英语PK台 第702期:最少的需求,最大的自由——极简生活

 Minimalist Lifestyle

极简生活

Dialogue 1

Mark: Jingjing, that's a nice jacket you're wearing. It's perfect for this spring weather.

马克：京晶，你穿的这件夹克真不错。春天穿这个真是太合适了。

Jingjing: Thanks for noticing. It's not really new, though. I've just not had the chance to wear it yet.

京晶：谢谢你留意到。也不是新衣了，一直没机会穿上。

Mark: Yeah, spring is such a short season in Beijing. I'm glad your jacket can finally make its debut¹.

马克：是啊，北京的春天太短了。真好你的夹克终于有机会闪亮登场了。

Jingjing: Haha. Actually, I don't buy new clothes that often.

京晶：哈哈，事实上，我不是那么经常买新衣服的。

Mark: Me neither. I used to be a total clothes horse. I think I told you before. Now I don't spend much of my salary each month.

马克：我也不是。我过去简直就是一个购衣控（活衣架），我想我之前告诉过你吧，现在我每个月都花得很少。

Jingjing: That's good. You gotta think about the future.

京晶：那很好啊。你得为未来打算。

Mark: Yeah, I used to run through a pay check in one or two weeks, and have nothing left at the end of the month.

马克：是的，我过去一两周就把钱乱花光了，月底什么也没有（吃土）了。

Jingjing: Now I remember, we did talk about saving² money before. But you never told me what the turning point was for you.

京晶：现在我想起来了，我们以前谈过攒钱的事，但是你从没跟我说过是什么让你转变的。

Mark: Well, every time I moved, I had the option³ of paying for several months of rent in advance. Then it got to where I could pay a year up front and get a big break.

马克：每次我搬家，我都可以选择提前支付几个月的房租，直到后来我可以提前付完一年房租，然后可以获得一个大折扣。

Jingjing: Did anything else change?

京晶：有什么别的变化吗？

Mark: Yeah, that caused a chain reaction. I went several months without spending much money, and I learned⁴ to enjoy life in simple ways.

马克：这带来了连锁反应。我过了好几个月不怎么花钱的生活，然后我学会了享受简单的生活。

Jingjing: It sounds like you've grown into a minimalist lifestyle. I'm the same way.

京晶：听上去你已经开始过上了极简生活。我也一样。

Mark: Yup. You get to a point where you've had the newest stuff⁵, and when it gets used up or outdated⁶, you wish you still had the money.

马克：是的。你会有这样一种感觉：当你拥有了什么最新款的东西，当它用完了或者过时了以后，你真后悔花了这个钱。

Jingjing: That's exactly how I feel.

京晶：我也完全有同感

New words: 习语短语

debut 首次亮相，首秀

when someone or something is introduced (usually a noteworthy song from a new artist)

clothes horse 活衣架，形容爱买衣服的人

someone who has lots of clothes (also refers to a free-standing rack⁷ that holds clothes)

run through 随意花费

spend carelessly

turning point 转折点

a time when something changed

break 折扣

discount

chain reaction 连锁反应

a set of events, each one causing the next

minimalist 极简生活的人

a person who has a simple life, and not too much stuff

Dialogue 2

Mark: Jingjing, you asked me how I turned over a new leaf. I'm still curious about your story.

马克：京晶，你问过了我是怎么过上这种新生活的，我很想知道，那你呢？

Jingjing: Well, I never was a spendthrift. You know, until finishing university, I didn't have much of my own money.

京晶：嗯，我从来不会是花钱大手大脚的人，你知道，直到大学毕业，我都没有多少自己的钱。

Mark: That's good, I guess. But didn't that all change when you graduated and started earning a salary?

马克：我想这是好事。那当你毕业了开始挣薪水后这一切不都改变了吗？

Jingjing: It was pretty low at first, and I knew I couldn't do much with it. Besides, I was proud to give most of it to my parents.

京晶：一开始工资也不高，我知道我也没什么别的办法。再说，我很自豪我把大部分都给了父母。

Mark: So, what do you do to enjoy life, if not spend money?

马克：那么，如果不花钱。你怎么享受生活呢？

Jingjing: There are lots of ways. Just like you, I enjoy a good book. I take care of animals also.

京晶：有很多方式啊，就像你一样，我享受读一本好书，照顾小动物。

Mark: Yeah, I know you do those two things. I guess you don't have to shell⁸ out much cash for either.

马克：是的，我知道你做这两件事。我猜你也不会为此花太多钱吧。

Jingjing: Nope. If there's anything fun that ends up costing me, it's travel.

京晶：是的，如果有有趣的事需要花钱的话，那就是旅行了。

Mark: Do you travel in style?

马克：你的旅行很奢侈吗？

Jingjing: No. That's not me. Each trip costs me a fair bit, but it's something to look forward to every few months.

京晶：不，那不是我。每次旅行都会小花一笔钱，但是也是每几个月值得期待的事。

Mark: That sounds pretty good. I'm proud of you. And I bet⁹ your parents are also.

马克：听上去真不错。为你感到骄傲。相信你父母也有同感。

Jingjing: They taught me to be responsible¹⁰. But I learned to enjoy a simple lifestyle in my own way.

京晶：他们教会了我人要有责任感，我学会了用自己的方式享受简单的生活。

Mark: Well, take it easy, Jingjing. Until next time.

马克：那么，好好放松玩吧，直到下一次到来。

Jingjing: OK, Mark. See ya!

京晶：好的，马克，回见！

New words: 习语短语

turn over a new leaf 改变旧的生活习惯，开始新的，更健康的生活方式

change, stop a bad habit, become more healthy and responsible

spendthrift 挥霍的人

a person who spends lots of money carelessly

shell out （不停地）付，花费

pay, continue to give more money

travel in style昂贵奢侈的旅行

take a luxurious trip

a fair bit 贵的

expensive

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

3 option   

n.选择，取舍，选择权，选择的自由

参考例句：

• You will have to pay them;you have no option.你必须付给他们钱，别无选择。
• The option for peace should never be closed off.和平的选择之门永远不应被关死。

4 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

5 stuff   

n.原料，材料，东西；vt.填满；吃饱

参考例句：

• We could supply you with the stuff in the raw tomorrow.明天我们可以供应你原材料。
• He is not the stuff.他不是这个材料。

6 outdated   

adj.旧式的，落伍的，过时的；v.使过时

参考例句：

• That list of addresses is outdated,many have changed.那个通讯录已经没用了，许多地址已经改了。
• Many of us conform to the outdated customs laid down by our forebears.我们许多人都遵循祖先立下的过时习俗。

7 rack   

n.挂架，搁架；vt.折磨；使紧张，使努力

参考例句：

• He went over and took his jacket from the coat rack.到衣架上取外套。
• The old house soon went to rack and ruin.这所旧房子很快就毁坏了。

8 shell   

n.贝壳，壳，外形；v.去壳，脱落；n.[计算机] DOS命令:安装备用的COMMAND.COM文件，并改变环境尺寸

参考例句：

• Please shell some peanuts for the cake.请为做点心剥点胡花生。
• This kind of beetles have hard shell.这类甲虫有坚硬的外壳。

9 bet   

v.打赌，以(与)...打赌；n.赌注，赌金；打赌

参考例句：

• I bet you can't do this puzzle.我敢说，你解决不了这个难题。
• I offered to bet with him.我提出与他打赌。

10 responsible   

adj.有责任的，应负责的；可靠的，可信赖的；责任重大的；vi.休息，睡；静止，停止

参考例句：

• He must be responsible to me for this matter.这件事他必须对我负责。
• The police are responsible for the preservation of law and order.警察负责维持法律与秩序。