Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother//虎妈战歌

图片发自简书App

最近和一群英文书友一起读书

《虎妈赞歌》英文版

一般都是先听音频数遍,大致明白文章大意然后开始看书,在记录自己不懂的生词或短语或者自己喜欢的句子。

今天是坚持的第14天。

大致情节概述:

继上篇,虎妈为了请好老师给女儿们上课,不惜花重金。今天这篇,讲到虎妈为了给女儿们买好的提琴,准备启动自己的退休金。虎妈说到自己真的很幸运遇到了一英俊幽默聪明又会容忍她的丈夫Jed,会想方设法弄到虎妈喜欢的东西。这次,虎妈也是花费很多精力和时间来挑选提琴。遇到一个很厉害的老师,觉得Lulu很有音乐天赋,于是虎妈又开始抓紧Lulu的训练。母女间的相处模式也很神奇,前一秒还在撕逼,后一秒可能一起相拥而睡。亲子游去了一个天然的游泳hole。从没游过泳的Coco从河里狗刨式的游回岸上来,一家人都为此高兴的不得了,虎妈就想到要是对女儿们的教育也可以这么简单就好了。但虎妈知道,那是永远不可能的。对女儿们的抚养和教育,路漫漫兮呀!

“That' one difference between a dog and a daughter, I thought to my self later. A dog can do something every dog can do—dog paddle, for example—and we applaud with pride and joy. Imagine how much easier it would be if we could do the same with daughters! But we can't; that would be negligence.”

“我后来才想明白了一件事,狗和女儿自己只有一点不同。一只狗可以做任何狗都能做的事情。比如-狗刨,我们就其感到骄傲和喜悦。如果养女儿也能够这么轻松就好了!但是我们做不到,一点可能也没有”

Day14

Day14 核心笔记整理

1、 疑难句子理解

1.原句:As we hit each new price plateau, I tried to convince Jed that a fine violin was an investment, like artwork or real estate.
疑难点:如何理解 hit each new price plateau?
参考理解:plateau:  N-COUNT A plateau is a large area of high and fairly flat land. price plateau 价格台阶,即每个梯度会有不同的价格;hit: 触及、到达;hit each new price plateau 到达每一个新的价格台阶,从后一句可以看出,Amy在说服Jed买更好的小提琴,说明new price plateau指的是更高的价格台阶,当我们到达每一个新的价格台阶时,我就会尝试说服Jed,一个好的小提琴就是一项投资。
参考翻译:当我们触及每一个新的的价格台阶时,我总会尝试说服Jed,说一个好的小提琴就是一项投资,如艺术品或房地产一样。
2.原句:We always know what the other is thinking—which form of psychological torture is being deployed—and we both can’t help ourselves.
疑难点:如何理解which form of psychological torture is being deployed?
参考理解:which form of psychological torture: 哪一种形式的心理折磨;deploy: V-T To deploy troops or military resources means to organize or position them so that they are ready to be used. 部署、展开、调动;因为她们彼此太熟悉了,母女两相爱相杀,都想折磨对方,但都知道彼此会以怎样的方式来折磨自己。
参考翻译:我们总能知道对方在想什么,清楚对方会怎样部署对自己的心理折磨,我们对此都无法控制自己。
3.原句:She was also amazing with kids—or at least with Lulu, whom she seemed to take to instantly. Mrs. Vamos and Jed hit it off too.

疑难点:这里whom she seemed to take to instantly,hit it off怎么理解?

讨论:take to :PHRASAL VERB If you take to someone or something, you like them, especially after knowing them or thinking about them for only a short time. (短时间内) 喜欢上;hit it off:一拍即合,一见如故

参考翻译:她(瓦莫斯夫人)和孩子惊人地合得来,或者至少,她在短时间里迅速的喜欢上了露露。她和杰德也是一见如故。(就唯独不喜欢我,因为她见多了像我这样的典型的亚洲妈妈。)

4.原句:Mrs. Vamos then told Lulu that while she had the advantage of being naturally musical—something that couldn’t be taught—she lagged behind in technique.

疑难点:while这里的用法怎么理解?the advantage of being naturally musical这里怎么理解?

讨论:while:这里引导让步状语从句,意为“尽管,虽然”;the advantage of being naturally musical:天生音乐家的优势(瓦莫斯老师说露露有着学音乐的天赋,这是露露的优势);瓦莫斯老师然后告诉露露尽管她天生就是学音乐的料,但是在拉小提琴的技术上她还是落后于其他的学生。

5.原句:“We can see how those violins sound tomorrow too,” she added. “I like the Italian, but maybe the French one will open up.”
疑难点:如何理解the Italian, the French one,和open up?
参考理解:the Italian, the French one指的都是小提琴;open up: If something opens up opportunities or possibilities, or if they open up, they are created.(使)(机会、可能性等)出现;(使)产生;这里指的是小提琴音色的展现;我喜欢意大利的(小提琴),但或许法国的这个小提琴会(有音色的可能性)出现、揭示,在这里可以延伸理解为惊喜。她觉得法国的这个小提琴或许更能展现不一样的东西。
参考翻译:我们明天再看看这些小提琴能拉出什么样声音,我喜欢意大利人(制作的)小提琴,但或许法国的(能工巧匠制作的)小提琴也会给我们一个大大的惊喜。
2、 自由提问
1.原句:I had to keep my eyes on the ball. Mrs. Vamos’s message was crystal clear.
疑难点:如何理解这句话?
参考理解:on tha ball: aware of and quick to respond to new ideas and methods 机灵;留心;有见识keep one's eye on the ball这个常用语原先是来自球类运动,如网球、高尔夫球、垒球等,你一定要把眼睛看准了才能打到这些球。现在指的是“集中精神”、机灵、留心。[美国习惯用语] crystal clear: completely transparent and unclouded完全透明的;极其明白的;显而易见的。
参考翻译:我必须机灵一些。Mrs. Vamos所传达的信息已经很明确了。
2.原句:But the next morning, Lulu got up and on her own went to practice with Kiwon, so all was not lost.
疑难点:如何理解all was not lost?
参考理解:all was not lost: 还没有完全失败,还有机会。Amy和Lulu晚上吵了一架,导致Lulu没有练习小提琴。但是第二天Lulu起床后主动去找老师练琴了,这一点让Amy觉得还有转机,一切都还来得及。(因为Amy希望Mrs. Vamos第二天能够看到Lulu的进步)
3.原句:Vamos was surrounded by driven Asians, but I was all the more determined to astonish her, to show her what we were made of.
疑难点:如何理解but I was all the more determined to astonish her?
参考理解:astonish:to surprise sb very much使十分惊讶;使大为惊奇;使吃惊 all the more: adv.更加;格外 这里指的是Vamos身边有很多优秀的亚洲人,(好强)的Amy当然是更加坚定要比她们更出色,给Vamos惊喜。
参考翻译:我更加坚定信念要给她惊喜。
4.原句:“What?” Jed asked. “Tell me you didn’t say what I think you said.”
疑难点:如何翻译?
参考理解:告诉我你没有说过(我认为)你说过的。大意应该是:但愿你没有说过这句话。表达出Jed难以置信的语气。
参考翻译:但愿你没有说过这句话。
5.原句:“So we’re actually making money the more we spend?” he would reply drily.
疑难点:如何理解making money the more we spend?
参考理解1:此处应该是the more..., the more的用法,省略了一个the more,完整的应该是So (the more)we’re actually making money the more we spend (on violin),Jed说他们赚的钱越多,花得就越多(买越来越贵的小提琴)
6.原句:I couldn’t believe it. Mrs. Vamos wanted to see Lulu again. I almost leaped out of my chair —and probably would have if at that moment I hadn’t seen Coco fly by our window followed by Aaron on the leash behind her.
疑难点:如何理解后半句话?
参考理解:leaped out:跳出来;跃出;probably would have:很有可能就这样做了,这里是虚拟语气的用法。指的是如果我这个时候没有看到coco 从我们窗边飞奔而来,我可能真的要从椅子上跳出来了。followed by: 然后,随后

参考翻译:我简直不敢相信,Mrs. Vamos想要再次见到露露。我(因此)几乎要从座椅上跳起来了—很有可能就这样做了,如果不是那一刻看到Coco从窗户纵身一跃,随后Aron从后面用皮带牵引着她,

三、生词、短语 New Words and Phrases

1. forfeit  /ˈfɔːfɪt/

V-T If you forfeit something, you lose it or are forced to give it up because you have broken a rule or done something wrong. (因违规或做错事而) 失去; 被迫放弃

原句:First, you’d have to pay a huge tax and forfeithalf the amount.

2. rip off

If someone rips you off, they cheat you by charging you too much money for something or by selling you something that is broken or damaged. 宰人; 坑人

原句:I got so lucky in love. Jed is handsome, funny, smart, and he tolerates my bad taste and tendency to getripped off.

3. manicure  /ˈmænɪˌkjʊə/

N-COUNT If you manicure your hands or nails, you care for them by softening your skin and cutting and polishing your nails. 护理手甲

原句:I don’t enjoy shopping, I don’t get facials or manicures, and I don’t buy jewelry.

4. every once in a while
=(every) now and then  偶尔;时常

5. clay  /kleɪ/

N-MASS Clay is a kind of earth that is soft when it is wet and hard when it is dry. Clay is shaped and baked to make things such as pots and bricks. 黏土

6. disintegrate  /dɪsˈɪntɪˌɡreɪt/

V-I If an object or substance disintegrates, it breaks into many small pieces or parts and is destroyed. 破碎

原句:But every once in a while there will be something that I get an uncontrollable urge to own—a 1500-pound clay horse from China, for example, which disintegratedthe following winter—and Jed has always managed to get it for me.

7. reputable  /ˈrɛpjʊtəbəl/

ADJ A reputable company or person is reliable and can be trusted. 声誉好的

原句:I contacted some reputable violin dealers who had been recommended to me, two in New York, one in Boston, one in Philadelphia.

8. specify  /ˈspɛsɪˌfaɪ/

V-T If you specify something, you give information about what is required or should happen in a certain situation. 明确要求

原句:They always sent me four violins, three in the price range specified, and one that “is a little out of your price range”—meaning twice as expensive—“but that I decided to send along anyway because it’s an extraordinary instrument and might be just what you’re looking for.”

9. a blast

an enjoyable and exciting experience  欢乐而刺激的经历

原句:Meanwhile, Lulu and I had a blast.

10. provenance /ˈprɒvɪnəns/

N-VAR The provenance of something is the place that it comes from or that it originally came from. 出处

11. glean  /ɡliːn/

V-T If you glean something such as information or knowledge, you learn or collect it slowly and patiently, and perhaps indirectly. 慢慢地收集

原句:It was fun playing on the different violins, comparing the wood and their different tones, reading about their difference provenances, trying to glean their different personalities.

12. deploy  /dɪˈplɔɪ/

V-T To deploy troops or military resources means to organize or position them so that they are ready to be used. 部署

原句:We always know what the other is thinking— which form of psychological torture is being deployed—and we both can’t help ourselves.

13. down-to-earth

practical and direct in a sensible honest way  实际的,务实的,脚踏实地的

14. as sharp as a tack

非常机敏的

15. quirky  /ˈkwɜːkɪ/

ADJ Something or someone that is quirky is odd or unpredictable in their appearance, character, or behaviour. (外貌、性格或行为) 古怪的; 难料的

原句:“Wonderful!” said Mrs. Vamos. “How fun. I love trying violins.” Mrs. Vamos was down-to-earth and as sharp as a tack, with a quirky sense of humor.

16. opinionated  /əˈpɪnjəˌneɪtɪd/

ADJ If you describe someone as opinionated, you mean that they have very strong opinions and refuse to accept that they may be wrong. 固执己见的

17. exude  /ɪɡˈzjuːd/

V-T/V-I If someone exudes a quality or feeling, or if it exudes, they show that they have it to a great extent. 充分显露; 洋溢

原句:She was opinionated (“I hate Viotti23. Boring!”) and exuded power and impressiveness.

18. take to

If you take to someone or something, you like them, especially after knowing them or thinking about them for only a short time. (短时间内) 喜欢上

原句:She was also amazing with kids—or at least with Lulu, whom she seemed to take to instantly.

19. hit it off

合得来,志趣相投

原句:Mrs. Vamos and Jed hit it off too.

20. lag behind

If one thing or person lags behind another thing or person, their progress is slower than that of the other thing or person. 落后

原句:Mrs. Vamos then told Lulu that while she had the advantage of being naturally musical—something that couldn’t be taught—she lagged behind in technique.

21. impeccable  /ɪmˈpɛkəbəl/

ADJ If you describe something such as someone's behaviour or appearance as impeccable, you are emphasizing that it is perfect and has no faults. 无可挑剔的

原句:She needed to do tons of scales and études to develop impeccable technique, muscle memory, and perfect intonation.

22. ensue  /ɪnˈsjuː/

V-I If something ensues, it happens immediately after another event, usually as a result of it. 随即发生

原句:I won’t get into the details of what ensued.

23. temerity  /tɪˈmɛrɪtɪ/

N-UNCOUNT If you say that a person has the temerity to do something, you are annoyed about something they have done which you think showed a lack of respect. 失礼

原句:In retrospect, I don’t know where I got the strength and temerity to fight Lulu.

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