1. 認(rèn)識(shí)這個(gè)詞(基礎(chǔ)篇)
詞:mean
英英釋義:to have a particular result or involve something
例句:The pouring rain means the football match will be canceled.
2. 體會(huì)這個(gè)詞 (進(jìn)階篇)
“mean”作動(dòng)詞除了“意思是”外剖效,還常用來表示“意味著”“產(chǎn)生......的結(jié)果”液南。想表達(dá)“A 事件意味著/導(dǎo)致某種情況”時(shí),就可以想到使用 mean惑芭,這也是外刊中常見的用法涌萤。這個(gè)意思看似簡(jiǎn)單淹遵,但很多英語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)者可能并沒有掌握口猜。我們來通過幾個(gè)例句掌握這個(gè)用法。
許多“月光族”一拿到工資就會(huì)用來還信用卡透揣、交房租济炎、去超市買食物。對(duì)于特別拮據(jù)的家庭來說淌实,他們必須在把錢花在吃還是住上做出艱難的選擇冻辩。我們可以用英文表達(dá)為:? ?
A meager salary means that the family has to choose between paying rent and buying groceries.
再看一個(gè)句子:? ?
The pouring rain means that the football match will be canceled.? ?
從以上例句可以看出,mean 后面常接從句拆祈。它也可以直接接名詞短語(yǔ)或者動(dòng)名詞恨闪。比如:
A promotion doesn't necessarily mean a pay raise. (mean 后直接接名詞)
His new job at a consulting firm will mean traveling all over the country.(mean 后接動(dòng)名詞,注意這種用法出現(xiàn)頻率較低)? ?
需要注意的是放坏,“mean”作“意味著”“產(chǎn)生...的結(jié)果”時(shí)沒有進(jìn)行時(shí)咙咽。也就是說,不會(huì)說“something is meaning...”淤年,只會(huì)說“something means that/doing something...”钧敞。
最新一期《經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)人》中多次出現(xiàn)了“mean”的這種用法。一篇寫石油公司 ExxonMobil(棒锪福克森美孚)的文章中有這么一句:
He argues that his firm’s unusually high level of integration of its various businesses and technology means it can produce more efficiently than its peers.
還有一篇文章寫的是優(yōu)衣庫(kù)在亞洲市場(chǎng)的策略溉苛,其中有這么一句:
But the rest of Asia may be harder to crack. For one thing, a warm climate in several countries means that UNIQLO cannot rely on its cold-weather products as a main driver of sales.? ?
不難看出,“mean”可以幫作者打開思路弄诲,把一個(gè)問題討論愚战、分析徹底,也可以讓讀者感覺到作者的耐心和同理心齐遵。學(xué)會(huì)就找機(jī)會(huì)用起來吧寂玲!
3. 從認(rèn)識(shí)到會(huì)用(作業(yè))
1)翻譯下面的句子:? ?
經(jīng)濟(jì)非常不景氣,這意味著大量公司不得不采取裁員梗摇。
(參考翻譯:The troubled economy means that many companies will resort to layoffs.)
2)結(jié)合自己的生活拓哟、學(xué)習(xí)、工作伶授、興趣等断序,想象在什么語(yǔ)境下會(huì)用到這個(gè)表達(dá)。先簡(jiǎn)要描述這個(gè)場(chǎng)景糜烹,再造句逢倍。
場(chǎng)景:如果你取消航班搭乘,那么定金就打水漂了景图。
造句:Cancelling the flight means you have to forfeit the deposit.