产,所有物


 

这种情形,西洋人觉得很奇怪。恕我浅陋,我没有见过西洋人抢付过车费,或抢会过钞。

This may sound odd to Westerners, but please forgive my ignorance. I have never seen Westerners fall over each other to settle a bill or buy a meal.

🎈被 … 绊倒;几乎被 … 绊倒fall over sb/sth

例句

I rushed for the door and fell over the cat in the hallway.

我冲向门口,在过道被猫绊了一跤。

特别卖力,迫不及待,煞费苦心,不遗余力fall over yourself to do sth

例句

He was falling over himself to be nice to me.

他尽力对我友好。

🎈结账 settle account/settle a bill


 

我们在欧洲做学生的时代,因为穷,大家也主张“西化”,饭馆里吃饭,各自付各自的钱,相约不抢着会钞。

When we studied in Europe, we all lived in straitened circumstances and so agreed to live as Westerners do. Before going out to the restaurant, we would arrange in advance to share the cost, and would not rush to foot the bill.

🎈在…情况/条件下in / under … circumstances

贫困,困顿straitened circumstances

有利条件favorable circumstances

逆境/不利条件adverse / unfavorable circumstances

例外的/特殊的情况exceptional / special / unusual circumstances

无法避免/无法预测的情况unavoidable / unforeseen circumstances

经济/财政/政治/社会状况(环境)economic / financial / political / social circumstances

🎈各付各的账≠平摊

(同某人)各付各的账go Dutch (with sb) /share the cost

平摊,AA制 split the bill/check


 

西洋人宴客是有的,但是极不容易有一次,最普通的只是来一个茶会,并不像中国人这样常常请朋友吃饭。这些事情,都显得中国人比西洋人更慷慨更会应酬。

Westerners also entertain, but only once in a blue moon, and often they give nothing more than a tea party. They do not treat friends to dinner as frequently as we Chinese, so in this sense they seem less generous and sociable than us.

🎈百年难得一遇 be hard to come by even once in a century或once-in-a-lifetime

千载难逢,不可能或稀有的时期或事情a blue moon

例句

Sue’s daughter only visits her once in a blue moon.

苏的女儿很少来看她。

🎈供养(招待/款待)treat sb. to sth.

例句

郭沫若《路畔的蔷薇》

蔷薇哟,我虽然不能供养你以春酒,但我要供养你以清洁的流泉,清洁的素心。

O dear roses, though unable to treat you to spring wine, I could offer you limpid spring water and my sincere pure heart.


 

其实,中国人这种应酬是利用人们喜欢占便宜的心理。不花钱可以白坐车,白吃饭,白看戏,等等,受惠的人应该是高兴的。一高兴,再高兴,二高兴,高兴的次数越多,被请的人对于请客的人就越有好印象。

But in reality, the Chinese entertain in hopes of making small gains at another’s expense. The man who enjoys a free bus tour, a free meal and a free play should be happy. If he is treated time and time again, he will be in seventh heaven, and the more times he is entertained, the better impression he will have of the host.

🎈屡次,经常 time and time again

例句

吴冠中《毁画》

将有遗憾的次品一批批,一次次张挂起来审查,一次次淘汰,一次次刀下留人,一次次重新定案。

I would hang up on the wall my problematic paintings batch by batch and time and time again for rigorous screening.

🎈七重天,极乐世界,至福seventh heaven

例句

After I was given my first camera I was in seventh heaven.

我得到我的第一台照相机后开心极了。


 

如果被请的人比我的地位高,他可以“有求必应”助我升官发财;如果被请的人比我的地位低,他也可以到处吹嘘,逢人说项,增加我的声誉,间接地于我有益。

If he has a higher status, he can help his host get rich or achieve power when the moment is right. If he has a lower position, he surely will boast about the host’s generosity and lavish praise on him for his hospitality wherever the guest goes. This in turn will help enhance the reputation of the host and indirectly be to his advantage.

🎈boast的两种用法:

1)吹牛,夸口…boast of / about …或boast that …

2)(sth作主语)拥有 sth boast…

例句

Often a valley boasted no inn at all, …

通常村子里都没有客栈……

🎈过分给予,滥施 lavish sth on sth/sb

例句

She lavishes most of her attention on her youngest son.

她对她小儿子过于关爱。

🎈 in turn

1)依次

例句

Let’s look at each of these in turn.

让我们依次看看这些。

2)轮流

例句

All women would take turns to do cooking for one year.

妇女轮班煮饭,轮到就煮一年。

3)反过来

例句

The climate change also makes the earth warmer. In turn, the warmth of the earth changes the climate, too.

气候变化导致全球气温升高,反之,地球的升温也在改变气候。


 

中国人向来主张“受人钱财,与人消灾”的,不花钱而可以白坐车,白吃饭,白看戏,也就等于受人钱财,若不与人消灾,就该为人造福。

The Chinese have always felt that those who receive favors should help forestall misfortunes. Accepting a free bus tour, a free meal, or a free play is tantamount to agreeing to a contract, and in exchange the individual is duty-bound to come to the aid of his benefactor when called upon.

🎈forestall v. 预先阻止,在(他人)之前行动,先发制人

例句

O’Leary made to open the door, but Bunbury forestalled him by laying a hand on his arm.

奥利里想去开门,但是邦伯里抢先一把摁住了他的胳膊。

🎈责无旁贷,义不容辞 be duty-bound to do sth

例句

I felt duty bound to help.

我觉得我有责任帮上一把。

后缀-bound用于名词后构成形容词表示“离不开…的”,“难以离开…的”,如desk-bound需要一直伏案的、wheelchair-bound只能呆在轮椅上。


 

由此看来,请客乃是一种“小往大来”的政策,请客的钱不是白花的。

As can be seen, entertaining is really a way of achieving a good return on a small investment. The money spent on entertaining is certainly not spent for nothing.

🎈As can be seen是定语从句,as关系代词作从句的主语,代指整个主句。

🎈白花钱 spend money for nothing

在世上白白走一遭pass through this world for nothing at all


 

知道了这一个道理,我们就明白为什么对于亲弟兄计较锱铢,甚至对于结发夫妻不肯“共产”的人,为请客而挥霍千金,毫无吝啬;

Knowing this, we can understand why the person who haggles with his brother over every penny or refuses to share his assets with his wife will never begrudge a thousand pieces of gold to entertain some honored guest.

🎈(和某人)讨价还价 haggle with sb over sth

锱铢必较haggle over every penny

例句

I left him in the market haggling over the price of a shirt.

我扔下他自己在市场上就一件衬衫讨价还价。

🎈begrudge v. 勉强做,不乐意地做(或付出)

to feel unhappy about having to do, pay or give sth

常用搭配 ~(doing) sth

例句

I begrudge every second I spent trying to help him.

我为了帮助他而花掉的每一秒钟都令我不痛快。


 

又明白为什么家无儋石、对泣牛衣的人偏有请客的闲钱。

We can also see why the person who does not even know where the next meal comes from and who wraps up in thin clothes during the freezing winter will gladly scrape together enough money to play the host.

🎈 (艰难地)凑齐,筹集scrape together/up sth

例句

We managed to scrape together eight volunteers.

我们好不容易凑齐八名志愿者。


 

原来大多数人的请客不是目的,而是手段;不是慷慨,而是权谋!

Who would have thought that entertaining is not an end, but a means? It is not generosity, but trickery!

🎈trickery n. 欺骗,欺诈,耍花招,招摇撞骗

the use of dishonest methods to trick people in order to achieve what you want


 

青蚨在荷包里飞出去是令人心痛的,而“小往大来”的远景却是诱惑人的。在这极矛盾的心情之下,可就苦了那些一毛不拔的悭吝者。

It grieves me to see money fly out of my wallet, but the prospect of getting a huge return on a small investment is tempting. This mental conflict is indeed excruciating for tight-fisted misers.

🎈青蚨:传说中的虫名,别称蚨蝉、蟱蜗、蒲虻、鱼父、鱼伯等,原型可能是田鳖、桂花蝉。传说青蚨生子,母与子分离后必会聚回一处。人用青蚨母子血各涂在钱上,涂母血的钱或涂子血的钱用出后必会飞回,所以有“青蚨还钱”之说,“青蚨”也成了钱的代称。

🎈tight-fisted adj. 吝啬的,小气的,抠门的

not willing to spend or give much money


 

当在抢付车费,抢会钞,或抢买戏票的时候,为了面子关系,不好意思不“抢”,为了荷包关系,却又不敢坚持要“抢”,结果是得收手时且收手,面子顾全了,荷包仍旧不空。

When paying for a bus ticket, a meal or a film ticket, he may feel compelled to do it for the sake of face; however, when thinking of his wallet, he lacks the nerve to insist on paying. Instead, he holds himself back and controls his hand at the right time, so in this way can save face without seeing his cash dwindle.

🎈compel v.迫使[出于外在压力]

impel v. 迫使[出于内心动力]

必须做某事…be / feel compelled/impelled to do [两种表达区别同上]

🎈nerve

n. 勇气,胆量,气魄

v. 使鼓起勇气,使振作精神(搭配为nerve oneself to do sth)

例句

He never got up enough nerve to meet me.

他从没有足够的胆量来见我。

I nerved myself to face the pain.

我鼓足勇气去面对痛苦。

🎈挽回面子save face

例句

She was fired, but she saved face by telling everyone she’d resigned.

明明是给解雇了,但她爱面子,逢人便说是她辞职了。


 

最糟糕的是遇着了同道的人,你一抢他就放松,结果是“求仁得仁”,却变了哑子吃黄连,心里有说不出的苦。

The worst is meeting up with a person who thinks the same way! If you rush forward, he will stay back, and so you may well ‘gain your heart’s desire’, but you will have to suffer in silence like a dumb person eating bitter herbs.

🎈(按照安排)见面,会面 meet up (with sb)

例句

They met up again later for a drink.

后来他们又在一起喝过酒。


 

不过,悭吝的人也未尝不请客;有时候,他们请客的次数要比普通人更多,因为吝者必贫,贫者毕竟抵不住那“小往大来”的远景的诱惑。

Stingy persons, however, do not begrudge entertaining all the time; sometimes they entertain more often than ordinary people. Misers are by nature destitute, and poor people, after all, cannot resist the temptation of getting a big return on a small investment.

🎈小气的,吝啬的 tight/fisted或stingy

吝啬鬼,守财奴a miser

🎈生性、天生地by nature

例句

《哀互生》

他性情本有些狷介,但为了立达,也常去看一班大人先生……

He was by nature an honest man, but for the sake of Lida, he had to go and see important people…


 

于是他们想拿最低的代价去博取最大的利益;每次请客吃饭,东西拣最便宜的吃,分量越少越好,最好是使客人容易饱,容易腻,而主人所费又不多。

So they rack their brains to reap the biggest profit at the lowest price—on these occasions the host will serve the cheapest food in the smallest dishes. Hopefully, the menu selected can fill his guests to overflowing, yet still be cheap enough for his budget.

🎈绞尽脑汁 rack one’s brains

🎈reap v.收割(农作物)→引申为「收获、获得」

收割谷子reap the corn

享受成果,承担后果reap a/the harvest

种瓜得瓜,种豆得豆you reap what you sow


 

甚至连请几天,昨晚剩的菜今天还可以吃,虽然让客人吃别人的余唾颇为不恭,然而请客毕竟是请客,余唾吃了之后,仍旧不怕他不说一声“谢谢”。

Sometimes, he may entertain for a few days on end, for what is left over from the previous night can be served again today. Though it is disrespectful to treat the guest to leftovers, entertaining is, after all, entertaining. After dinner, he does not fear that his guests will begrudge a ‘thank you’ for his efforts.

🎈on end

1)直立,竖着=upright

例句

He placed the box on end and sat on it.

他把箱子竖放起来,坐了上去。

2)连续地=continuously =in a row=successively

例句

They argued for two hours on end.

他们连续争吵了2个小时。

🎈剩下,残留 be left over

残羹剩饭 leftovers

例句

There was lots of food left over.

饭菜剩下了不少。

 


这是手段之中有手段,权谋之外有权谋!话又说回来了,请客真的是一种好风气吗?真的能联络感情吗?

There is means behind means and trickery behind trickery! My question is this: Is entertaining really good social practice? Can it really enhance friendship?

🎈手段之中有手段 There is means behind means

梦中梦a dream within a dream

🎈促进/加深友谊enhance friendship


 

我曾经亲耳听见抢会了钞的人背面骂那让步不坚持要抢的人,说他小气,说他卑鄙。

On one occasion I heard a companion who had just paid for a meal curse his other companion for holding back and not insisting on paying. He even accused him of being mean and tight-fisted!

🎈因……咒骂……curse sth/sb/oneself for (doing) sth

例句

He cursed himself for his stupidity.

他咒骂自己愚蠢。

🎈因某事指责某人

accuse sb. of sth.(强调情绪性)

blame sb. for sth./blame sth. on sb. (强调某人应对某事负责)

censure sb. for sth.(严厉指责)

condemn/denounce … for / as … [因…谴责…/把…谴责为…]

scold sb. for sth.(强调长辈对晚辈)

rebuke / reprimand sb. for sth.(上级对下级)

admonish sb. for sth.(温和告诫)


 

我又曾经亲耳听见吃了人家的酒饭的人一出大门就批评主人:五熘鱼只有半边,清炖鸡只有半只,烟臭如莸酒淡如水,厨子烹调无术,主人招待不周!

On another occasion I heard a guest who had just eaten his fill complain about the host the moment he left the house: Only half a fish was sautéd and half a chicken was stewed; the tobacco smelt like odorous grass and the liquor tasted like water; the cook’s skill was wretched, and the host was inhospitable!

🎈喝个饱,喝个痛快 drink one’s fill

吃个饱,吃个痛快 eat one’s fill

吃饱喝足 eat and drink one’s fill

例句

丰子恺《秋》

我准拟作诗,作画,或痛饮,漫游。

I planned to write a poem, paint a picture, drink my fill, or go on an excursion.

🎈sauté v. 嫩煎,炒 to fry food quickly in a little hot fat

stew v. 炖,煨,焖to cook sth slowly, or allow sth to cook slowly, in liquid in a closed dish

sauté potatoes煎土豆

sauté vegetable炒青菜

stewed meat炖肉

🎈inhospitable adj. 不殷勤待客的,不好客的

not giving a friendly or polite welcome to guests

hospitable adj. 好客的,热情友好的,殷勤的

对……友好热情 be hospitable to sb


 

可见中国既有了抢付钱的习俗,不抢付钱竟像是私德有亏于友谊有损;又有了滥请客的风尚,不请客的固然被认为不善交际,请客如果请得不痛快,那钱也只等于白花。

Since the Chinese have made it a practice to rush to pay, they fear that failing to do so might compromise their personal morals and friendships. Again, since they have made it a custom to entertain, those who never play the host are thought to be bad at interpersonal skills. On the other hand, if you entertain in a less than lavish way, the money spent will go for nothing.

🎈practice n.通常的做法,惯例,常规

a way of doing sth that is the usual or expected way in a particular organization or situation

例句

religious practices宗教习俗

🎈compromise v. 使自己声誉受损,违背(原则、信念等)

to do sth that is against your principles or does not reach standards that you have set

to compromise one’s principles在原则问题上妥协

to compromise on safety standards在安全问题上放松

🎈近义词辨析

habit: 侧重于自然养成的,不易去掉的个人习惯。

custom: 指一个国家、一个民族、一个地区或一个社会的习惯、行为方式或风俗习惯。也可指个人的习惯。

manners: 指在某一时期或某一团体中盛行的社会礼仪或社会风俗模式。

🎈sage: 指持续时间长,为很多人公认采纳的惯例、习俗。

practice: 常指习惯性的做法或行为。

convention: 多指约定俗成的行为方式规则或公认的标准,或指艺术上公认的技巧。

tradition: 广义指世代相传的伦理、行为规范和生活方式,特指因长久奉行而几乎具有法律效力的习惯、习俗,侧重历史意义。


 

勿谓郇厨既扰既尽衔恩;须防金碗虽倾,终难饱德。老饕未餍,微禄半销!

You must not think that those who have sampled your delicacies will remember your kindness. Even if your golden bowl has been emptied, they may not be satisfied. Before the old glutton is gratified, half your meager salary may be gone!

🎈郇厨:唐朝的韦陟袭封郇国公,家中饮食奢靡,人称“郇公厨”。

🎈饕餮,一种很贪婪能吃的凶兽;老饕,一般指爱好美食的人,一般尝过很多,品鉴也很有经验。延伸代指贪心的人还没有满足。

🎈sample v.品尝

to try a small amount of a particular food to see what it is like

glutton n.贪吃者a person who eats too much

🎈微薄的薪水 meager salary

微薄的利润 meager profit


 

“小往大来”的请客哲学真是害人不浅!

This is an illustration of the great harm our quest for great benefits at a small cost can do to its practitioners!

🎈寻求,追求某物 (in) quest of/for sth

对幸福/知识/真理的追求the quest for happiness/knowledge/truth

例句

He set off in quest of adventure.

他出行探险去了。

🎈对……有害do harm to sb/sth

结构划分:This is an illustration of the great harm (that) (our quest for great benefits at a small cost can do /to its practitioners)


 

被请的人有时候也很苦:明知受人钱财就得与人消灾,但是又没有拒绝的勇气,于是计划“还席”或“回客”。受了人家的好处,再奉还若干好处给人家,这样就算两相抵消,不再报答的责任。

Sometimes the guest will also feel grieved, for he knows very well that he who receives favors has to help forestall misfortunes, yet he does not have the heart to decline the goodness of the host. Consequently he must plan to give a dinner in return, from which he expects to cancel out the favors he has received.

🎈作为对……的回报/报答in return for sth

例句

Can I buy you lunch in return for your help?

为感谢你的帮助,我请你吃午饭好吗?

🎈抵消,对消 cancel out sth

例句

Recent losses have cancelled out any profits made at the start of the year.

最近的亏损与年初的盈利相抵消。

The advantages and disadvantages would appear to cancel each other out.

看来是利弊参半。


 

其实这样设想是自寻烦恼。最干脆的办法是既不请人,也不怕被人请。

To me, thinking this way is simply asking for trouble. The best policy is to avoid playing the host and not to concern oneself with being entertained.

🎈请客play the host/entertain guests

🎈关心、关注某事concern oneself with sth

例句

I didn’t concern myself with politics.

我不关心政治。


 

如果有人抢着代我付车费或会钞,我就一声不响地,让我的青蚨“回龙”。

If someone races to pay my bus fare or buy me a meal, I will quietly put my money back in my wallet.

🎈抢着做某事 vie/rush/race to do sth


 

如果有人请我吃大菜,我就两肩承一口,去吃了就走,不耐烦道一声谢,更不理会什么是一饭之恩。

If someone offers to treat me to a business dinner, I will go empty-handed, leave right after meal, never bother to say thanks, and show no gratitude to the host.

🎈费心做某事bother to do sth

例句

《维护团结的人》

“……宰相肚子里撑大船,不跟他一般见识。”

“……As the saying goes, a Prime Minister’s heart is big enough for a boat to sail. So you needn’t bother to reason with him.”


 

假使人人如此,中国可以归真反朴,社会上可以少许多虚伪的行为。而政府也不再需要提倡俭约和禁止宴会了。

If everyone did this, the Chinese might yet return to a more normal existence, and there would be much less hypocrisy among us. Then the government would no longer need to encourage thrift and forbid banquets.

🎈 much less

1)更少 [此时much修饰less]

例句

Exogamy remains much less prevalent among African Americans.

异族婚姻在非洲裔美国人中仍然很少见。

2)更不用说,更何况 [=even/still less]

例句

No explanation was offered, still less an apology.

连个解释都不给,就更不用说道歉了。

🎈thrift n. 节约;节俭

thrifty adj.节俭的

过着俭朴的生活 live/lead a thrifty life

 

🎈重点表达

争先恐后做某事 vie to do sth

抢着做某事 vie/rush/race to do sth

结账 settle account/settle a bill

在…情况/条件下in / under … circumstances

贫困,困顿straitened circumstances

同某人)各付各的账go Dutch (with sb) /share the cost

千载难逢;不可能或稀有的时期或事情a blue moon

供养(招待/款待)treat sb. to sth

七重天;极乐世界;至福seventh heaven

屡次;经常 time and time again

吹牛,夸口…boast of / about …

过分给予;滥施 lavish sth on sth/sb

责无旁贷,义不容辞 be duty-bound to do sth

白花钱 spend money for nothing

(和某人)讨价还价 haggle with sb over sth

(艰难地)凑齐,筹集scrape together/up sth

必须做某事…be / feel compelled to do

挽回面子save face

(按照安排)见面,会面 meet up (with sb)

小气的;吝啬的 tight/fisted或stingy

吝啬鬼,守财奴a miser

生性、天生地by nature

绞尽脑汁 rack one’s brains

促进/加深友谊enhance friendship

因……咒骂……curse sth/sb/oneself for (doing) sth

因某事指责某人 accuse sb. of sth.

吃个饱,吃个痛快 eat one’s fill

微薄的薪水 meager salary

寻求,追求某物 (in) quest of/for sth

对……有害do harm to sb/sth

作为对……的回报/报答in return for sth

抵消;对消 cancel out sth

请客play the host/entertain guests

关心、关注某事concern oneself with sth

费心做某事bother to do sth

未经允许不得转载:帕布莉卡 » 王了一《请客》 -英语翻译教程-中英双语赏析

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