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我为什么害怕过春节
添加时间:2016-02-11 21:40:01 浏览次数: 作者:未知
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  • For me, Chinese New Year used to be fun.

    对于我来说,过去感觉过年很有意思呢。

    When I was a kid, I was excited during Chinese New Year when I got lai see and I could stay up late. I even had access to candy, a once-a-year treat while living under the roof of my Tiger Mom.

    孩提时的我,一到过年就兴奋不已,我虽平日生活在我家虎妈的“淫威”下,但过年我就可以收到红包了,可以熬夜了,甚至还有机会收到一年才能吃到一次的糖果了。

    Riding strong on the sugar highs, I always thought to myself, this is what it must feel like to be an adult. I was flush, free and giddy.

    糖果的甜味久久回味,小时候我一直以为,这就是长大成人的感觉,长大了就可以有了一片无拘无束任自己自由驰骋的天地。

    Then at some point in my twenties, Chinese New Year became a chore. Not any garden variety chore, but a cold-sweat-inducing family obligation that I try hard to avoid.

    后来,到了我二十多岁的时候,农历新年却变得很苦逼。各种苦逼问题劈头盖脸般扑向你,而我在设法逃避着这种令人冒冷汗的所谓的家庭责任。

    As an adult, Chinese New Year is an annual nightmare, for the following reasons:

    我长大成人了,农历新年与我而言就是一年一度的噩梦一场,有如下原因:

    1. I find it sucks when you are single

    你要是单身的话,那就糟透了

    Relatives feel that they have a right to judge you because you do share bits of DNA1, so, really, it's almost like they're judging themselves.

    亲戚们觉得自己有权干涉你的个人感情生活问题,因为你们毕竟部分血脉相连,所以他们说起你的感情问题来真的几乎就像是在说自己一样。

    Typically, the extended family gathers for Chinese New Year and spends an inordinate2 amount of time together, during which people get bored and focus their restlessness on judging the younger generation, particularly those who are single.

    通常情况下,中国新年全家聚在一起的时间比较长,全家聚在一起时一旦觉得无聊,他们就会转而把精力都集中在年轻一代人、特别是单身年轻人的身上。

    Singledom means a lack of responsibilities and responsibility-free people need to be reined3 in by the wisdom of elders, or they will be reckless with their directionless lives.

    单身则代表缺乏责任感,没有责任感的自由人就需要受长辈们的智慧牵制,否则他们的生活就会失去方向。

    Here are some unavoidable conversations at Chinese New Year. By "conversations" I really mean monologues4 by one Wise Elder or another, fired away at a particular Single Younger in a trance-like manner:

    下面的话题就是春节时一些无法避免的对话。这里的“对话” 指的是智者长辈单方面的冗长唠叨,他们陷入一种恍惚状态“指点着”单身的年轻人们:

    "Why don't you have a boyfriend? If you have a boyfriend, why don't you get married?"

    “你为什么还没有男朋友?要是你有男朋友,为什么还不结婚?”

    "Why are you not dieting at least a little bit? Second Cousin Yong Yong will have to start bringing clothes from America for you."

    “你为什么不少吃一点儿呢?二表哥永永(音译)得要从美国给你带衣服回来啦。”

    "What happened to your hair? Blue is not such a good color for us Chinese people."

    “你的头发怎么弄成这副样子了?把头发染成蓝色,这个颜色对于我们中国人来说,可不是什么好颜色。”

    "Are you saving up for an apartment? Why not? The most important thing in life is to have a roof over your head. You don't want to be homeless, do you? What if the economy collapses5 again? At least you will have an apartment."

    “你在攒钱准备买房吗?为什么还不攒钱准备买房呢?人这一辈子有地方住才是大事,你不想无家可归吧?是不是?如果经济再次不行了可怎么办呢?怎么说至少你也得有一套自己的房子住才行啊。”

    "Why don't you get a better paid job? You are wasting your talent. You will regret your life."

    “你为什么不找一份薪水再高一些的工作呢?你白读了这么多年的书了。你会后悔你现在过的日子的。”

    2. I am employed

    我工作了

    I loved the great Chinese tradition of gifting lai see. Getting HK$20 for no reason other than tradition really rocked my seven-year-old world.

    我喜欢送红包这个优良传统。收到20元港币的红包着实震撼了七岁的我的小小世界。

    I have an income now, so twenty bucks6 here and there doesn't make a huge difference, but I still retain that childhood anticipation7 for the red packets. It's just a bit disappointing when I open up an envelope and it isn't concealing9 a massive check.

    目前我有了一份自己的收入,因此,这二十块钱无法让我再生感动之情,但我还是对童年收红包的传统习惯有了期待。只是当我打开红包时,看一下红包里面装的钱太少了时,那令人失望的表情丝毫不加掩饰。

    And it's the guilt10 from feeling disappointed that makes me really hate Chinese New Year for making me hate myself.

    而且自己感觉又内疚又失望,这让我真的很讨厌过年,我恨我自己。

    It's just like being unable to conceal8 your letdown expression when unwrapping that pair of socks at Secret Santa parties.

    这就像是当你打开一双秘密圣诞老人的袜子时,你表露出的那种无法掩饰的失望表情。

    Gifting is a heartwarming tradition. It's the thought that counts. I am not supposed to care. I am a bad person.

    送礼物是一种让人感觉温馨的优良传统,重在心意。我本不该在乎礼物轻重的,我真是个地道的大坏蛋。

    There's even worse.

    还有更糟糕的。

    Chinese New Year gambling11 is just out of hand.

    春节赌博可谓是到了一发不可收拾的地步。

    Now that I have a job, I'm expected to bet real money at The Mahjong Table, a no man's land filled with hidden agendas, treacherous12 scheming and Janus-faced traitors13.

    现在,我有了一份工作,我盼着在麻将桌上动真格的赢点钱,如同无人区满藏各种制敌取胜的奸诈心计一样算计着赢钱。

    If you beat your elder relatives at mahjong one too many times, beware their wrath14. It really hurts when you get hit by a mahjong tile.

    如果你打麻将总赢你的长辈亲戚们,当心惹恼他们是会向你飞来一个麻将牌的,麻将牌打到身上真是很疼的。

     10级    双语 


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    1 DNA [ˌdi: en ˈeɪ] 4u3z1l   第8级
    (缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸
    参考例句:
    • DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell. 脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
    • Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code. 基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。
    2 inordinate [ɪnˈɔ:dɪnət] c6txn   第10级
    adj.无节制的;过度的
    参考例句:
    • The idea of this gave me inordinate pleasure. 我想到这一点感到非常高兴。
    • James hints that his heroine's demands on life are inordinate. 詹姆斯暗示他的女主人公对于人生过于苛求。
    3 reined [reind] 90bca18bd35d2cee2318d494d6abfa96   第7级
    勒缰绳使(马)停步( rein的过去式和过去分词 ); 驾驭; 严格控制; 加强管理
    参考例句:
    • Then, all of a sudden, he reined up his tired horse. 这时,他突然把疲倦的马勒住了。
    • The officer reined in his horse at a crossroads. 军官在十字路口勒住了马。
    4 monologues [ˈmɔnəlɔɡz] b54ccd8f001b9d8e09b1cb0a3d508b10   第8级
    n.(戏剧)长篇独白( monologue的名词复数 );滔滔不绝的讲话;独角戏
    参考例句:
    • That film combines real testimonials with monologues read by actors. 电影中既有真人讲的真事,也有演员的独白。 来自互联网
    • Her monologues may help her make sense of her day. 她的独白可以帮助她让她一天的感觉。 来自互联网
    5 collapses [kə'læpsɪz] 9efa410d233b4045491e3d6f683e12ed   第7级
    折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 ); 倒塌; 崩溃; (尤指工作劳累后)坐下
    参考例句:
    • This bridge table collapses. 这张桥牌桌子能折叠。
    • Once Russia collapses, the last chance to stop Hitler will be gone. 一旦俄国垮台,抑止希特勒的最后机会就没有了。
    6 bucks [bʌks] a391832ce78ebbcfc3ed483cc6d17634   第8级
    n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 );钱;(英国十九世纪初的)花花公子;(用于某些表达方式)责任v.(马等)猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 );抵制;猛然震荡;马等尥起后蹄跳跃
    参考例句:
    • They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
    • They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    7 anticipation [ænˌtɪsɪˈpeɪʃn] iMTyh   第8级
    n.预期,预料,期望
    参考例句:
    • We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival. 我们在车站等着,期待她的到来。
    • The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake. 各种动物都变得焦躁不安,像是感到了地震即将发生。
    8 conceal [kənˈsi:l] DpYzt   第7级
    vt.隐藏,隐瞒,隐蔽
    参考例句:
    • He had to conceal his identity to escape the police. 为了躲避警方,他只好隐瞒身份。
    • He could hardly conceal his joy at his departure. 他几乎掩饰不住临行时的喜悦。
    9 concealing [kənˈsi:lɪŋ] 0522a013e14e769c5852093b349fdc9d   第7级
    v.隐藏,隐瞒,遮住( conceal的现在分词 )
    参考例句:
    • Despite his outward display of friendliness, I sensed he was concealing something. 尽管他表现得友善,我还是感觉到他有所隐瞒。 来自《简明英汉词典》
    • SHE WAS BREAKING THE COMPACT, AND CONCEALING IT FROM HIM. 她违反了他们之间的约定,还把他蒙在鼓里。 来自英汉文学 - 三万元遗产
    10 guilt [gɪlt] 9e6xr   第7级
    n.犯罪;内疚;过失,罪责
    参考例句:
    • She tried to cover up her guilt by lying. 她企图用谎言掩饰自己的罪行。
    • Don't lay a guilt trip on your child about schoolwork. 别因为功课责备孩子而使他觉得很内疚。
    11 gambling [ˈgæmblɪŋ] ch4xH   第7级
    n.赌博;投机
    参考例句:
    • They have won a lot of money through gambling. 他们赌博赢了很多钱。
    • The men have been gambling away all night. 那些人赌了整整一夜。
    12 treacherous [ˈtretʃərəs] eg7y5   第9级
    adj.不可靠的,有暗藏的危险的;adj.背叛的,背信弃义的
    参考例句:
    • The surface water made the road treacherous for drivers. 路面的积水对驾车者构成危险。
    • The frozen snow was treacherous to walk on. 在冻雪上行走有潜在危险。
    13 traitors [ˈtreɪtəz] 123f90461d74091a96637955d14a1401   第7级
    卖国贼( traitor的名词复数 ); 叛徒; 背叛者; 背信弃义的人
    参考例句:
    • Traitors are held in infamy. 叛徒为人所不齿。
    • Traitors have always been treated with contempt. 叛徒永被人们唾弃。
    14 wrath [rɒθ] nVNzv   第7级
    n.愤怒,愤慨,暴怒
    参考例句:
    • His silence marked his wrath. 他的沉默表明了他的愤怒。
    • The wrath of the people is now aroused. 人们被激怒了。

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