YFT的美篇

YFT

The Dominant Position of English as A Core Subject Remains Unshakable
英语的主科地位不可撼动

The Ministry of Education has repeatedly emphasized this point.
教育部多次明确强调
The Dominant Position of English as A Core Subject Remains Unshakable
英语的主科地位不可撼动

Why English holds the primary subject status
为什么英语的主科地位
As a core subject is it truly unshakable?
如此不可撼动？
Many people ask:
许多人会问：
Why do we spend so much time learning English
为什么我们要花那么多的时间学习英语
And why has its position as a main subject remained unchanged?
它的主科地位为什么一直没有改变？

The answer is actually simple.
其实答案很简单
The core status of English
英语的主科地位
Comes from its practically, necessity and the needs of modern development
这源于它的适用性和必要性以及时代发展的需求
It is never accidental
这从来不是偶然的

First of all
首先
English is an important tool for us to connect with the world and communicate with other.
英语是我们连接世界进行交流的工具。
Today’s world is becoming more and more connected
当今的世界越来越紧密
And countries interact more closely than ever before.
各国之间的联系比以往更加频繁
More than 3billion people use or are exposed to English there daily lives.
全球有超过30亿人在日常生活中接触和使用英语
It is the most widely used language in the world
它是世界上使用最广泛的语言
And the common language of international communication
也是国际交流的通用语言
Whether we talk to foreigners face to face.
无论是与外国人面对面的交流
Read foreign books watch movies or travel and study abroad
还是阅读国外书籍，观看电影或者出国旅游和学习
English is always essential
英语都必不可少
Without English it is like closing a door to the world
如果不懂得英语就像关上了一扇通往世界的大门
It becomes difficult to understand new things
我们将很难了解新的事物
And communicate smoothly with people from other countries
也难于和世界各地的人顺畅地交流

Secondly
其次
English is the key to accessing advanced knowledge and improving ourselves
英语是获取前沿知识提升自我的关键
In the fields of science and academia English plays a particularly important role
在科学技术领域英语尤为重要
More than 80% of scientific literature and over 70% of internet content
全球80％以上的科技文献和70％以上的互联网信息
Are published in English
都是用英语发布的
Many advanced technologies and the latest research results are first recorded and shared I English
许多先进技术和最新成果,最先都是用英语记录和传播的
Without English
如果不懂英语
It is hard to quickly grasp cutting edge knowledge
就很难掌握前沿知识
Or keep up with the pace of development
也难以跟上时代发展的步伐

For students
对于学生来说
Mastering English means having more
学好英语就意味着在未来的学习中
Advantages in future study and work
和工作中有更多的优势
It also helps them improve their abilities
同时有助于提升自身的能力

Furthermore
再者
The core status of English is also related to
英语的主科地位也关系到
National development and educational fairness
国家发展和教育公平
The ministry of Education has repeatedly made it clear
教育部多次明确强调
That English remains one of the three main subjects in major exams
英语仍然是重要考试的三大主科之一
This will not change in the short term
这一点短期内不会改变
If English were no longer a core subject
如果英语不再是主科
Children from wealthy families could continue learning it through extra tutoring
富裕家庭的孩子仍可以通过课外辅导来学习它
While those from ordinary families might lose equal access to English education
而普通家庭的孩子可能会失去平等接触英语教育的机会
This could increase education inequality
这会加剧教育的不公平

At the same time
与此同时
A country’s openness participation in global conmpetition
国家的开放发展和参与全球竞争
Require its people to have basic English skills
也需要全民具备基本的英语能力
It also requires cultivating more internationally capable talent
国家还需要培养更多的具有国际视野的人才
The position of English as a core subject
因此，英语作为主科
Is therefore an important way to prepare talent for national development
是为国家的发展储备人才的调重要方式

Some people say that many individuals never use English in their lifetime
也有人说，很多人一辈子都用不上英语
So it should not be treated as a core subject
因此没必要把它作为主科
However this view is not complete
但这种看法并不全面
Learning English is not only about mastering a language
学习英语不仅仅是掌握一门语言
It also helps develop thinking skills
它还能培养思维能力
Communication ‘ability, and a global perspective
沟通能力和全球视野
Moreover, with deepening of globalization
而且随着全球化的深入
More and more jobs require basic English skills
越来越多的工作需要基础的英语能力
Even in ordinary service industries or cross border ecommerce
即使在普通服务行业或者跨境电商中
Knowing English be a clear advantage
懂英语也会成为加分项

The core status of English is that established without reason
英语的主科地位不是凭空确立的
Nor is it completely unchangeable
但它也不是一成不变的
However its importance remain for a long time
然而他的重要性将会保持很长一段时间
It is a bridge that connects us to the world
它是连接我们 世界的桥梁
It is a tool for self improvement
它是提升自我的工具
It is also a necessary for national development
它也是国家发展的需要
Foreigners' Catchphrases
老外口头禅

Actually
其实

What were his actual words?
他的原话是什么？
The actual cost was higher than we expected.
实际成本比我们预计的要高。

No, I'm not a student. I'm a doctor, actually.
不，我不是学生。实际上我是医生。
Some patients actually got worse after receiving the treatment.
有些病人在接受治疗后,病情事实上反而严重了。
I actually won the lottery!
我居然中奖了！

Absolutely
必须的

Joan is absolutely right.
琼绝对正确。
That's absolutely right.
那是完全正确的。
You're absolutely right.
你完全正确。
He made it absolutely clear.
他把此事讲得一清二楚。
She did absolutely no work.
她一丁点活儿也没有干。

Apparently
显然

Apparently they are getting divorced soon.
看样子，他们很快就要离婚。
He paused, apparently lost in thought.
他停顿下来，显然陷入了沉思。
I thought she had retired, but apparently (= in fact) she hasn't.
我原以为她退休了，但显然她还没有退。
The recent deterioration has been caused by an apparently endless recession...
看似永无止境的经济衰退导致了最近的恶化。
Rudolph said no more. Apparently he was a man of few words.
鲁道夫没再说话。看来他是个寡言少语的人。

Basically
基本上

Yes, that's basically correct.
对，基本正确。
The two approaches are basically very similar.
两种方法其实差不多。
There have been some problems but basically it's a good system.
虽然出现过一些问题，但这基本上仍不失为一个好系统。
used when you are giving your opinion or stating what is important about a situation 总的说来；从根本上说
Basically, there's not a lot we can do about it.
总的说来，我们对此做不了很多事。
He basically just sits there and does nothing all day.
他根本就是一天到晚坐在那儿无所事事。

Certainly
肯定

Without treatment, she will almost certainly die.
要是不治疗，她十有八九会死。
Certainly, the early years are crucial to a child's development.
毫无疑问，幼年对儿童的成长至关重要。
I'm certainly never going there again.
我肯定不会再去那里了。
In any case you remained friends.'— Certainly.
无论如何，你们都是好朋友吧。那当然。
The public is certainly getting tired of hearing about it...
关于此事，公众当然已经听腻了。

Definitely
绝对

I definitely remember sending the letter.
我记得这封信肯定发出去了。
Was it what you expected? Yes, definitely.
那是你所期待的吗？当然是。
Do you plan to have children? Definitely not!
你们打算要孩子吗？没这个打算！
Some old people want help; others most definitely do not.
有些老人想要得到帮助，有些却根本不需要。
Please say definitely whether you will be coming or not.
请说清楚，你来还是不来。

Eventually
最终

Our flight eventually left five hours late.
我们的班机最终晚了五个小时起飞。
I'll get round to mending it eventually.
我最后会抽出时间来修理它的。
Eventually, the army caught up with him in Latvia...
最终，大部队在拉脱维亚赶上了他。
The flight eventually got away six hours late.
那个航班推迟了6个小时后终于起飞。
Eventually your child will leave home
最后，你的孩子会离开家，
to lead her own life as a fully independent adult.
作为一个完全独立的成年人过她自己的生活。

Exactly
完全正确

I know exactly how she felt.
我完全清楚她的感受。
Do exactly as I tell you.
严格按我说的办。
It happened almost exactly a year ago.
这事情发生差不多正好一年了。
It's exactly nine o'clock.
现在是九点整。
You haven't changed at all─you still look exactly the same .
你一点没变——看上去完全是老样子。

Frankly
坦白地说

He spoke frankly about the ordeal.
他直率地讲出了苦难的经历。
They frankly admitted their responsibility.
他们坦率地承认了责任。
Frankly, I couldn't care less what happens to him.
说实话，我才不管他出什么事呢。
Quite frankly , I'm not surprised you failed.
老实说，我对你的失败不感到意外。
You don't give a damn about my feelings, do you.
你根本不在乎我的感受，是不是。
Quite frankly, I don't.
说老实话，是不在乎。

Honestly
老实说

I can't believe he got that money honestly.
我不相信他是靠正当手段弄到那笔钱的。
I didn't tell anyone, honestly!
我确实没告诉过任何人！
I honestly can't remember a thing about last night.
我实在想不起昨晚的事了。
You can't honestly expect me to believe that!
你休想指望我相信那种事！
Honestly! Whatever will they think of next?
真是的！他们下一步还会想什么？

Immediately
马上立即

She answered almost immediately.
她几乎立刻就回答了。
The point of my question may not be immediately apparent.
我的问题的要点可能不是一下子就能看出来的。
Turn right immediately after the church.
一过教堂就向右拐。
the years immediately before the war
战前的最后几年
Counselling is being given to those most immediately affected by the tragedy.
目前正在向惨剧的最直接受害者提供辅导服务。

Literally
字面意思

There are literally hundreds of prizes to win.
真的有好几百份奖品可以领呀。
I literally jumped out of my skin.
我简直给吓了一大跳。
The views are literally breath-taking.
景色美得简直让人窒息。
I literally crawled to the car.
我真的是爬到车那边去的。
The word 'volk' translates literally as 'folk'...
volk这个单词直译过来为folk（人们）。

Personally
就我个人而言

Personally, I prefer the second option.
就我个人而言，我倾向第二种选择。
Is it worth the effort? Speaking personally, yes.
值得为它费力气吗？就本人而言，值得。
All letters will be answered personally.
一切信函都将由本人亲自答复。
Do you know him personally
你本人认识他吗？
I'm sure she didn't mean it personally.
我相信她绝无冒犯之意。

Probably
可能是

You're probably right.
你很可能是对的。
It'll probably be OK.
这大概没有问题。
Is he going to be there? Probably.
他会去那里吗？大概吧。
Do we need the car? Probably not.
我们需要开车吗？大概不需要吧。
As you probably know, I'm going to be changing jobs soon.
你或许知道，我不久就要换工作了。

Typically
通常／一般

The factory typically produces 500 chairs a week.
这家工厂通常每周生产500把椅子。
A typically priced meal will be around $10.
一餐通常的价格为10元左右。
Typically American hospitality
美国人特有的殷勤好客
Mothers typically worry about their children.
母亲总爱挂念自己的子女。
Typically, she couldn't find her keys.
她果然又找不着自己的钥匙了。

Seriously
真的假的

They're seriously rich.
他们极为富有。
You're not seriously expecting me to believe that?
你不是真的以为我会相信那样的话吧？
They are seriously concerned about security.
他们非常关注安全问题。
Smoking can seriously damage your health.
吸烟会严重损害你的健康。
Seriously though, it could be really dangerous.
不过说实在的，这事说不好真的很危险。

Spring Birds Fly Freely.

春日鸟儿自由飞

好便宜

Cheap

便宜的，廉价的; 劣质的

cheap fares
便宜的交通费

a cheap and nasty bottle of wine
一瓶便宜的劣质葡萄酒
cheap perfume/jewellery/shoes
低价劣质香水 / 珠宝 / 鞋
Personal computers are cheap and getting cheaper.
个人电脑现在价格便宜，以后还会越来越便宜。
Cycling is a cheap way to get around.
骑自行车是一种省钱的旅游方式。

The printer isn't exactly cheap at £200.
这打印机价格为200英镑并不是很便宜。

We found a cheap and cheerful cafe.

我们找到了一家价格低廉、环境宜人的咖啡馆。

Immigrant workers, used as a source of cheap labour

作为廉价劳动力来源的移民工人

I'm going to live off campus if I can find somewhere cheap enough...
要是能找到足够便宜的地方，我就不在校园里住了。

Don't be so cheap!
别这么小气！

Oh, please, Dad, just this once don't be cheap.
哦，求求你，爸爸，就这一回，别抠门儿了。

He's just a cheap crook.
他简直是个卑鄙的骗子。
His treatment of her made her feel cheap .
他那样对待她使她感到很丢脸。

I was tired of his cheap jokes at my expense.
我讨厌他拿我开低级庸俗的玩笑。

A bargain

契约，协定; 交易; 特价商品; 便宜货;

bargain prices
廉价

it's a bargain.
这可真是个划算的买卖。

I picked up a few good bargains in the sale.
我在减价期间买了几样挺不错的便宜货。
The car was a bargain at that price.
那辆车的价格真便宜。

He and his partner had made a bargain to tell each other everything.
他和他的合伙人约定，要互通信息，毫无保留。

I've done what I promised and I expect you to keep your side of the bargain .
我已经履约，希望你也能遵守协议。

Finally the two sides struck a bargain .
双方最终达成了协议。

At this price the wine is a bargain...
这种葡萄酒卖这个价真是很便宜。
Fresh salmon is a bargain at the supermarket this week.
这周超市的新鲜鲑鱼特价销售。

They prefer to bargain with individual clients, for cash...
在现款方面，他们更愿意同散户打交道。

Shop in small local markets and don't be afraid to bargain.
在当地的小店购物，不要害怕砍价。

.a law firm with a reputation for driving a hard bargain.
在讲价方面颇有名气的律师事务所
This machine is designed to save you effort, and keep your work surfaces tidy into the bargain...
这种机器既省力，又能保持工作台面的整洁。
She is rich. Now you say she is a beauty into the bargain.
她很有钱。现在你又说她还是个美女。
Dealing with this dictator wasn't an option. He wouldn't have kept his side of the bargain.
别跟这个独裁者打交道，他不会信守诺言的。

A steal

偷窃; 便宜货; 便宜货;

Ii was a steal
这真是捡到宝了。

My wallet was stolen.
我的钱包给人偷了。
I had my wallet stolen .
我的钱包给人偷了。
Thieves stole jewellery worth over £10 000.
窃贼偷走了价值1万多英镑的珠宝。
It's a crime to handle stolen goods.
经销赃物是犯法的。
to steal sb's ideas
剽窃某人的观点

She stole out of the room so as not to wake the baby.
她生怕惊醒婴儿，蹑手蹑脚地从屋里出来。
A chill stole over her body.
她突然感到浑身发冷。
He tried to steal second base but was out.
他试图偷二垒但被判出局。

He was accused of stealing a small boy's bicycle...
他被指控偷了一个小男孩的自行车。
Bridge stole the money from clients' accounts...
布里奇从客户的账户里偷了钱。

A writer is suing director Steven Spielberg for allegedly stealing his film idea...一名作家正控告导演史蒂文·斯皮尔伯格涉嫌剽窃了他的电影创意。
His team solved the engineering problem by stealing an idea from nature.
他的团队从自然界获得灵感，解决了这个工程难题。
They can steal away at night and join us...
他们可以晚上偷偷溜出来和我们碰面。
Leroy stole up the hall to the parlor.
勒罗伊偷偷穿过门厅走到客厅。
At only £3.50, this champagne is a steal.
这瓶香槟酒只卖 3.50英镑，太便宜了。

Next
接下去; 然后; 居后地; 依次的;下一位; 下一个;

The next train to Baltimore is at ten.
下一趟去巴尔的摩的列车十点钟开。
The next six months will be the hardest.
接下来的六个月将是最难熬的。
the next chapter
下一章
Who's next?
下一位是谁？
the woman in the next room
隔壁房间里的女子

I fainted and the next thing I knew I was in the hospital.
我昏迷了，醒来时只知道自己在医院里。
(informal)Round here, you leave school at sixteen and next thing you know , you're married with three kids.
这一带的人十六岁中学毕业，接着就结婚，生三个孩子。
Next Thursday is 12 April.
下个星期四是4月12日。
Next time I'll bring a book.
下次我带本书来。

Let's plan a big night next week...
我们下周组织一次盛大的晚会吧。
He retires next January...
他明年一月退休。
The man in the next chair was asleep...
邻座的男士睡着了。
Next, close your eyes then screw them up tight...
接着，合上双眼，然后再用力闭紧。
I don't know what to do next...
我不知道接着该干什么了。

I next saw him at his house in Berkshire...
我在伯克郡他的家中再次见到了他。
When we next met, he was much more jovial.
我们再次见面时，他愉快多了。
The one thing he didn't have was a son. I think he's felt that a grandson is the next best thing...
他唯一缺的就是个儿子，我想他觉得有个外孙也不错。
At least three times more daffodils are grown than in Holland, the next largest grower.
水仙花的栽培量至少是第二种植大国荷兰的3倍。
the party's annual conference, to be held in Bournemouth the week after next.
下下周在伯恩茅斯举行的该党年会

I enjoy pleasure as much as the next person...
我和别人一样愉快。
I'm as ambitious as the next man. I'd like to manage at the very highest level.
我和别人一样雄心勃勃，想进入最高管理层。
I had leaned over to pick up some change, and the next thing I knew I felt this terrible pain in my ankle.
我俯身去拿那些零钱，接下来就突然感到脚踝剧痛。
She sat down next to him on the sofa.
她紧挨着他在沙发上坐下了。
at the southern end of the Gaza Strip next to the Egyptian border...
在紧靠埃及边境的加沙地带南端
Her children were the number two priority in her life next to her career...
对她而言，孩子们的重要性仅次于她的事业。

Nothing
没有东西; 没有事情; 无关紧要的东西;

For next to nothing
几乎不花什么钱
I got it for next to nothing
我几乎是白花钱就得到了它。
There was nothing in her bag.
她的包里什么都没有。
There's nothing you can do to help.
你什么忙也帮不上。
The doctor said there was nothing wrong with me.
医生说我什么毛病也没有。

Nothing else matters to him apart from his job.
对他来说，除了工作以外，什么事都无关紧要。
It cost us nothing to go in.
我们没花钱就进去了。
He's five foot nothing .
他正好五英尺高。
something that is not at all important or interesting 无关紧要的东西；毫无趣味的事
What's that in your pocket? Oh, nothing.
你口袋里装的是什么？哦，没什么重要的。

We did nothing at the weekend.
我们周末什么也没干。
I've done nothing much since coffee time...
咖啡时间过后，我什么都没干。
Mr. Pearson said he knew nothing of his wife's daytime habits...
皮尔逊先生说，他对妻子白天的生活习惯一无所知。
Because he had always had money it meant nothing to him...
因为他一直不缺钱，所以这对他来说不算什么。

While the increase in homicides is alarming, it is nothing compared to what is to come in the rest of the decade...
虽然凶杀案的增加令人担忧，但和这个十年里接下来的几年将要发生的事相比却是小巫见大巫了。
The furniture was threadbare; he'd obviously picked it up for nothing...
这件家具很破旧，显然他是白捡来的了。
Homes in this corner of Mantua that once went for $350,000 are now worth nothing.曼图亚市这个位置的房子曾一度卖到35万美元，现在不值几个钱了。
Around the lake the countryside generally is nothing special...

湖四周的乡村总的来说没有什么特别的。
There was nothing remarkable about him...
他没有什么特别之处。

The Favorite Catchphrase Among American Young Adults

美国年轻人爱用的口头禅

For real真的假的？认真的吗

No way不可能，没门儿，才不信呢

I'm down我可以，我加入，我没问题

That's wild太离谱了，太疯狂了，绝了

I'm dead笑死我了，我人没了，笑不活了

Low key 低调的，有点，其实（悄悄说）

High key 明着说，超级，简直

Big time 非常，大大地，很厉害

No kidding 可不是吗，真的，没开玩笑

Whatever 随便，无所谓，爱咋地咋地

That's crazy 太疯狂了，太离谱了

I'm good 我不用了，我没事的，我挺好

I don't mind 不介意，无所谓

It depends 看情况，不一定

You're kidding 你在逗我吧，是开玩笑吧

Im not gonna lie说实话，不骗你

I get it 我懂了，我明白

Fair enough 有道理，行吧，说得对

I'm in 我加入，算我一个

that's tracks 说得通，合理，符合逻辑

That's on me 怪我，我来买单，我的错

I'm down 我受够了，我好了，到此为止

Say less 别说了， 懂你，不用说那么多

I'm just saying 我就是说说，我只是提一 嘴

It is what it is. 就这样吧，接受现实，没办法了

I'm obsessed 我太爱了，迷上了，上头了

Ican't even 我都无语了，我整不会了

That's ain't it 这不行，这不对味，不是这个感觉

Bat 没问题，行，必须的

Facts 没错，就是 这样，真相了

This spring, I fell ill.
这个春天我生了一场病。

An unexplained pain in my lower back.
无缘无故的腰痛。

It hurt so much I couldn’t straighten up.
痛得直不起腰。

It hurt so much I could only lie in bed.
痛得只能卧床不起。

It hurt so much that I couldn’t take care of myself.
痛到生活不能自理。

Like a tree rooted in a hospital ward, unable to move.
像一棵扎根在病房里的树不能动弹。

I turned my gaze out the .
我把目光投向窗外。

Outside the window, there was also a tree.
窗外也有一棵树。

It seemed to tell me that it would sprout new buds at the vernal equinox.
它仿佛在告诉我它要在春分的时分萌发出新芽。

But the days without sunlight disrupted its plan.
但几天不见的阳光打乱了它的计划。

It was waiting, and so was I.
它在等，我也在等。

At this moment, neither of us is in control.
此刻我们都身不由己。

Subject to heaven, to fate, to time.
由天、由命、由时间。

But we both know: branches and leaves will sprout, flesh and blood will regenerate.
但我们都知道，枝叶会萌发，血肉会重生。

They will not miss the rains, the awakening of insects, the vernal equinox, clear and bright, or grain rain.
不会错过雨水，惊蛰、春分、清明、谷雨。

As long as they happen, growth happens simultaneously.
只要他们在发生、生长就在同步。

The bad grows good, the broken grows whole, the old grows new, the new grows strong.
坏的长好，破的长全，旧的长新，新的长壮。

Yes, illness may be a setback, a rebuilding.
是的，疾病也许是一个顿挫，一次重建。

Just as mountain ranges have deep valleys,
就像山脉连绵得有深谷。

Just as stirring music has low, lingering notes,
乐音激荡得有低音徘徊。

Just as the cycle of seasons has blankets of winter snow.
四季的轮回得有冬雪皑皑。

From initially not noticing it, to confronting it, to submitting to it.
从刚开始没有觉察到它，到正视它，到服从它。

It pressed my pause button forcefully,
它强硬地按下了我的暂停键。

Making me take a good look at my body, my past, what I am.
让我好好地审视一下我的身体、我的过去、我是什么。

I am a flesh-and-blood creature who didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth.
我是个不知道天高地厚的血肉之躯。

I am a coward who cries out to heaven and earth in pain.
我是个在疼痛之际呼天叫地的胆小鬼。

I am a weakling who cannot control myself, let alone change my surroundings.
我是个无力左右自己，更无力改变周遭的弱者。

Pain made me focused.
疼痛让我专注。

Focused on the pain, my world became very small, and my ambitions became very small.
专注在疼痛里，我的世界变得很小，抱负也变得很小。

I just timidly hoped for nothing more than the pain to stop.
我只是谨小慎微地期盼着不痛了就好。

I envied those who could eat well and sleep well.
我羡慕着好好吃饭，好好睡觉的人。

Even those who could simply breathe well became my idols.
甚至连能好好呼吸的人都成了我的偶像。

Only in unhappiness can one truly and deeply grasp the essence of happiness.
人只有在不幸福之中才能真实地深刻地感受到幸福的本质。

I don’t know whether I am lucky or unlucky at this moment.
不知道此时的我是幸运的还是不幸的。

Is a person who never falls ill the happiest person in the world?
一个从来都不生病的人是不是这个世界上最幸福的人？

Probably yes!
会是吧！

One day after another, one night after another.
一个个白天，一个个黑夜。

My back pain gradually got a little better.
我的腰痛逐渐好了一点。

Day by day, bit by bit.
一天、一天，一点、一点。

A person who once walked briskly began to learn to walk again like an infant.
一个曾经健步如飞的人像婴儿一样重新开始学步走路。

Minute by minute, step by tentative step.
一分一秒，亦步亦趋。

I have never been so close to time before.
我和时间前所未有的这般亲近。

It caresses me; I revere it.
它抚摸着我，我敬畏着她。

This is the body that gives me the strength to rush to mountains and rivers.
那是让我有气力奔赴山河的身体啊。


I’m sorry, I have mistreated you.
对不起，我亏待了你。

I’m sorry, I have neglected you.
对不起，我轻慢了你。

Perhaps you are warning me in this way.
也许你是在用这种方式警醒于我。

It’s time to stop. You are an eighty-year-old elder, not an eighteen-year-old hothead.
该停一停了，你是八十岁的耄耋老人，不是十八岁毛头小伙。

During those days when I couldn’t move, I talked with my body over and over again.
在那些不能动的日子里，我和身体一遍又一遍的交流。

Yes, it has been a long time since I last spoke properly with my body.
是的，我已经好久没有和身体好好说话了。

I carelessly enjoyed its benefits while ignoring its existence.
我不经意地享受着她的好处却忽视了她的存在。

All the repression and overexertion, I dumped on it.
所有的压抑和透支我都丢给了她。

I had forgotten, I suppose, that it too has its own seasons of spring, autumn, winter and summer.
我是忘了吧，忘了她也有自己的春秋冬夏。

It too has its own nature and temper.
她也有自己的禀性和脾气。

In the days ahead, what makes you unhappy, I will surely not give you.
往后的日子，不开心的，我一定不会给你。

I will learn to listen to your needs and respect your decisions.
我会学会倾听你的诉求，敬重你的决定。

The magnolias have bloomed and faded, haven’t they?
玉兰开了，又谢了吧。

The peach blossoms have bloomed and faded, too.
桃花开了也谢了。

And the azaleas in the mountains—they must have all faded, right?
还有山中的映山红都谢了吧。

How I miss them.
我好想念啊。

And every sunrise and sunset, every dawn and dusk.
还有那每天的日出和日落，朝霞和晚霞。

I know you are waiting for me.
我知道你们在等我。

Every solar term, every bloom, every sunrise and sunset—
每一个节气，每一个花开，每一个日出和日落。

That is our longing rushing toward each other.
那是我们的思念的相互奔赴。

I’m sorry.
对不起。

It’s not for a special reason that I break my promise.
不是因为特殊情况，我是不会失约的。

This experience of illness has taught me:
这场病痛的经历告诉我。

Life is a protracted battle; small battles lead to great victories.
人生持久战，小战大胜利。

Learn to show strength without exhausting all your might.
要学会不拼尽全力却展示有力。

Don’t force bravery, don’t pretend to be tough.
不要勉强的勇敢，不要假装坚强。

If death is a part of life,
如果死是生的一部分。

Then illness, too, is a member of health.
那病痛也是健康的一份子。

Living with illness is a reality every elderly person must face in their later years.
带病生存是每一个老人晚年必须面对现实。

Why Doesn't My Son Get Married?

儿子为什么不结婚？

My 42-year-old son was hospitalized, and only then did I truly come to understand him.
42岁的儿子住院我才真正的读懂他

I want to share this with you.
分享给你

My son is 42 this year.
我儿子今年42岁

He is what others call a "non-married" – a bachelor by choice.
是别人口中的不婚族

He has been fighting his own battles alone in Shanghai for many years.
一个人在上海打拼多年

Last month, he had an acute appendicitis attack and was hospitalized.
上个月，他突发阑尾炎住院

He called and asked me to come and stay with him.
打电话，让我过去陪护

It was during those few days that I truly saw him for the first time.
就是那几天我才第一次真正的看懂了他

At 3 a.m., the ward was completely quiet.
凌晨3点，病房里一片安静

Only the dim light from the corridor filtered in, casting a long strip of light on the floor.
只有走廊里那微弱的灯光透进来，在地上拉出一道长长的光带

I sat motionless on the companion chair, staring at him fast asleep on the hospital bed.
我坐在陪护椅上一动不动的看着病床上的熟睡的他

He works as a technician at an internet company in Shanghai.
他在上海一家互联网公司做技术

On the phone, when he talked about the surgery, his tone was as flat as if he were discussing something trivial.
电话里说起手术时，语气平淡得像在说一件无关紧要的小事

"Mom, it's just a minor procedure. Come if you have time; if not, it's fine."
"妈，就是个小手术，你有空就来，没空，也没关系。"

The next morning, I bought a train ticket and headed straight to Shanghai.
我第二天一大早就买了票直奔上海

The last time I came to Shanghai was twelve years ago, when he had just started working.
上一次来上海还是12年前，他刚参加工作的时候

Back then, he was renting a place in Minhang.
那个时候他租住在闵行

The apartment was as small as a pigeon coop – you could barely turn around.
房子小得像个鸽子笼，转个身都费劲

He smiled and said, "Mom, once I make it big, I'll definitely bring you here to live in a big house."
他笑着跟我说："妈，等我混好了，一定接你来住大房子。"

Later, he did make it big, and his apartments kept getting larger.
后来，他真的混好了，房子越换越大

Now he lives in Pudong – a two-bedroom, one-living-room unit with floor-to-ceiling windows.
如今住在浦东，两室一厅，落地窗

Looking up, you can see the Oriental Pearl Tower.
抬头就能够看见东方明珠

But that promise – "I'll bring you here to live" – was repeated year after year.
可那句"接你来住"，说了一年又一年
Eventually, it became just a polite phrase.
最后变成了一句客套话

I never pressed him. He has his life, and I have mine.
我从来不追问，他有他的生活，我有我的日子

Every year when he comes home for the New Year, he only stays three or four days and speaks very little.
每年过年回家，他只待三四天，话少得可怜

Most of the time, he just lowers his head and looks at his phone.
大多数时候只是低着头看手机

When I ask about work, he says, "It's fine."
我问工作，他说"还行"

When I ask about his health, he says, "Pretty good."
我问身体，他说"挺好"

When I bring up relationships, he falls silent, then softly says, "Mom, don't worry about it."
我一提对象，他就陷入沉默，只轻轻地一句："妈，你就别操心了。"

As time passed, I stopped asking.
久而久之，我也不再多问

The ward was very quiet. I stared at his face and was suddenly startled – it had been so long since I had really looked at him.
病房里很安静，我盯着他的脸，这才惊觉自己已经太久没有这样好好地看过他了

He had lost weight; his cheekbones were prominent and his eye sockets sunken.
他瘦了，颧骨突出、眼窝深陷

At 42, he looked almost 50.
42岁的年纪看着就像快50岁

I still remember his chubby little face as a child, round and bouncy – the flesh on his cheeks would jiggle when he ran.
我还记得他小时候胖乎乎的脸蛋，圆滚滚的，跑起来脸上的肉都在晃

All day long he clung to me, chattering away, giving me a headache.
整天妈长妈短地粘着我，吵得我头疼

But now he doesn't like to talk – not just to me, but to everyone.
可现在的他不爱说话了，不是只对我沉默，是对所有人都寡言

During the days I stayed with him, when he answered work calls, it was always just a few words: "Mm," "Okay," "Got it," "Alright."
陪护的这些天，他接工作电话，永远只有几句："嗯、好、知道了、行。"

After hanging up, he would stare out the window in a daze.
挂了电话就望着窗外发呆

I wanted to talk to him about something, but didn't know where to begin.
我想和他聊点什么，却不知从何开口

We were as polite as two unfamiliar neighbors.
我们母子俩客气的像两个不熟的邻居

Then, on the third afternoon, he suddenly said softly, "Mom, would you take me out for a walk?"
直到第三天下午，他突然轻声说："妈，你陪我出去走走吧。"

I helped him walk slowly through the hospital courtyard.
我扶着他慢慢地走在医院的院子里

The sun was very warm; he got out of breath after just a few steps, and his forehead was covered with fine sweat.
阳光很暖，他走几步就喘，额头上渗满了细汗

Under a parasol tree, he stopped, leaned against the trunk, and said, "Mom, do you think I'm strange?"
在一棵梧桐树下，他停下脚步，靠在树干上说："妈，你是不是觉得我很奇怪？"

"Strange about what?"
"奇怪什么？"

"That I'm 42 and not married, drifting alone in Shanghai, coming home less than once a year."
"42岁了不结婚，一个人漂在上海，一年也回不了一次家。"

I didn't speak, waiting for him to continue.
我没有说话，等着他继续说下去

"It's not that I don't want to come home – I'm afraid to come home."
"我不是不想回，是不敢回。"

"Every time I go back, you all ask me if I have a girlfriend. When I say no, you fall silent. That silence is unbearable – as if I've committed some terrible crime."
"每次回家，你们都问我有没有对象，我说没有，你们就不说话了，那种沉默我受不了，好像我犯了天大的错。"

"Mom, it's not that I don't want to get married – I can't get married."
"妈，我不是不想结婚，是结不了。"

"Do you know what time I get off work every day?"
"你知道我每天几点下班吗？"

"Normally at 10 p.m., and sometimes not until early in the morning."
"正常10点，晚的时候凌晨。"

"Having even one full day off on the weekend is already a luxury."
"周末能休上一天就已经是奢望了。"

"At my age, I'm stuck in the middle at the company – not high enough, not low enough."
"我这个年纪在公司高不成低不就。"

"Young people learn fast, have more energy, and ask for lower pay."
"年轻人学得快、体力好、要价低。"

"To keep my position, I have to work like mad."
"我想保住位置就只能拼命的干活。"

"I've dated a few girls – they were all wonderful – but I don't even have time to have a meal with them."
"我也谈过几个姑娘，她们都很好，可我连陪人家吃上一顿饭的时间都没有。"

"Can a relationship survive on daily video calls? Making them wait like a widow – what's the point? So I stopped thinking about it."
"谈恋爱靠天天视频吗？让人家守活寡一样，图什么呢？后来我就不想了。"

"Being alone is fine too. No one waits for me to come home, and I don't have to answer to anyone."
"一个人也挺好，没人等我回家，我也不用跟谁交代。"

"I can eat whatever I want, sleep whenever I want, lie down when I'm tired, stay silent when I don't feel like talking."
"想吃什么就吃什么，想几点睡就几点睡，累了就躺下，不想说话就沉默。"

"I call that freedom."
"我管这叫自由。"

He said the word "freedom" very lightly, but it pierced my heart like a needle.
"自由"两个字说得很轻，就像一根针狠狠地扎在我的心上。

"But when I got sick this time, I was in so much pain I couldn't move – I called 120, climbed onto the stretcher myself."
"可这次生病，我一个人疼得动不了，直接打120，自己爬上担架。"

"When I was signing the surgery consent form, the doctor said a family member needed to sign."
"签手术同意书的时候，医生说要家属签字。"

"I said I don't have any family – I'll sign it myself."
"我说我没有家属，我自己签。"

"The doctor looked at me for a long time, but finally agreed."
"医生看了我很久，最后还是同意了。"

"It's not that I haven't thought about it – if one day I die, who will come to take my body away…"
"我不是没有想过，万一哪天我走了，谁来给我收尸……"

Tears burst from my eyes instantly.
我的眼泪瞬间涌了出来

When he saw that, he panicked. He reached out to wipe my tears, then awkwardly pulled his hand back.
他看见我一下子慌了，想伸手帮我擦，又局促地缩了回去

"Mom, please don't cry. I was just saying – I'm fine."
"妈，你别哭，我就是随口说说，我没事。"

I held his hand tightly – those hands were so thin, nothing but bones.
我紧紧地攥着他的手，那双手瘦得只剩下骨头

"Son, Mom won't ask anymore. I won't push you. I'll never push you again."
"儿子，妈以后不问了，不催你了，再也不催了。"

He was stunned for a moment, then gave a soft acknowledgment.
他楞了一下，轻轻地应了一声
That night, I lay awake, going over the small details of the past ten-plus years again and again.
那天夜里，我彻夜未眠，把这十几年的点点滴滴想了一遍又一遍

I only saw that he wasn't married – I didn't see why he couldn't get married.
我只看到他不结婚，就没有看见他为什么结不了婚

I only thought he was being difficult – I didn't know he was swallowing all his bitterness alone.
我只觉得他不懂事，就不知道他的所有的苦都一个人咽进肚子里

I kept hoping he would come home, not knowing that he couldn't come back – not physically, but in his heart.
我总盼着他回家，却不知道他不是身体回不去，是心回不去了

He has been drifting in Shanghai for 18 years – from age 24 to 42 – giving his best youth to his work.
他在上海漂了18年，从24岁到42岁，把最好的青春都给了工作

Work earned him an apartment; the apartment gave him a place to stay, but not a true home.
工作换来了房子，房子给了他一个容身之处，却没有给他一个真正的家

The "freedom" he speaks of is nothing but loneliness – with no one waiting, no one caring, no one who truly sees him.
他口中的"自由"不过是没人等、没人管，没人在乎的孤独

Seven days later, he was discharged.
7天后他出院了

I helped him tidy up the apartment – two bedrooms and a living room, so clean it felt as if no one had ever lived there.
我帮他收拾屋子，两室一厅，干净得像从来没有人住过

The refrigerator only had a few bottles of mineral water and an expired carton of milk.
冰箱里只有几瓶矿泉水和一个过期的牛奶

The pots, pans, bowls, and plates in the kitchen were still brand new – the packaging hadn't even been removed.
厨房里的锅碗瓢盆还是全新的，连包装都没拆

He lay on the sofa, staring at the ceiling in a daze.
他躺在沙发上望着天花板发呆

"Mom, stay a few more days."
"妈，你多呆几天吧。"

This was the first time in all these years that he had voluntarily asked me to stay.
这是这么多年，他第一次主动留我

Those days, I cooked for him.
那几天我给他做饭
He didn't eat much, but each time he finished every grain of rice in his bowl.
他吃得不多，却每次都把碗吃得干干净净

I went on walks with him and to the market. We walked along the route to his office.
我陪他散步买菜，去他上班的路上转了一圈

Pointing at the big building, he said, "Mom, I've worked in that building for 15 years."
他指着那栋大楼说："妈妈，我在这上班15年了。"

Fifteen years – the building went from new to old, and he went from a young man to middle age.
15年，大楼从新变旧，他从青年熬成了中年……

On the day I left, he saw me off at the station.
我走的那一天，他送我到车站

Just before I entered the gate, he suddenly hugged me – he had rarely hugged me like that since growing up.
进站前，他忽然抱住了我，长大以后他很少这样抱我

"Thank you, Mom," he whispered in my ear.
"妈，谢谢你。"他在我的耳边轻声说

"Silly child, don't be so polite with your mom."
"傻孩子，跟妈客气什么。"

He let me go, his eyes red. "Mom, I'll be okay. Don't worry."
他松开我，眼眶红红的："妈，我会好好的，你放心。"

I nodded and walked into the station.
我点点头，走进车站

After a few steps, I turned back – he was still standing there, waving at me.
走几步回头看，他还站在原地，冲着我挥手

His thin, solitary figure stood out in the crowd, making my heart ache.
瘦瘦的身影孤零零地站在人群中，看得我心口发酸

The train headed north, leaving this prosperous yet cold city behind.
列车一路向北，驶离了这座繁华又冰冷的城市

The villages, cooking smoke, the elderly and children outside the window – they grew farther and farther from me, and also farther from him.
窗外的村庄、炊烟、老人和孩子，离我越来越远，也离他越来越远

42 years old, single, drifting in Shanghai for 18 years – this is the first half of my son's life.
42岁，单身，在上海漂泊了18年，这就是我儿子的前半生

I used to not understand him, even thought he was stubborn and abnormal.
曾经我不理解他，甚至觉得他固执、不正常

But it was only during this hospital stay that I completely understood: it's not that he doesn't want to live an ordinary life – it's that ordinary happiness is too expensive for him.
直到这一次的陪护我才彻底明白，他不是不想过普通人的日子，是普通人的幸福对他来说太昂贵了

He has traded his youth, his health, three hot meals a day, a light left on for him late at night, someone to talk to – for a respectable job, a respectable apartment, and a seemingly free loneliness.
他是用青春、健康，热乎的一日三餐，深夜为他留着的一盏灯，一个能说话的人，换来了一份体面的工作，一套体面的房子，和一份看似自由的孤单

I don't know if it's worth it – neither does he.
我不知道这一切值不值得，他自己也不知道

But I do know this: from now on, I will no longer pressure him, no longer push him.
但我知道，从今往后，我不再逼他，不再催他

I don't wish for him to be rich or powerful.
我不盼他大富大贵

I only wish that my son has someone who asks if his porridge is warm, someone who stands with him at dusk, someone who stays with him through the storms, someone who waits for him when he comes home late.
我只盼我的儿子，有人问他粥可温，有人与他立黄昏，有人陪他度风雨，有人等他晚归家。

His safety and health matter more than anything else. That is enough.
平安健康，比什么都重要，这，就够了。

Choose What I Love, Love What I Choose

选 我 所 爱， 爱 我 所 选

I’m ninety-six years old.
我今年96岁了
I was married to my husband for sixty-four years before he passed,
丈夫去世前，我们整整做了64年夫妻
And I need to tell you something that nobody wants to hear
跟大家说句不中听的话
You probably married me wrong person and that’s okay,
你很可能嫁错了人,但这没关系
Let me explain before you close this
别着急，让我把话说完
Because what I’m about to tell you
我接下来要告诉你的
Is the only reason we made it sixty-four years.
是我们想处64年的唯一秘诀
And it’s the opposite of everything you’ve been told.
它跟你常听到的浪漫鸡汤完全相反
About love and marriage, and finding your soul-mate
爱情也好，婚姻也罢，还有什么寻找灵魂伴侣，鸡汤跟现实完全不同
When I was twenty-four, I married Robert
24岁那年，我嫁给了罗伯特
He was handsome, kind had a good job at the factory, and made me laugh
他长得帅，心地善良，在厂里有份好工作，还逗我开心
All my friends said I was lucky
朋友们都说我命好
My mother cried happy tears at the wedding
我妈妈在婚礼上更是喜极而泣
I thought I’d found “the one” the person I was meant to be with
当时我以为我找到了“真命天子”，找到了那个命中注定的人
By year three, I wasn’t sure anymore
可到了第三年我就动摇了
He left dishes in the sink
他吃完饭，盘子往水槽一丢就不管了
He was quiet when I wanted to talk
我想聊天时，他闷葫芦一个
He wanted to talk when I wanted quiet
我想清静时，他又想聊天
He spend money different than I did
他的消费观和我不一样
He disciplined our daughter in ways I didn’t agree with
教育儿女的理念也不合
We fought about his mother
我们会因为他的母亲而吵架
We fought about my friends
我们会因为我的朋友而争吵
We fought about things so small I can’t even remember them now
甚至因为一些鸡毛蒜皮的小事而争吵
But they felt enormous then
当时觉得那些都是天大的事
I thought I made a mistake
我觉得自己选错了老公
This isn’t what marriage is supposed to feel like
婚姻不该是这样
I must have married the wrong person
我肯定是嫁错了人了
I was twenty-seven I had a two-year-old daughter
27岁那年，女儿两岁
And I was having coffee wit my neighbor, Margaret
有一天我和邻居玛格丽特一起喝咖啡
Who’d been married thirty tears
她已经结婚30年了
I told her I wasn’t happy
我跟她大吐苦水，说我过得不开心
That maybe Robert and I weren’t right for each other
说也许我和罗伯特根本就不合适
I waited for her to comfort me
我本指望她能安慰我
To tell me I deserved better
说我值得更好的
Instead, she laughed—not cruelly, but really laughed
结果她笑了，不是嘲笑，就是觉得挺逗的
Then she said something I’ve never forgotten
然后她说了句我这一辈子都难忘的话：
“Honey, we all married the wrong person”
“傻Y头，我们统统都嫁错了人”
The trick is deciding to make them the right person anyway
婚姻的秘诀在于，你得下定决心，硬把这个错的人变成对的人
I didn’t understand what she meant not then
当时我没听懂
Here’s what I understand now, seven decades later
但七十年后的今天，我彻底明白了
The person you marry is not the person you stay married to
和你结婚的那个人，跟最后和你白头偕老的那个人根本就不是同一个人
They can’t be
也不可能是的
Because people change, you change
因为人是会变的，你也是会变的
Life change you both in ways you can’t predict on your wedding day
生活会把你们变成和结婚那天完全想不同的样子
The man I married at twenty-four is not the man I buried at the eighty-eight
我24岁与之结婚的男人和88岁我亲手安葬的那个男人，早就不是同一个人了
Robert at thirty was ambitions, energetic, and impatient
30岁的罗伯特野心勃勃、精力充沛，但没有什么耐心
Robert at fifty was tired, worried about money, and distant
50岁的他满身疲惫、为钱发愁、沉默冷淡
Robert at seventy was soft and silly, and held my hand at movies
70岁他变得心软又有点孩子气，看电影的时候还牵着我的手
Robert at eighty-five needed me to cut his food and remind him to take his pills
到了85岁，他连吃饭都我帮忙，吃药也得我提醒
Which one did I marry?
我到底是嫁给了哪一个罗伯特
All of them
每一个都是他
None of them
每一个都不是当初的他了
And I changed too
我也一样
I was shy at twenty-four
24岁我胆小害羞
Opinionated at forty
40岁时我固执己见
Depressed at fifty-two when my mother died
母亲去世时，52岁的我抑郁消沉
Confident at sixty
60岁是我又重拾自信
Terrified at seventy-three when I had my first cancer scare
73岁第一次怀疑我得了癌症时我吓得要命
Patient at eighty in ways I never was before
到了80岁，我变得前所未有的耐心
If the Robert I married at twenty-four had met the me at fifty-two
如果是24 的我嫁给了罗伯特遇到52岁的我
He wouldn’t have recognized me
他肯定认不出我
We might not have liked each other
我们可能互相看不顺眼
But we didn’t get that choice
但生活没有给我们重新选择的机会
We grew together
我们在婚姻里共同成长
Even when we grew in different directions-especially then
虽然有时我们步调不同，在各自的泥潭中挣扎——但恰恰是这些时候我们成长得最多，感情更深
Here’s the thing nobody tells you about marriage
关于婚姻，有个没人告诉你的真相
It’s not about finding someone who completes you
它并不是为了寻找一个能完美填补你所需求的人
That’s a myth that ruins more marriages than it saves
这种不切实际的幻想，不知道毁掉了多少个家庭
It’s about finding someone you’re willing to keep choosing
婚姻的真谛是找到一个你愿意坚定选择的人
Even when they’re not easy to choose
即便发现对方并不能完全契合自己
There were years I didn’t like Robert very much
有那么几年，我真的挺烦罗伯特的
I’m being honest
我这是掏心窝子的话
There were months where I counted down the days until he’d leave for his fishing trips
有那么几个月，我天天盼着他赶紧出去钓鱼
Just so I couldn’t have space
好让我能清静些
There were arguments where I slept on tge couch
吵得最凶的时候，我睡沙发上
And thought about what my life would be like alone
满脑子里想的都是，如果我一个人过该有多好啊
But I never stopped choosing him
但我从来没有放弃过选择他
Not because I’m a saint, not because it was easy
不是我多伟大，也不是这事儿有多容易
But because I decided that’s what I was going to do.
而是我下定了决心要和他走下去
I decided our marriage was worth more than my temporary unhappiness
我认定，我们的婚姻比我一时的不痛快要重要得多
And here’s what happened?
结果你猜怎么样？
The things that annoyed me at thirty became endearing at sixty
他30岁让我抓狂的那些毛病，到了60岁反而觉得可爱
His quietness
他一吵架就变闷葫芦
Which I thought meant he didn’t care
我以前觉得那是冷暴力，不在乎我
I learned was just how he processed things
后来才明白，那就是他的消化情绪的方式
He wasn’t ignoring me
他不是无视于我
He was thinking
他只是在思考
Once I understood that
想通了这一点
Everything shifted
一切多豁然开朗了
The way he spent money
他的消费习惯
Which drive me crazy for years
让我气了好多年
I realized came from growing up poor
最后我才意识到，是因为他小的时候穷怕了
He wasn’t being careless
他从不大手大脚
He was trying to prove to himself he’d made it.
他只是想向自己证明他混出头了
When I saw that
看透了这些
I stopped fighting and started understanding him
我不再跟他较劲，而是开始试着理解他
Marriage isn’t fifty-fifty
婚姻根本不是什么“五•五开”的绝对公平
That’s another lie
这也是个谎言
Some years it’s eighty-twenty
有时候是“二•八开”
Some years it’s “ten-ninety”
有时是“一•九开”
There was a tear after my surgery where Robert did everything
我做完手术馁一年，家里的大大小小的事全靠罗伯特
Cooking, cleaning, helping me to the bathroom
做饭、打扫，甚至扶我上厕所
I couldn’t give him anything ecpect my presence
我只能躺在那儿喘气，什么都帮不上忙
And he couldn’t complain once
他一句怨言也没有
And there were years where I carried us
也有那么几年，我一个 人扛起了这个家
When he lost his job at fifty-four and fell into a dark place
54岁那年他失业了，整个人跌入谷底
When his brother died and he couldn’t get out of bed
后来他弟弟去世，他更时崩溃到连床都下不来
I held us together
我是咬着牙撑起这个家
Because that’s what you do
因为这是夫妻间该做的
You don’t keep score
在婚姻里你千万别去计较谁付得多，谁付出得少
The moment you start keeping score
在你开始计较得失的那一刻
You’ve already lost
你就已经输了
I look at young couples now and they expect so much
我看现在的那些年轻情侣，总是觉得他们对婚姻的期望值太高了
They expect their partner to be their best friend
他们希望另一半是最好的朋友
Their therapist
又是心理医生
Their adventure buddy
既是能一起冒险的玩伴
Their co-parent
又是完美的育儿搭档
Their financial equal
既要经济上势均力敌
Their intellectual match
又要在思想上高度契合
Their perfect sexual partner
还得是完美的性伙伴
All the time, forever
并且是无时无刻，一辈子扮演好这些角色
Nobody can be all those things
没有人能做到这一切
Nobody
绝对没有
Robert wasn’t my best friend
罗伯特不是我的最好的朋友
My best friend was Linda
我的最好朋友是琳达
Robert wasn’t my intellectual match
罗伯特也不是我的灵魂知己
I read books he’d never touch
我看的书他从来不会碰
And he understood engines in ways I never could
而他对发动机的了解我也永远听不懂
We didn’t want the same things from life half the time
人生的一大半时间里，我们对生活的追求都不一样
But he was my partner, and that was enough.
但他就是我的人生伴侣，这就够了
More than enough.
真的足够了
I’m ninety-six now
我今年96岁了
Robert been gone eight years
罗伯特已经走了八年了
And I miss him every single day
我每天的在想他
Not because he was perfect
不是因为他有多完美
But because he was mine and I was his
而是因为他属于我，我也属于他
We built a life together
我们一起白手起家
Raised a daughter
抚养女儿长大
Survived job losses and health scares
熬过了失业的低谷和疾病的恐慌
And the death of people we loved
送走了我们深爱的亲人
We laughed until we cried
我们曾笑出眼泪
And cried until we laughed
也曾抱头痛哭
Did I marry the right person?
我到底是嫁对了人了吗？
I don’t think that question matters
我觉得这个问题已经不重要了
I married a person
我嫁给了一个人
And then we both decided over and over again
我们俩就一次又一次地下定决心
To make it right
就是要把这段感情变成对的
If you’re in a marriage right now
如果你现在正身处于一段婚姻之中
And you’re wondering if you made a mistake
并且怀疑自己是不是选错了人
Here’s what I want you to know
我想告诉你
You probably did
你大概是选错了
We all did
我们都一样
Marriage is a mistake you made on purpose
婚姻就是你明知故犯的一个“错误”
And then you work like hell to make it the best mistake of your life
然后你就拼尽全力把它变成你这一辈子最美妙的“错误”
The question isn’t “Did I marry the right person?”
所以，真正的问题不是“嫁对了人了吗？”
The question is “Am I willing to keep choosing this person ”
而是我是否愿意一直选择这个人
Even when it’s hard
哪怕日子很难熬
Especially when it’s hard?
尤其是那日子最难熬的时候。
Because love isn’t a feeling.
因为爱从来不是一种虚无缥缈的感觉
It is a choice
爱是一种选择
And you make that choice every single day
而且是你每天的要去做出的选择
I chose Robert for sixty-four years
我选择了罗伯特64年
And I’d choose him for sixty-four more
如果可以，我愿意再选他64年
Available
可获得的; 有空的; 可购得的; 能找到的

available resources/facilities
可利用的资源 / 设备
readily/freely/publicly/generally available
可以容易 / 免费 / 让公众 / 普遍得到的
Tickets are available free of charge from the school.
学校有免费票。
When will the information be made available ?
何时才可以了解到情况？
Further information is available on request.
详情备索。
This was the only room available.
这是唯一可用的房间。
We'll send you a copy as soon as it becomes available .
一有货我们就会给你寄一本去。
Every available doctor was called to the scene.
所有能找到的医生都被召集到了现场。
Will she be available this afternoon?
今天下午她有空吗？
The director was not available for comment.
主管没有时间发表意见。

The availability of cheap flights
有廉价机票出售
This offer is subject to availability .
优惠至此产品售完为止。
Since 1978, the amount of money available to buy books has fallen by 17%...
自1978年以来，可用于采购图书的经费已经减少了17％。
There are three small boats available for hire...
有3艘小船可供出租。
Mr. Leach is on holiday and was not available for comment.
利奇先生休假了，不方便做出评论。
Kept a fire extinguisher available
备有灭火器
Much information is available through computers
大量信息可通过计算机获取
Available in many colors
提供多种颜色可选
The list of available candidates is unusually long
可选候选人的名单异常冗长
He was not available for comment
他未能接受采访
The house is available after July 1
该房屋7月1日后可出售
A Poetry
小诗

I believe honesty is one of the greatest gifts.
我认为诚实是最珍贵的品质之一。
There I know they call it a lot of fancy names these day,
如今人们常冠以诸多华丽的称谓，
like integrity and forthrightness.
比如正直与坦率。
But it doesn’t make any difference what they call,
但无论人们如何称呼它，
It’s till what makes a man a good citizen.
真正决定一个人是否成为好公民的，始终是其内在品质。
This is my code, and I try to live by.
这是我的准则，我始终以此为生活指南。

Fall sick from overwork

积劳成疾

Lumbar muscle strain

腰肌劳损

Be completely bedridden

卧床不起

Unable to take care of oneself in daily life

不能自理

Facing aging with composure

坦然面对老去

Leave 2688 the 'Beauty Stories'

留下2688个《美篇》

A lifetime is just like that.

一生如此而已

Consider it a farewell ceremony

权作告别仪式

Goodbye, 8480000 dear friends

再见8480000”知己”(知道自己)

Pain
疼痛
Have a pain in
在某个部位疼痛
I have a pain in my ankle
我的脚踝疼
Hurt
受伤疼痛
My back hurts
我的背部疼痛
Ache
持续性的隐痛
My toothache
我的牙痛
Headache
头痛
Sore
痛／发炎而痛
A sore throat
嗓子痛
a cry of pain
痛苦的喊叫
She was clearly in a lot of pain .
她显然疼痛万分。
He felt a sharp pain in his knee.
他感到膝盖一阵剧痛。
patients suffering from acute back pain
患剧烈背痛的病人
stomach/chest pains
胃 / 胸痛

You get more aches and pains as you get older.
年纪越大，疼痛就越多。
The booklet contains information on pain relief during labour.
这本小册子介绍了减轻分娩疼痛的知识。
This cream should help to relieve the pain .
这种药膏应有助于止痛。
the pain of separation
离别的痛苦
I never meant to cause her pain.
我从没有让她痛苦之意。

the pleasures and pains of growing old
变老的苦与乐
She can be a real pain when she's in a bad mood.
她脾气不好时，真是令人头痛。
It's a pain having to go all that way for just one meeting.
就为了见一次面，要跑那么远的路，真烦死人了。
back pain.
背痛
a bone disease that caused excruciating pain...
造成剧痛的骨病

grey eyes that seemed filled with pain.
似乎充满了痛苦的灰眼睛
This public acknowledgment of Ted's disability pained my mother...
这一下大家都知道了特德的残疾，这让母亲非常痛苦。
It pains me to think of you struggling all alone.
想到你一个人苦苦挣扎，我很难过。
Mobil is at pains to point out that the chances of an explosion at the site are remote.
美孚公司急于说明那个地点发生爆炸的可能性微乎其微。
All Corfield got for his pains was a bullet in the head...
科菲尔德千辛万苦，到头来却被一枪爆头。

The Professor lavished his learning on the young visitor but gained little gratitude for his pains.
教授将自己的学识倾囊传授给那位年轻访客，到头来却没有获得一点感激。
We were forbidden, under pain of imprisonment, to use our native language.
我们被禁止使用母语，违者将被关进监狱。
Social workers went to great pains to acknowledge men's domestic rights...
社会工作者尽量尊重男性的家庭权利。
I had taken great pains with my appearance.
我在自己的容貌上下了很多工夫。
He hurt his back playing squash.
他打壁球时背部受伤了。
Did you hurt yourself ?
你伤着自己了吗？
Stop it. You're hurting me.
住手。你弄疼我了。
My back is really hurting me today.
我今天背疼得厉害。
My shoes hurt─they're too tight.
我的鞋子太紧，穿着夹脚。

to feel painful
感到疼痛
My feet hurt.
我脚疼。
Ouch! That hurt!
哎哟！好疼！
It hurts when I bend my knee.
我的膝盖一弯就疼。
What really hurt was that he never answered my letter.
真正让我伤心的是他从不给我回信。

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.
对不起，我不是故意伤害你的。
I didn't want to hurt his feelings .
我并没有想伤害他的感情。
It hurt me to think that he would lie to me.
一想到他竟然对我说谎，我就很伤心。

I know you're hurting and I want to help you.
我知道你心烦，我想帮助你。
Many people on low incomes will be hurt by the government's plans.
很多低收入的人将受到政府这些方案的打击。

His campaign is already hurting for money.
他从事的社会运动已经因缺乏经费而难以为继了。
Yasin had seriously hurt himself while trying to escape from the police...
亚辛试图从警察手中逃脱时受了重伤。
He had hurt his back in an accident.
他在一次事故中伤了后背。
His collar bone only hurt when he lifted his arm.
他的锁骨只有在抬臂时才感觉到痛。
His comrades asked him if he was hurt...
战友问他是否受伤了。

They were dazed but did not seem to be badly hurt.
他们有些神志不清，但看起来没有受重伤。
I didn't mean to hurt her, only to keep her still...
我不是故意要弄痛她，只是想让她别乱动。
You're hurting my arm...
你弄痛我的胳膊了。
He is afraid of hurting Bessie’s feelings...
他怕伤害了贝茜的感情。
She's afraid she's going to be hurt and that she'll never fall in love again...
她害怕自己会受到伤害，从而永远不会再恋爱了。

Yes, I was hurt, jealous...
是的，我感到伤心、嫉妒。
He gave me a slightly hurt look.
他有点受伤地看了我一眼。
I am lonely and I am hurting.
我很孤单，很难过。
The combination of hot weather and decreased water supplies is hurting many industries...
炎热的天气和供水的减少正危及很多行业。
They may fear hurting their husbands' careers.
她们可能担心对丈夫的事业造成损害。

feelings of hurt and anger, fear and despair...
伤心、愤怒、恐惧、绝望的复杂情感
I was full of jealousy and hurt...
我满怀嫉妒，伤心不已。
It never hurts to ask...
多问无妨。
It wouldn't hurt you to be a bit more serious.
认真一点对你没有坏处。
I'm aching all over.
我周身疼痛。
Her eyes ached from lack of sleep.
她的眼睛因睡眠不足而隐隐作痛。
It makes my heart ache
看到她在受苦，我心里真难过。
I was aching for home.
我很想回家。
He ached to see her.
他渴望见到她。
Her head was throbbing and she ached all over...
她的脑袋嗡嗡作响并且浑身疼痛。

My leg still aches when I sit down...
坐下时我的腿还会痛。
You feel nausea and aches in your muscles...
症状为恶心和肌肉疼痛。
Poor posture can cause neck ache, headaches and breathing problems.
姿势不当会导致颈部疼痛、头痛和呼吸困难。
She still ached for the lost intimacy and sexual contact of marriage...
她仍旧渴望拥有婚姻中逝去的那份缱绻和肌肤之亲。
But Spain was a country aching to get away from its past...
但西班牙是一个渴望摆脱以往形象的国家。

It seems to ease all the aches and pains of a hectic and tiring day.
繁忙劳碌了一天所带来的周身酸痛似乎被一扫而空。
to have a sore throat
嗓子疼
His feet were sore after the walk.
他走路把脚都走疼了。
My stomach is still sore after the operation.
手术后，我的胃还在疼。
an ointment to reduce soreness and swelling
止痛消肿软膏

It's years since I've had a sore throat like I did last night...
我的喉咙已经好几年没有像昨晚那样疼了。
My chest is still sore from the surgery.
手术过后我的胸口还在作痛。
If you are sore about something, you are angry and upset about it.
The result is that they are now all feeling very sore at you...
结果就是，现在他们都对你感到十分恼火。
They are sore about losing to England in the quarter-finals.
他们对在四分之一决赛里输给英格兰队这件事感到非常懊恼。
The continuing presence of American troops on Korean soil remains a very sore point with these students.
美国军队继续驻扎在韩国领土上这一事实仍然让这些学生深感气愤。