Potluck

“Pot”的意思是锅子,luck是运气。可是,我们现在讲的potluck是一个字。Potluck作为一个字,它指的是美国一种经常举行的聚会形式。 也就是在某一个人,或几个人的提议下举行一个午餐会或晚餐会,但是参加聚会的每个人都要带一个菜或者带一种饭后甜食。主人除了为聚会提供场地外,也只要准 备一个菜,或买一些饮料就行了。这就叫作:“Potluck lunch” or “potluck supper”

可以想象,举行Potluck的时候,大家能够尝到许多不同的食品。可是,要是你运气不好,好几个人带的东西你都不爱吃的话,那你就只好回家去那个 greasy spoon吃点儿什么了。Potluck还有另外一个意思,那就是:有什么就要什么。用在吃的方面就成了:有什么吃什么的意思。

“Say, Charley, if you don’t have plans for tonight, why don’t you come out to our house and take potluck with us. Helen won’t have time to cook anything special, but she can put an extra plate on the table for you.”


“I’ve been so busy lately. Last week I went to a greasy spoon with a friend and this Sunday I’ve got to go a potluck.”

“我最近可忙了。上个周末我和一个朋友去一家小饭馆吃饭,这个星期天我得做一个菜去参加一个聚会。”

Blow Out

“We arrived two hours late at the big blow-out for Charle’s birthday because our car had a blow-out.”

这句话里第一个blow-out是指规模很大的聚会,第二个blow-out是指汽车的轮胎炸了。整个句子的意思是:“由于我们车胎炸了,所以我们晚了两个小时才到达查理举行生日宴会的地方。

Hook, line and sinder

“I warned Sally not to believe that man’s stories about how rich he was, but she swallowed them hook, line and sinker. After she married him, she found out he owed money to everbody in his office.”

我告诉沙利不要相信那个男人说的他多么有钱之类的话。可是沙利却一点都没有怀疑他。等到结婚才发现这个人几乎向每个同事都借了钱。

Lock, stock and barrel

“Mr. Rockefeller bought the whole oil company lock, stock and barrel.”

这句话的意思是:“洛克菲勒先生把整个石油公司买了下来”。换句话说,也就是他买了这个石油公司的大楼丶油井和其他属于这个公司的资产。

同源形容词

在英语中某些词有两种或两种以上的形容词形式,它们词形相近,但词义不同,容易用错.

★ politic 精明的 versus political 政治的

★ beneficial 有益的 versus beneficent 多多行善的

★ official 官方的 versus officious 多管闲事的

★ potent 强有力的 versus potential 潜在的, 可能的

★ confident 有信心的, 自信的 versus confidential 机密的

★ negligent 忽视的, 粗心大意的 versus negligible 可忽视的

★ momentary 瞬时的, 短时的 versus momentous 重大的

★ memorable 值得记忆的, 不能忘却的 versus memorial 纪念的

★ social 社会的 versus sociable 善社交的

★ childish 幼稚的 versus childlike 孩子般的

★ distinct: clear 明显的, 清晰的 versus distinctive: characteristic 独特的, 有区别的

★ classic 一流的 versus classical 古典的

★ comprehensible 可理解的 versus comprehensive 全面的, 综合的

★ disinterested 公平的 versus uninterested 冷淡的

★ earthly 人间的, 尘世的 versus earthy 泥土似的

★ efficient 有效率的 versus effectual 奏效的

★ exceptionable 反对的 versus exceptionable 非凡的

★ fatal 致命的 versus fateful 决定性的

★ fleshly 肉体的 versus fleshy 肥胖的

★ homely 家常的 versus homelike 象家的

★ im(un)practical 不切合实际的 versus impracticable 无法使用的

★ ingenious 有独创性的 versus ingenuous 直率的, 天真的

★ manly 男人气派的 versus male 男的 versus masculine 男性的

★ movable 可移动的, 变动的 versus mobile 可动的,活动地

★ mysterious 神秘的 versus mystical 奥妙的

★ notable 著名的(指事) versus noted 著名的(指人)

★ practical 实际的 versus practicable 可行的, 通行的

★ regretful 遗憾的 (指人) versus regrettable 遗憾的 (指事)

★ seasonable 及时的 versus seasonal 季节的

★ spiritual 精神的 versus spirituous 酒精的

★ tortuous 弯曲的 versus torturous 受刑的

★ transitory 短时间的 (指事) versus transient 瞬时的 (指人)

★ elementary 基本的 versus elemental 自然的

★ healthy 健康的 versus healthful 有易于健康的

★ likely 可能的 versus likable 可爱的

★ desirable 合意的 versus desirous 渴望的

★ clean 干净的 versus cleanly 有干净习惯的

★ kind 慈善地 versus kindly 友好的,亲切的

★ temporal 一时的, 暂时的, 世俗的 versus temporary 暂时的, 临时的

alternate versus alternative

alternate: changing by turns 轮流的, 交替的

alternative: giving a choice between two things 选择的, 两者选一的

contemptible versus contemptuous

contemptible: deserving contempt 可卑的
a ~ lie

contemptuous: showing contempt 表示轻视的
a ~ look

intelligent, intelligible and intellectual

intelligent: having, showing intelligence, clever 有才智的, 聪明的
an ~ looking girl ~ answer

intelligible: clear to mind, that can be easily understood. 易了解的, 易领悟的
an ~ speech/explanation

intellectual: possessing a great deal of knowledge 知识的, 智力的

credible, credulous and creditable

credible: that can be believed 可信的, 可靠的
a ~ witness

credulous: too ready to believe things. 轻易相信的, 易上当的
He always cheats ~ people.

creditable: that brings credit. 可称赞的
a ~ record/deed/effort

imaginable, imaginary and imaginative

imaginable:: that can be imagined 可象想的
~ difficulties

imaginary: existing only in the mind, unreal 想象中的, 不真实的
~ figure

imaginative: of, having, using imagination 有想象力的, 运用想象力的
a ~ writer

respectable, respective and respectful

respectable: deserving respect, 值得尊敬的,有名望的
a ~ man/profession

respectful: showing respect 尊敬人的,有礼貌的,
He is always ~to the elders.

respective: belongs to each of these 分别的,各自的
They sat on their ~ chairs.

intense versus intensive

intense: high in degree 强烈的, 剧烈的,高度的
~ heat炽热/pain
an ~ lady 热情的女子

intensive: deep and thorough 精深的, 集中的
~ reading/study彻底研究/agriculture密集农业

continual versus continuous

continual: going on all the time without stopping or with only short breaks, stop and go repeatedly, 连续的,断断续续的
~ rain/noise

continuous: going on without a break, an uninterrupted flow 连续不断的
~ fight/work

sensible versus sensitive

sensible: reasonable, having good sense 实用的, 明知的
a ~ woman/idea/ 豁达的妇女/明知的观点
~ clothes 实用的衣服

sensitive: quick to receive impression 敏感的
a ~ skin
~ paper 感光纸

considerable versus considerate

considerable: great much 相当多(大)的
a ~ income/distance

considerate: thoughtful 体谅的, 体贴的 周到的
She is ~ to others.

economic versus economical

economic: of economics
~ policy/geography/crisis/crops

economical: careful in the spending of money and time, not waste 经济的,节俭的
an ~ housewife/store

industrial versus industrious

industrial: of industries 工业的
the ~ revolution/products/system

industrious: hard-working, diligent
~ people

electric versus electrical

electric: worked by, changed with, producing electricity 用电的,带电的, 有电的
~ current/cable

electrical: relating to electricity, an idea of a less close connection with electricity
~ engineering/apparatus

historic versus historical

historic: famous in history, 历史上著名的 associated with past times 与过去时代有关的
a ~ event/speech/spot

historical: belong to history 历史上的
a ~ people/novel/play/film/painting
~ trend

Interview Tips

Q:Give me a summary of your current job description. (对你目前的工作,能否做个概括的说明。)

A:I have been working as a computer programmer for five years. To bespecific, I do system analysis, trouble shooting and provide softwaresupport. (我干了五年的电脑程序员。具体地说,我做系统分析,解决问题以及软件供应方面的支持。)


Q:Why did you leave your last job?(你为什么离职呢?)

A:Well, I am hoping to get an offer of a better position. If opportunityknocks, I will take it.(我希望能获得一份更好的工作,如果机会来临,我会抓住。)

A:I feel I have reached the "glass ceiling" in my current job. / I feelthere is no opportunity for advancement.(我觉得目前的工作,已经达到顶峰,即沒有升迁机会。)


Q:How do you rate yourself as a professional?(你如何评估自己是位专业人员呢?)

A:With my strong academic background, I am capable and competent. (凭借我良好的学术背景,我可以胜任自己的工作,而且我认为自己很有竞争力。)

A:With my teaching experience, I am confident that I can relate to studentsvery well. (依我的教学经验,我相信能与学生相处的很好。)


Q:What contribution did you make to your current (previous) organization?
(你对目前/从前的工作单位有何贡献?)

A:I have finished three new projects, and I am sure I can apply myexperience to this position. (我已经完成三个新项目,我相信我能将我的经验用在这份工作上。)


Q:What do you think you are worth to us?(你怎么认为你对我们有价值呢?)

A:I feel I can make some positive contributions to your company in thefuture. (我觉得我对贵公司能做些积极性的贡献。)


Q:What make you think you would be a success in this position?(你如何知道你能胜任这份工作?)

A:My graduate school training combined with my internship should qualify mefor this particular job. I am sure I will be successful. (我在研究所的训练,加上实习工作,使我适合这份工作。我相信我能成功。)


Q:Are you a multi-tasked individual?(你是一位可以同时承担数项工作的人吗?) or Do you work well under stress or pressure?(你能承受工作上的压力吗?)

A:Yes, I think so.

A:The trait is needed in my current(or previous) position and I know I canhandle it well. (这种特点就是我目前(先前)工作所需要的,我知道我能应付自如。)


Q:What is your strongest trait(s)?(你个性上最大的特点是什么?)

A:Helpfulness and caring.(乐于助人和关心他人。)

A:Adaptability and sense of humor.(适应能力和幽默感。)

A:Cheerfulness and friendliness.(乐观和友爱。)


Q:How would your friends or colleagues describe you?(你的朋友或同事怎样形容你?)

A:(pause a few seconds) (稍等几秒钟再答,表示慎重考虑。)
They say Mr. Chen is an honest, hardworking and responsible man who deeplycares for his family and friends. (他们说陈先生是位诚实、工作努力,负责任的人,他对家庭和朋友都很关心。)

A:They say Mr. Chen is a friendly, sensitive, caring and determined person.(他们说陈先生是位很友好、敏感、关心他人和有决心的人。)


Q:What personality traits do you admire?(你欣赏哪种性格的人?)

A:(I admire a person who is)honest, flexible and easy-going. (诚实、不死板而且容易相处的人。)

A:(I like) people who possess the "can do" spirit. (有"实际行动"的人。)


Q:What leadership qualities did you develop as an administrative personnel?(作为行政人员,你有什么样的领导才能?)

A:I feel that learning how to motivate people and to work together as ateam will be the major goal of my leadership. (我觉得学习如何把人们的积极性调动起来,以及如何配合协同的团队精神,是我行政工作的主要目标。)

A:I have refined my management style by using an open-door policy. (我以开放式的政策,改进我的行政管理方式。)


Q:How do you normally handle criticism?(你通常如何处理別人的批评?)

A:Silence is golden. Just don't say anything; otherwise the situation couldbecome worse. I do, however, accept constructive criticism. (沈默是金。不必说什么,否则情况更糟,不过我会接受建设性的批评。)

A:When we cool off, we will discuss it later. (我会等大家冷靜下来再讨论。)


Q:What do you find frustrating in a work situation?(在工作中,什么事令你不高兴?)

A:Sometimes, the narrow-minded people make me frustrated. (胸襟狭窄的人,有时使我泄气。)

A:Minds that are not receptive to new ideas. (不能接受新思想的那些取。)


Q:How do you handle your conflict with your colleagues in your work? (你如何处理与同事在工作中的意见不和?)

A:I will try to present my ideas in a more clear and civilized manner inorder to get my points across. (我要以更清楚文明的方式,提出我的看法,使对方了解我的观点。)


Q:How do you handle your failure?(你怎样对待自己的失敗?)

A:None of us was born "perfect". I am sure I will be given a second chanceto correct my mistake.(我们大家生来都不是十全十美的,我相信我有第二个机会改正我的错误。)


Q:What provide you with a sense of accomplishment.(什么会让你有成就感?)

A:Doing my best job for your company. (为贵公司竭力效劳。)

A:Finishing a project to the best of my ability. (尽我所能,完成一个项目。)


Q:If you had a lot of money to donate, where would you donate it to?Why?
(假如你有很多钱可以捐赠,你会捐给什么单位?为什么?)

A:I would donate it to the medical research because I want to do somethingto help others. (我会捐给医药研究,因为我要为他人做点事。)

A:I prefer to donate it to educational institutions. (我乐意捐给教育机构。)


Q:What is most important in your life right now?(眼下你生活中最重要的是什么?)

A:To get a job in my field is most important to me. (对我来说,能在这个领域找到工作是最重要的。)

A:To secure employment hopefully with your company. (希望能在贵公司任职对我来说最重要。)


Q:What current issues concern you the most?(目前什么事是你最关心的?)

A:The general state of our economy and the impact of China' entry to WTO onour industry. (目前中国经济的总体情況以及中国入世对我们行业的影响。)


Q:How long would you like to stay with this company?(你会在本公司服务多久呢?)

A:I will stay as long as I can continue to learn and to grow in my field.(只要我能在我的行业力继续学习和长进,我就会留在这里。)


Q:Could you project what you would like to be doing five years from now?
(你能预料五年后你会做什么吗?)

A:As I have some administrative experience in my last job, I may use my organizational and planning skills in the future.
(我在上一个工作中积累了一些行政经验,我将来也许要运用我组织和计划上的经验和技巧。)

A:I hope to demonstrate my ability and talents in my field adequately. (我希望能充分展示我在这个行业的能力和智慧。)

A:Perhaps, an opportunity at a management position would be exciting.(也许有机会,我将会从事管理工作。)

如果不愿正面回答,也可以说:

It would be premature for me to predict this.(现在对此问题的预测,尚嫌过早。)

甚至还可以打趣的说:

Hypothetically speaking, I might be able to do your current job as adirector.(或CEO或president)((说不定,我也能做你现在主任的工作呢!)


Q:What range of pay-scale are you interested in?(你喜欢那一种薪水层次标准?)

A:Money is important, but the responsibility that goes along with this jobis what interests me the most. (薪水固然重要,但这工作伴随而来的责任更吸引我。)

A:假如你有家眷,可以说:

To be frank and open with you, I like this job, but I have a family tosupport. (坦白地说,我喜欢这份工作,不过我必须要负担我的家庭。)


Other Tips (其它建议)

Know something about the organization you are applying to. (了解一些你申请工作单位的情况)

Dress properly. Don't shake hand with the interviewer until he/she extendshis/her hand. (穿着要得体,人家伸手时才握手。)

Don't sit down until invited to do so by the interviewer. (人家未请,先別坐下。)

Make eye-contact with the interviewer during the interview. (面试时,眼睛要看着对方。)

Listen actively and stay calm. (注意听,保持冷静。)

If invited to a meal, be especially careful about your table manners. (被邀吃饭时,要特別注意餐桌礼节。)

Don't talk with your mouth full. (嘴里有食物,不可开口说话)

Don't make much noise while you eat. (吃东西不要出声音)

Don't blow your nose or use the toothpick at table. (不要拧鼻涕或用牙签剔牙)

Don't appear to be pushy or overly anxious to get a job.(不必过分表现急着要工作)

Be honestbut not too modest.(要诚实,但不必太谦虚)

Don't put yourself down or cut yourself up. (不可妄自菲薄或自贬)

Try to avoid discussing politics or religion with your interviewer. (避免与面试人谈政治或宗教)

What can you tell me about yourself?

This is not an invitation to give your life history. The interviewer is looking for clues about your character qualifications ambitions and motivations. The following is a good example of a positive response. ″In high school I was involved in competitive sports and I always tried to improve in each sport I participated in. As a college student I worked in a clothing store part-time and found that I could sell things easily. The sale was important but for me it was even more important to make sure that the customer was satisfied. It was not long before customers came back to the store and specifically asked for me to help them. I'm very competitive and it means a lot to me to be the best.″

“关于你自己,你能告诉我些什么?”这一问题并非在请你大谈你的个人历史。雇主是在寻找有关你性格、资历、志向和生活动力的线索。下面是一个积极正面回答的好例子:“在高中我参加各种竞争性体育活动,并一直努力提高各项运动的成绩。大学期间,我曾在一家服装店打工,我发现我能轻而易举地将东西推销出去。销售固然重要,但对我来说,更重要的是要确信顾客能够满意。不久便有顾客返回那家服装店点名让我为他们服务。我很有竞争意识,力求完美对我很重要。”

Can you sell yourself in two minutes?Go for it.

你能在两分钟內自我推荐吗?大胆试试吧!

With my qualifications and experience, I feel I am hardworking,responsible and diligent in any project I undertake. Your organization couldbenefit from my analytical and interpersonal skills.(依我的资格和经验,我觉得我对所从事的每一个项目都很努力、负责、勤勉。我的分析能力和与人相处的技巧,对贵单位必有价值。)

Is there someone else?

你是不是有了新欢?

 Is there someone else﹖这句话字面上是指“有其它人吗?”不过Is there someone else﹖这句话在使用上,问的那个“其它人”一定是感情上的“新欢,新对象”,所以若是情侣或是夫妻之间有人说了这句Is there someone else﹖“你是不是有了新欢?”这可就不太妙了!

I feel the same way.

我有同感。

当他人说出了你的感觉,你再同意的时候,你就可以用上这句话I feel the same way. 这句话不但可以让你避免把同样的话再讲一次,帮你省了不少口水,还可以让对方觉得自己的意见被尊重呢。赶快记住I feel the same way.

What kind of work does the position involve?

You can ask this to clarify exactly what kind of work you'll be doing.

这个职位包括哪些工作?通过问这句话,你可以清楚地了解到你的工作内容。

If hired, when could you start work?

When answering this it's best not to say you can start right away. This might make you seem very desperate for a job. A safe answer would be "I can start at the beginning of next month."

如果雇佣的话,你什么时候开始工作?回答这个问题时。一定要注意!不要说我马上可以工作。那会让对方认为你非常迫切地需要这份工作。一个非常保险的回答可以是"I can start at the beginning of next month."(我下月初可以开始上班。)

Why do you feel you are qualified for this job?

This question is a good opportunity to brag a little bit. You should talk about some extra skills you have that maybe wasn't included in your resume, or talk about your greatest strength in more detail.

你为什么觉得自己胜任这份工作?这时候你要充分发挥你的"自夸"本领。你可以讲述一些简历资料里面没有包括的技能;或者是再详细强调一下你的特长。

What's your greatest weakness?

This is a popular question that western employers like to ask to make candidates nervous! In fact, they ask this to know how you respond to a difficult question. You shouldn't answer by telling your greatest weakness since you might not get the job! Instead, you can tell them something that isn't directly related to the job position.

你最大的缺点是什么?西方老板特别爱问这个问题,让面试者感到很紧张。事实上,他问这个问题是看你对棘手问题的反应。你没必要如实回答你的弱点,因为那有可能让你得不到这份工作。相反,你可以告诉他们一些与工作不直接相关的事情。

Work Experience

"work experience" is the type of work you've done in the past. If you haven't started working yet you can say "Right now I'm still a student." or "I'm a recent grad and I haven't started working yet." In the second sentence, "recent grad" is short for "recent graduate" and means that you have just finished school.

请告诉我你过去的工作经验。 工作经验就是你过去所做的工作。 如果尚未开始工作,就可以回答
"Right now I'm still a student."(现在我还是个学生。)或者说
"I'm a recent grad and I haven't started working yet."(我刚刚毕业,还没有开始工作。)
"recent grad"是"recent graduate"的缩写,意思是刚刚毕业。

Now I lay me down to sleep.

我现在躺下睡觉。

读者诸君要笑话我老罗有眼无珠,这么浅显的句子,也录用在《文化背景词典》里。殊不知即使是浅显易懂的语言,不了解其文化背景,亦无从了解其内在的涵义。 和我曾在旺文社一起工作的美国好友克里斯汀说起在日本看美国喜剧电影时,常常一个人笑得前伏后仰,而周围的日本人则莫名其妙,不知有何好笑。她解释说,那 是因为,日本人只看字幕,而语言的幽默并非字幕所能完全表达出来的。我想中国人看美国电影读报刊文章,也许时常会出现相同的情形。比如说,Now I lay me down to sleep.这句,即使拿给一部分不太了解美国文化的中小学英语教师看,使劲看也看不出什么蹊跷来;老美外教跑过来只瞟一眼,嘴角挂起一丝会心的笑意,脑 海里立刻回想起自己美妙的童年。原来小孩上床睡觉前,都要念一段祈祷,这是美国家庭的传统习惯。只要爸爸妈妈说一声,Say your prayer,美国的小孩们马上念起下面的祷告文来:

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.

现在我躺下睡觉,
请主守护我的灵魂;
如果我醒来之前死去,
请主带我灵魂同行。

这段祷告文自从被教科书The New England Primer(1784)采用以来,流传全美国。只要是老美,谁都知道这祷告文。当我们有了这个背景知识后,再来读读《新闻周刊》上的一篇文章,想必你也会像老美一样捧腹大笑起来。

Shel Silverstein's "Prayer of the Selfish Child": Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep, And if I die before I wake, I pray the lord my toys to break, So none of the other kids can use 'em. Amen." (Newsweek,October 24,1983)

Shout "fire" in a crowded theater

在拥挤的剧场喊“失火!

此用于源自美国最高裁判所法官Oliver Wendel Holmes,Jr.(1841-1935)在判决文中使用的表现。合众国宪法第一修正案保证了美国人的言论自由。但即使拥有言论自由,没发生失火却搞恶 作剧在拥杂的剧场高喊“失火啦!”也是应当禁止的行为。shout "fire" in a crowded theater用于表明言论自由也有必须受限制的时候。下面来看一下California Journal里的一段例句。

There are limits on all rights,after all.For instance,free speech is limited because you cannot shout "fire" in crowded theater.Also,the use of private property is limited by such things as zoning laws.(California Journal,November1,1993)

所有的权利都有一个界限。比如说,言论自由也有其界限。你不能在满员剧场喊“失火!”因此即使是私有财产的使用,也应当受到都市规划法的限制。

在英语辩论或托福作文中,我们常常要用辩证的眼光(并非唯物主义辩证法,因为我是基督徒)看待事物,可以照搬you cannot shout "fire" in crowded theater 来表明万事无绝对,可以让你的英文显得地道十足,令老外啧啧称奇。所以说掌握文化背景知识是真正提高外语表达能力必要条件。

Speak softly and carry a big stick.

说话温和,手持大棒。

熟悉历史的朋友,一定知道美国总统罗斯福的大棒政策。偶尔从网上看到西北工业大学材料科学与工程系益明星同学曾撰文称“二战时候的美国总统罗斯福有句名言 “讲话要和气,但是手中一定要有大棒”。其实他犯了一个美国文化背景的常识性失误。因为此罗斯福非二战时的罗斯福,而是西奥多•罗斯福Theodore Roosevelt(1858-1919),俗称老罗斯福,提倡大棒政策即以军事为背景推进外交的美国第26任总统。“大棒”一词便来自他在1901年所 作的一次演讲

There is a homely adage which runs,"Speak softly and carry a big stick;you will go far." If the American nation will speak softly and yet build and keep at a pitch of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy,the Monroe Doctrine will go far.(Theodore Roosevelt,Speech at Minnesota State Fair,September2,1901)

有句众所周知的格言“说话温和而手持大棒,你才能走得远”。如果美国能够以温和的口吻说话,而且建立起一支彻底高效率并能维持高度训练后最高状态的海军,门罗主义就能走得远。

生动报刊实例

Le Figaro quoted Teddy Roosevelt's (Teddy 特迪(男子名, Edward 或 Theodore 的昵称) famous advice to "speak softly and carry a big stick."The Economist pointed out that Clinton does just the opposite :speaks loudly and carries a twig.(St.Petersburg Times,October,22,1993)

费加罗报引用了特迪罗斯福的忠告“说话温和,手持大棒。”而《Economist》杂志则指出,克林顿正在做完全相反的事:说话吓死人,手持小枝条。

The First Hundred Days

最初的一百天

美国总统新任的最初100天称为the first hundred days。美国人认为从总统最初100天的工作表现可以判断出新任总统的政治能力。the first hundred days 是总统和议会的honeymoon period,在这期间在野党不会对总统提出露骨的批评。

例句
Other administrations are known for what they did in their first hundred days. The Clinton administration seems to be known for their first hundred blunders.(The Arizona Republic,June13,1993)

至今为止的历届政权都是以“最初的百日”的所作所为而留下声名的,而克林顿似乎要以其“最初的百败”在历史上留下自己的名字。(这是讥讽当时刚上台的克林顿政权)

The Decade Of Greed

贪婪的十年

在美国,上世纪80年代被称为the decade of greed.是疯狂挣钱的泡沫经济时代。这一时期刚好是里根总统治世时代。

If the 1980s was the decade of greed,the 1990s shape up as the decade of regret.(the San Francisco Chronicle,Februrary2,1994)

如果,80年代是“贪婪的十年”,90年代正在成为“悔过的十年”

Pro-Choice

赞成堕胎的

围绕着abortion(人工流产)的合法化问题,美国人的意见恰好分为两派。赞成派和反对派相互对立,为争夺美国社会主导权的斗争不断扩大。人流赞成派被称作pro-choice,反对派则为pro-life.

pro-choice派的人认为,堕胎与否应该让妇女自己来自由判断。把pro-choice翻译成“堕胎合法化赞成派的”也是可以的。

例句
I don't find that my view or the consensus view in America is represented by extreme positions of pro-life or pro-choice.(Newsweek,August2,1993)

我的意见或大多数美国人的意见,并非像pro-life或pro-choice那样极端对立的。

Separation of Church and State

政教分离

美国的基督教会素有free church之美誉。欧洲诸国的历史上,常有执政者把特定的教派教会定为State Church(国教会),对其他的教派进行迫害。美国的教会是彻底和政权分离的。根据合众国宪法第一修正条项,禁止制定一切树立国教的法律条规。

让我们来看报刊实例
But I want them to render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's. I want the separation of church and state to continue, even through the muddy waters of this present time.(St.Petersburg Times)

但是,应该把凯萨的东西还给凯撒,神的东西还给神。即使在像现在这样的肮脏的政治现状,我希望政教分离持续下去。----- render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things 将另行解说。

Malefactors of Great Wealth

罪恶的大富豪

这个用于源自美国总统Theodore Roosevelt(1858-1919)所说的话。1907年罗斯福把反对政府决策的资产阶级称为malefactors of great wealth罪恶的大富豪。从那以来,这句话就用来抨击经济大行业的反社会性。

Mr.Bush has shown no inclination,for example,to attack today's"malefactors of great wealth,"contenting himself so far with an admonition to the nation in his Inaugural Address to take care not to confuse mere riches with lasting worth.

比如说,布什毫无攻击现代“罪恶的大富豪”之意,到现在为止满足于仅在就职演说时告诫国民不要把单纯的小资产和永久性资产相混淆。

Robber Barons

强盗贵族

19世纪后期,利用恶劣手段聚敛财富的资本家被称作robber barons.这个时期正式美国资本主义蓬勃发展的时期。

Perhaps not since the tragic era of the robber barons a century ago has the unsavory aroma of political corruption been so pervasive throughout Washington.(Christian Science Monitor)

参考翻译: 政治腐败之风如此遍及华盛顿的状况并非是百年前强盗贵族盛行的悲惨时代就有的吧。

Tripoli Pirates

的黎波里海盗

19世纪初叶,北非海岸被称作Barbary国,作为掠夺商船的海盗国而嚣张一时。Tripoli 正是其中心所在。美国为保护其船只,曾经每年向Barbary进贡过,但考虑到国家尊严,派出舰队进行武力解决,于1805年封锁吧吧里港,停止缴纳每年的贡金。

报刊例文
American presidents have been showing the flag(炫耀武力) and policing the sea lanes in remote corners of the world since the days of the Tripoli pirates.(Newsweek)

美国历代总统,从的黎波里海盗时代开始,把舰队派往世界各个偏远的角落(炫耀武力),对航海线进行了警备活动。

Divine Right

神赋予的权力

Doctrine of Divine Right of Kings君权神授学,是17世纪为了使君专政正当化的理论,即王权由神赋予,国王只对神负责.当文章中出现divine right 的时候,有必要联想到divine right of kings,

例如
The truth is that most top executives believe in a divine right of management.They don't want outside interference.(The Washington Post)

事实上大部分经营高层(管理人员)信奉"经营权神授"理论,不喜欢外界的干涉.

Hessians

雇佣兵

美国独立战争时期,兵力不足的英国,雇佣了约2万多德国人送到美洲大陆,其大部分是来自黑森州的Hessians(黑森人)。于是Hessians成为用 钱雇佣来为别国而打仗的兵士的代名词。参加第一次海湾战争的美国兵,常被称为,“用石油利益购买来保卫君主专制国家科威特的雇佣兵Hessians”。请看面这篇报道

Whether U.S. troop look like a mercenary force of latter-day Hessians is now a secondary concern;what comes first is simply finding the cash.(Chiacago Tribune,Setember 19,1990)

参考译文:美国军队是否看上去像现代版的黑森人雇佣兵并不重要,关键课题是如何解决资金来源。

Horatio at the bridge

桥上的荷雷西奥

这句话来自一个人站在桥上孤独奋战的罗马勇士Horatius Cocles的故事。公元前6世纪受到伊特鲁丽亚军进攻的罗马,不得不毁掉得比列河上的桥来阻止敌军。Horatius 独自一人站在桥头奋战,直到和桥共同坠入河流,而他却得以生还。Horatio at the bridge就是孤胆英雄,独自奋战的意思。

例文
In Germany,however,the Bundesbank has been acting like Horatio at the bridge,defending its strong anti-inflationary policy and interest-rate struchture against any and all threats from the Eastern provinces of Germany,Brussels,Bonn or Washington.(The New York Times)

参考译文:可是在德国,联邦银行扮演着桥头荷雷西奥的孤胆英雄角色,不屈服于来自德国东部各省,欧共体总部(Brussels),德国政府,美国政府的压力,保卫着其坚固的反通货膨胀政策和利率体系。

I had a feeling he was in favor of the plan.

我觉得他赞成那个计划.

记住I have a feeling (that)……(我觉得……),及……(that ) he was against the plan.(他反对那个计划)这两句话都很管用.

You did say next Tuesday at 2:00 P.M., didn't you?

您是说在下星期二下午2点,是不是?

任何事都必须确认一下。如果对方是外国人更要如此。上句也可直截了当地说let me confirm.

Yes, of course.

是,我知道了

也可用I understand(我明白了),或Yes, right away(好的马上去做),对上司说OK,或 all right并不恰当。很忙时,说I'm sorry, but I'm busy now. Could I do it later?

I think we need to buy a new copier.

我想我们需要买一台新的复印机

说出上句之前,必须说明our copying machine has broken down again.(复印机又出毛病了)以作为提案的依据。客气一些的提议,用suggest如I would suggest we buy a new copier.

Wouldn't it be possible for me to take the day off this Friday?

这个星期五,我是否可以休一天假?

请休假用takethe day off。如果是两天以上就用days off。老板会很干脆地答应说that'll be OK,或是会带有不悦意味回答will everything be all right?(一切都安排就绪了吗?),这些都要看你平时的工作表现而定。

Greasy spoon

Greasy是油腻的意思,spoon是指调羹,也就是汤勺。Greasy和spoon这两个字合在一起就是指那些有点像夫妻老婆店那样的小饭馆。这些小饭馆一般来说菜谱上花色品种并不多,碗筷也好像不那么干净,装潢也不讲究,但是菜的味道倒不错,价钱也很公道。

“Honey, let me take you out to dinner. But you know I don’t feel like dressing up to go someplace fancy. How about just going down the street to the greasy spoon and getting hamburgers.”

“亲爱的,让我带你去外面吃晚饭吧。不过,我实在不想穿得必恭必敬的去那些大饭馆。咱们就上街那头那个小饭馆去吃汉堡包,怎么样?”

comparable and comparative

comparable 可比较的, 有类似之处的
There is no scenery comparable to that of the West lake.

comparative 比较而言的, 相当的
He lived in comparative comfort recently.

Words To Live By 生活的忠告

I’ll give you some advice about life.
给你生活的忠告
Eat more roughage;
多吃些粗粮;
Do more than others expect you to do and do it pains;
给别人比他们期望的更多,并用心去做;
Remember what life tells you;
熟记生活告诉你的一切;
Don’t take to heart every thing you hear.
Don’t spend all that you have.
Don’t sleep as long as you want;
不要轻信你听到的每件事,不要花光你的所有,不要想睡多久就睡多久;
Whenever you say” I love you”, please say it honestly;
无论何时说“我爱你”,请真心实意;
Whevever you say” I’m sorry”, please look into the other person’s eyes;
无论何时说“对不起”,请看对方的眼睛;
Fall in love at first sight;
相信一见钟情;
Don’t neglect dreams;
请不要忽视梦想;
Love deeply and ardently, even if there is pain, but this is the way to make your life complete;
深情热烈地爱,也许会受伤,但这是使人生完整的唯一方法;
Find a way to settle, not to dispute;
用一种明确的方法解决争议,不要冒犯;
Never judge people by their appearance;
永远不要以貌取人;
Speak slowly, but think quickly;
慢慢地说,但要迅速地想;
When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, simle and say, “Why do you want to
know?”
当别人问你不想回答的问题时,笑着说:“你为什么想知道?”
Remember that the man who can shoulder the most risk will gain the deepest love and the supreme
accomplishment;
记住:那些敢于承担最大风险的人才能得到最深的爱和最大的成就;
Call you mother on the phone. If you can’t, you may think of her in your heart;
给妈妈打电话,如果不行,至少在心里想着她;
When someone sneezes say, “God bless you”;
当别人打喷嚏时,说一声“上帝保佑”;
If you fail, don’t forget to learn your lesson;
如果你失败了,千万别忘了汲取教训;
Remember the three “ respects” .Respect yourself, respect others, stand on dignity and pay attention
to your behavior;
记住三个“尊”: 尊重你自己; 尊重别人; 保持尊严, 对自己的行为负责;
Don’t let a little dispute break up a great friendship;
不要让小小的争端损毁了一场伟大的友谊;
Whenever you find your wrongdoing, be quick with reparation!
无论何时你发现自己做错了,竭尽所能去弥补;动作要快!
Whenever you make a phone call smil when you pick up the phone, because someone feel it!
无论什么时候打电话,摘起话筒的时候请微笑,因为对方能感觉到!
Marry a person who likes talking; because when you get old, you’ll find that chatting to be a great
advantage;
找一个你爱聊的人结婚;因为年纪大了后,你会发觉喜欢聊天是一个人最大的优点;
Find time for yourself.
找点时间,单独呆会儿;
Life will change what you are but not who you are;
欣然接受改变,但不要摒弃你的个人理念;
Remember that silence is golden;
记住:沉默是金;
Read more books and watch less television;
多看点书,少看点电视;
Live a noble and honest life. Reviving past times in your old age will help you to enjoy your life again;
过一种高尚而诚实的生活。当你年老时回想起过去,你就能再一次享受人生。
Trust God, but don’t forget to lock the door;
相信上帝,但是别忘了锁门;
The harmonizing atmosphere of a family is valuable;
家庭的融洽氛围是难能可贵的;
Try your best to let family harmony flow smoothly;
尽你的能力让家平顺和谐;
When you quarrel with a close friend, talk about the main dish, don’t quibble over the appetizers;
当你和你的亲近的少吵嘴时候,试着就事论事,不要扯出那些陈芝麻、烂谷子的事;
You cannot hold onto yesterday;
不要摆脱不了昨天;
Figure out the meaning of someone’s words;
多注意言下之意;
Share your knowledge to continue a timeless tradition;
和别人分享你的知识,那才是永恒之道;
Treat our earth in a friendly way,don’t fool around with mother nature;
善待我们的地球,不要愚弄自然母亲;
Do the thing you should do;
做自己该做的事;
Don’t trust a lover who kisses you without closing their eyes;
不要相信接吻时从不闭眼的伴侣;
Go to a place you’ve never been to every year.
每年至少去一个你从没去过的地方。
If you earn much money,the best way to spend it is on charitable deeds while you are alive;
如果你赚了很多钱,在活着的时候多行善事,这是你能得到的最好回报;
Remember,not all the best harvest is luck;
记住有时候,不是最好的收获也是一种好运;
Understand rules completely and change them reasonably;

深刻理解所有的规则,合理地更新他们;
Remember,the best love is to love others unconditionally rather than make demands on them;
记住,最好的爱存在于对别人的爱胜于对别人的索求这上;
Comment on the success you have attained by looking in the past at the target you wanted to
achieve most;
回头看看你发誓取得的目标,然后评价你到底有多成功;
In love and cooking,you must give 100% effort……but expect little appreciation;
无论是烹饪不是爱情,都用百分之百的负责态度对待,但是不要乞求太多的回报。

Colors

颜色词的翻译

色彩与人类的生活息息相关,是人类认识世界的一个重要领域。色彩不仅具有物理属*,还有着丰富的文化内涵和延伸意义,因此是语言、文化及翻译研究中的一个重要课题。
    
世界各民族语言表达颜色的词语多寡不一,分类各异。英语和汉语对基本颜色词的分类差别不大。汉语中有赤、橙、黄、绿、青、蓝、紫,英语中有red(红), white(白), black(黑), green(绿), yellow(黄), blue(蓝), purple(紫), gray(灰), brown(棕). 这些基本颜色之间有相同的方面,也有不同的区别。另外,受地理环境、民情风俗、思维方式、宗教信仰、民族心理等因素的影响,各种颜色对于不同民族的人而 言,在视觉和心理上所引发的联想和象征意义也不尽相同,翻译时应该特别注意其中的差异。下面我们简要列举几个主要颜色词在英语和汉语中的对比。

历史方面:
   to raise to the purple升为红衣主教
   to be born in the purple 生于帝王之家
   to marry into the purple 与皇室或贵族联姻
    
社会方面:
   blue-collar workers 蓝领阶层,指普通体力劳动者
   grey-collar workers 灰领阶层,指服务*行业的职员
   white-collar workers 白领阶层,指接受过专门技术教育的脑力劳动者
   pink-collar workers 粉领阶层,指职业妇女群体
   golden-collar personnel 金领阶层,指既有专业技能又懂管理和营销的人才
    
经济方面:
   red ink 赤字
   in the black 盈利
   white goods 白色货物,指冰箱、洗衣机等外壳为白色的家电产品
   brown goods 棕色货物,指电视、录音机、音响等外壳为棕色的电子产品。

BLACK

黑色(black)在英语和汉语两种语言文化中的联系意义大致相同。例如,黑色是悲哀的颜色,英美人在葬礼上穿黑色服装,中国人在葬礼上戴黑纱。英语中的Black Friday 指耶稣在复活节前受难的星期五,是悲哀的日子。
    
     black在英语中还象征气愤和恼怒,如:
     black in the face 脸色铁青
     to look black at someone 怒目而视
    
另外,黑色在汉语和英语中都有“阴险”、“邪恶”的含义,不过翻译时不一定用“黑”或“black”的字眼,例如:

     evil mind 黑心
     evil backstage manipulator 黑手
     inside story 黑幕
     a sinister line 黑线
     black sheep 害群之马
     black day 凶日
     black future 暗淡的前途

BLUE

蓝色(blue)在汉语中的引申意义较少,而在英语中blue是一个含义十分丰富的颜色词。在翻译同这一颜色有关的表达时,我们应该注意其中的特别含义。
    
英语的blue常用来喻指人的“情绪低落”、“心情沮丧”、“忧愁苦闷”,如:
    
     They felt rather blue after the failure in the football match.
     球赛踢输了,他们感到有些沮丧。

     She looks blue today. What’s the matter with her?
     她今天显得闷闷不乐,出了什么事情?

     She is in holiday blue.
     她得了假期忧郁症。
    
Holiday blue 相当于winter holiday depression,指冬季假期时,人困在家里,感到无聊寂寞时的心情或情绪。另一个同低落的情绪有关的词组是:a blue Monday(倒霉的星期一),指度过快乐的周末后,星期一又要上学或上班,所以情绪不好。
    
blue在英语中有时用来指“黄色的”、“下流的”意思,如:

     blue talk 下流的言论
     blue video 黄色录象
    
有时blue又有社会地位高、出身名门的意义,如blue blood(贵族血统)。
    
此外,blue在英语中与其它词汇搭配,还有另外的含义,如:

     out of blue 意想不到
     once in a blue 千载难逢
     drink till all’s blue 一醉方休

WHITE

白色(white)在汉语和英语的联想意义中都有纯洁和清白的意思,但也有一些含义上的不同。例如,汉民族文化中,白色与死亡、丧事相联系,如 “红白喜事”中的“白”指丧事(funeral),表示哀悼。但在英语文化中,white表示幸福和纯洁,如新娘在婚礼上穿白色礼服,代表爱情的纯洁和婚 姻的贞洁。
    
英语中的white有时表达的含义,与汉语中的“白色”没有什么关系,如:
    
    a white lie 善意的谎言
    the white coffee 牛奶咖啡
    white man 善良的人,有教养的人
    white-livered 怯懦的
    white elephant 昂贵又无用之物
    
汉语中有些与“白”字搭配的词组,实际上与英语white所表示的颜色也没有什么联系,而是表达另外的含义,如:
    
    白开水 plain boiled water
    白菜 Chinese cabbage
    白字 wrongly written or mispronounced character
    白搭 no use
    白费事 all in vain

YELLOW

黄色在英语和汉语中的引申含义差别比较大。在英语中,yellow可以表示“胆小、卑怯、卑鄙”的意思,例如:

     a yellow dog 可鄙的人,卑鄙的人
     a yellow livered 胆小鬼
     He is too yellow to stand up and fight. 他太软弱,不敢起来斗争。
    
英语中的黄色还用来作为事物的特定颜色,例如,美国有些城市的出租车上标有“yellow”(而不是“taxi”)的字样,代表出租车,因为那里的出租车为黄颜色。如:
    
     Yellow Pages 黄页 (电话号码簿,用黄纸印刷)
     Yellow Book 黄皮书 (法国等国家的政府报告,用黄封面装帧)
     yellow boy (俗)金币
    
汉语中黄色一词有时象征低级趣味、色情庸俗、下流猥亵的意思,如黄色电影、黄色书刊、黄色光碟等等。这些名称中的“黄”与英语中的 “yellow”无关。能够表示汉语中这些意思的词汇应该是:pornographic(色情的)、vulgar(庸俗下流的)、obscene(猥亵 的)等。然而,英语中另一个颜色词blue却常用来表示汉语中这类意思,如blue jokes(下流的玩笑), blue films(黄色电影)等。

GREEN

绿色green在英语中可以表示“嫉妒、眼红”,如:green with envy,green as jealousy,green-eyed monster都是指“十分嫉妒”的意思。汉语中表示“嫉妒”意义的“眼红”,应该翻译为green-eyed而不能翻译为red-eyed。
    
由于美元纸币是绿颜色的,所以green在美国也指代“钱财、钞票、有经济实力”等意义,如:
    
     In American political elections the candidates that win are usually the
     ones who have green power backing them.
     在美国政治竞选中获胜的候选人通常都是些有财团支持的人物。
    
在英语中绿色还用来表示没有经验、缺乏训练、知识浅薄等意思,如:
    
     The new typist is green at her job.
     刚来的打字员是个生手。

     You cannot expect Mary to do business with such people. She is only
     eighteen and as green as grass.
     你不能指望玛丽同这样的人做生意,她只有十八岁,还毫无经验。

RED

在英语和汉语中,红色有时可以完全对应,有时却大相径庭:
    
     红旗 red flag
     红糖 brown sugar
     红茶 black tea
     红榜 honour roll
     红豆 love pea
     红运 good luck
     红利 dividen
     红事 wedding
     红酒 red wine
     火灾 red ruin
     血战 red battle
     彩霞 red sky
    
此外,红色对中国人和英美人而言,会产生不同的理解和联想。在翻译古典小说《红楼梦》时,英国翻译家David Hawkes认为书中的“红色”对汉语文化的人而言,表示喜庆、幸福、吉祥,但在英语国家的人眼中,绿色和金黄色具有类似的联想意义,而红色则意味着流 血、危险或暴力。因此,他在翻译时涉及红色的词语时作了一定的变通处理:
    
     贾宝玉神游太虚境,警幻仙曲演红楼梦。
     Jiao Baoyu visits the Land of Illusion;
     And the fairy Disenchantment performs the Dream of Golden Days.
    
     贾宝玉品茶栊翠庵,刘姥姥醉窝怡红院。
     Jia Baoyu tastes some superior tea at Green Bower Hermitage;
     And Grannie Liu samples the sleeping accommodation at Green Delights.
    
译者在翻译原文中的“红楼梦”和“怡红院”时没有选用red一词,而是分别译为Golden 和Green这两个虽然不同色彩,但对译语读者来说具有相近意义的颜色词。当然,这样的处理方法是否合适,是否有利于原文文化在译语中的再现,另当别论。 不过,我们可以从中看出颜色词的延伸涵义对语言和翻译的影响。

What kind of salary did you have in mind?

Salary is how much money you earn, usually per year. When asked this, it's best to answer with a salary range or approximation and not an exact figure. This shows that you are familiar with the industry if you know what the approximate salary should be.

你期望的薪水是多少?"salary"就是你赚多少钱,通常是年收入。回答这个问题时,最好说出一个大致范围,而不是一个确切的数字。如果你能说出这个工资范围,那就说明你对此行业非常了解。

Interview Q&A

Q:How do you rate yourself as a professional?
A:With my strong knowledge on computer,i am capable and competent.

Q:What are your best professional skills?
A:I think i am skilled in computer operation and maintenance.

Q:What kind of people do you prefer to work with?
A:I prefer to work with those who are will to work with other people.

Q:What do you think you are worth to us?
A:I feel i can make some positive contributions to you company in the
future.

Q:What make you think you would success in this position?
A:With my graduate school training and my self-study. I am sure I will meet
with success.

Q:Do you work well under stress or pressure?
A:I am young and have more energy,so i think i can handle it well.

Q:Q:How do you normally handle criticism?
A:when we cool off,we can discuss it later.

Q:What do you find frustrating in a work situation?
A:Sometimes,the narrow-minded people make me frustrated.

Q:How do you handle your conflict with your colleagues in your work?
A:I will try to present my ideas in a more clear and civilized way in order
to get my points across.

Q:How do you handle your failure?
A:None of us was born "perfect". I will sure to be given a second chance to
correct my mistake.

Q:What provide you with a sense of accomplishment?
A:Doing my best job for your company.

Q:What is the most important in your life right now?
A:To get a job is most important to me right now.

Q:Why?
A:To pay back my parents for fostered me so long.

Q:Could you project what you would like to be doing five years from now?
A:It would be too early for me to predict this.

Q:Why do you think you might like to work for our company?
A:I think the prospect of the auto industry in China will be better and
better in the future. Just like developed countries some years earlier.

Q: You may ask questions about us, if you have any.
A: Sure, What would my job entail?

Price

价格

1. Price terms 价格条件
2. bargain 讨价还价
3. currency 货币
4. on the low side 价格偏低
5. market price 市场价
6. current price 现行价
7. floor price 底价
8. make a bargain with sb 与某人成交
9. drive a hard bargain over sth. 为某事拼命讨价还价
10. a bargain sale 廉价出售
11. rock-bottom price 最低价
12. F.O.B 船上交货
13. C.I.F. 成本加保险费,运费价
14. CFR 成本加运费价

Shipment

装运

1. backlog 积压而未交付的订货
2. terms of shipment 装运条件
3. prepare goods 备货
4. load 装货
5. unload 卸货
6. board 木板,板,船舷
7. on board 在船(或车、飞机)上
8. steamer 轮船
9. space of a steamer舱位
10. shipping department 运输部门
11 liner 班轮,班机
12. book up (票、车位、舱位等)订完
13. tranship 转运
14. transhipment 转载
15. Force Majeure 人力不可抗力
16. European Main Ports --EMPs 欧洲主要口岸
17. vessel 船;飞船;飞机
18. the first available vessel 第一艘可订到的船
19. call at 停泊
20. duly 按期地,按时的

Packing

1. packaging  包装方法
2. blister packing 起泡包装
3. neutral packing 中性包装
4. skin packing 吸塑包装
5. hanging packing 挂式包装
6. catch sb's eye 引某人注目
7. mark 唛头
8. unlabelled packing 无牌的包装
9. in bulk 散装
10. in loose packing 散装
11 nude packing 裸装
12. bulk pack 整批包装
13. consumer pack 零售包装
14. large packing 大包装
15. inner packing, external packing, end packing  小包装
16. shrunk packaging,  压缩包装
17. foam-spary packaging 喷泡沫包装
18. gift-wrap 礼品包装
19. bag, sack 袋
20. jute bag 麻袋
21. polythelene bag, plastic bag 塑料袋
22. polythelene net 尼龙绳网袋
23. zippered bag 拉链袋
24. case, chest 箱
25. box  盒
26. wooden case 木箱
27. carton 纸箱 
28. container 集装箱
29. rate 板条箱
30. fibre board case 纤维板箱
31. packet 小包
32. bale 包
33. bundle 捆
34. tin , can 罐头
35. basket 篮,篓,筐
36. bamboo basket 竹篓
37. bottle 瓶
38. wooden keg 小木桶
39. hogshead 大桶
40. iron drum 铁桶
41 cylinder 铁桶
42. barrel 琵琶桶
43. drum 圆桶
44. waterproof paper 防水纸
45. cellophone 玻璃纸
46. kraftpaper 牛皮纸
47. canvas 帆布
48. fibreboard 纤维板
49. nylon strap 尼龙腰子
50. plastic strap 塑料腰子
51. adhesive tape 胶带
52. stuffing material 填料
53. nylon plastic 尼龙丝
54. fermented plastic 泡沫塑料
55. paper scrap 纸屑
56. saw dust 木屑
57. tar paper 沥青纸
58. wax paper 蜡纸
59. slushing compound 润滑油
60. tarpaulin 油布、防水帆布

Quantity

数量

1. weight 重量
2. metric ton 公吨
3. long ton 长吨
4. short ton 短吨
5. kilogram, kilo, kg 公斤
6. pound, lb 磅
7. ounce, oz 盎司
8. number 个数
9. piece 件
10. pair 双
11 dozen 打
12. ream 令
13. set 套
14. length 长度
15. area 面积
16. volume 体积
17. cubic meter 立方米
18. capacity 容积
19. litre 升
20. gallon 加仑
21. bushel 蒲式耳
22. metric system 公制
23. british system 英制
24. U.S.System 美制
25. gross weight 毛重
26. net weight 净重
27. shipping weight 装运重量
28. landed weight 卸货重量
29. theoretical weight 理论重量

Counter offer

1. counter offer 还盘
2. enjoy great popularity 享有盛誉
3. ready seller; quick seller; quick-selling product 畅销品
4. conclude business with sb. 与某人达成交易
5. close business, close a deal , close a transaction, close a bargain 达成交易
6. trade terms 贸易条件
7. trade agreement 贸易协定
8. trade fair 交易会
9. trade mark 商标
10. foreign trade对外贸易
11 trade in sth 经营某物
12. trade with sb.与某人交易
13. favourable price 优惠价格
14. favourable terms 优惠条件
15. quotation 行情
16. discount quotation 贴现行情
17. exchange rate quotation外汇行情
18. commission 佣金
19. a commission of....%; ....% commission.百分之几佣金
20. your ..% commission你的百分之几佣金
21. The above price includes your commission of 2%.上述价格包括你方2%佣金.
22. general practice 惯例
23. accept an order 接受订单
24. cancel an order 撤消订单
25. confirm an order 确认订单
26. execute an order 履行订单
27. a back order 尚未执行的订单
28. a fresh order 新订单
29. a repeat order 续订订单

Inquiry

询盘

1. general inquiry 一般询盘
2. specific inquiry 具体询盘
3. dealer 商人
4. quotation 报价
5. sales department 销售部
6. purchase 购买
7. enquiry 询价
8. quote 开价
9. sample 样品
10. a long-term contractt 长期合同
11. discount 折扣
12. grant 批准
13. to make an inquiry for sth 对某物询价
14. to keep the inquiry on file 把询价记录在卷
15. to inquiry for sth 对某物询价
16. to inquiry about sth 询问某事
17. process 加工
18. guarantee, guarantor 保证, 保证人
19. delivery 交货
20. port of delivery 交货港
21. time of delivery 交货期
22. prompt delivery 即期交货
23. to effect delivery 办理交货
24. to make delivery 办理交货
25. to postpone delivery 推迟交货
26. to deliver sth to sb 把某物交付给某人
27. shipment 装船
28. to make shipment 装船
29. to receive shipment 接货
30. partial shipment 分批装船
31. prompt shipment 即期装运
32. time of shipment 装运期
33. offer 报盘报价
34. a firm offer 实盘
35. a counter offer 还盘
36. to accept an offer 接受报盘
37. to extend an offer 延长报盘
38. to renew an offer 更新报盘
39. to withdraw an offer 撤消报盘
40. the validity of an offer 报盘有效期
41. to make an offer 报价
42. to offer firm 报实盘
43. to offer subject to final confirmation 报盘以最后确认为准
44. specialize in 专门经营

Establishing Business Relation

建立业务关系

1. recommendation 推荐、介绍
2. inform 通知
3. enter into business relations 建立业务关系
4. catalogue 目录
5. for your reference 供您参考
6. specific inquiry 具体询价
7. promptly 立即
8. representative 代表
9. chamber of commerce 商会
10. specialize in 专营
11. on the bases of equality and mutual benefit 在平等互利的基础上
12. pamphlet 小册子
13. a range of 一套
14. make offers 报价
15. import and export corporation 进出口公司
16. silk 丝绸
17. cotton piece goods 棉布
18. blouse 女衬衫
19. be of the latest style 最新式样
20. financial position 财务状况
21. trade reputation 贸易声誉
22. on display 展出
23. woolen knitwear 毛织品
24. garment 服装
25. meet with great favor 受欢迎
26. credit standing 信用地位
27. state-operated 国营的
28. currency, Chinese currency, British currency 货币,中国货币,英国货币
29. investment 投资
30. a long-term investment 长期投资
31. a profitable investment 有利可得的投资
32. a safe and sure investment 安全可靠的投资
33. a heavy investment 巨额投资
34. investment intent 投资意向
35. investment partner 投资伙伴
36. direct investment 直接投资
37. investment environment 投资环境
38. investor 投资者
39. enterprise 企业
40. joint venture enterprise 合资企业
41. cooperative enterprise 合作企业
42. exclusively foreign-owned enterprise 外商独资企业
43. state-owned enterprise 国营企业
44. collectively-owned enterprise 集体企业
45. individually owned enterprise 个体企业

Import & Export General Terms

1. establishing business relation-建立业务关系
2. inquiry-询盘
3. offer-报盘
4. counter offer-还盘
5. quantity-数量
6. packing-包装
7. time of shipment-装运期
8. price-价格
9. discount-折扣
10. terms of payment-支付条款
11. insurance-保险
12. commodity inspection-商品检验
13. acceptance-接受
14. signing a contract-签订合同
15. claim-索赔
16. agency-代理
17. commission-佣金
18. exclusive sales-包销
19. joint venture-合资企业
20. compensation trade-补偿贸易
21. processing and assembling trade-加工装配贸易
22. the terms of international trade-国际贸易术语

Foot the bill

“Foot”的意思是 “一只脚”,而“bill”在这儿的解释是“账单”。

“Foot the bill.”并不是把帐单踩在脚底下,而是付账的意思。