老美對人生的說法(一)                                                                 懷中   August 26, 2012 06:00AM 

由於中美兩國文化背景和價值觀不同，對人生的看法也有差異。

以下是一般老美對人生的一些說法。雖然句子簡短，但算是道地美語，也有深刻含義，願與讀友分享。

We don't have any control over the future,so we do the best we can.

我們無法控制未來，所以只能盡力而為之。

Each morning when I wake up, I thank God Ihave made it for another day.

每天早晨我醒來時，我感謝上帝，我又能再活一天。

(it指living)

Keep your lifestyle simple and you willenjoy yourself more.

保持生活簡單，你才能享到更多喜樂。

Try to have a smile as wide as the Mississippi River.

要笑口常開，開得像密西西比河那麼寬闊。

Unhappy people usually attract othernegative people.

不快樂的人，通常也會吸引其他消極的人。

Don't make a big deal out of nothing.

不可小題大作 ＝ Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.

(molehill 本指地鼠把泥土扒成鼠丘。照字義：不要用鼠丘製造山岳)

Don't worry about a thing; things will workout.

不用擔心；一切都會迎刃而解。

(work out = resolve)

We will have to learn some lessons the hardway.

我們都要從痛苦的經驗中學到一些教訓。

Making mistakes is a vital part of how welearn and change.

犯錯是我們學習和改變的主要力量。

Life is too precious to waste energy ongreed, or to harbor resentments.

生命太可貴了，不必為貪婪或怨恨而浪費精力。

(on greed指貪錢財； harbor = harbour 心懷)

To eat, to drink and to be merry are notthe only purpose in life.

吃喝玩樂不是生命的唯一目標。

You have a right to march to a differentdrummer if you wish.

如果你要，你有權做你喜歡的事。

(to march to a different drummer = to dowhat you like 也就是標新立異，獨樹一幟；drummer本是樂隊鼓手)

Many people are greed-driven ingrates whonever satisfied. This is why they are not happy.

許多人貪得無厭，忘恩負義，永不滿足。這就是他們不快樂的原因。

(greed-driven 指追求物質金錢；ingrate 指不懂感恩的人)

We can achieve happiness and be trulythankful once we realize that we have enough.

一旦我們體會到我們什麼都夠了，我們就能得到幸福，真正的感恩。

Just let him live his own life and reapwhatever he sows.

讓他過他自己的生活；他播種什麼，就有什麼收成。

(這與As a man sows, so he shall reaps與種瓜得瓜，種豆得豆，意思相似 = You must reap what you have sown; 動詞時態：sow, sowed,sown)

Work is either fun or drudgery; it dependson your attitude.

工作是愉快，還是乏味，要看你的態度而定。(drudgery 是單調乏味)

There are two ways to live a courageouslife: find your purpose and be passionate about your work.

有兩條路可以過著英勇無畏的生活：找到你的目標和熱愛你的工作。

It is not what people say you are; it iswhat you believe you are.

別人說你是怎樣的人，不算數；而是你自己相信你是怎樣一個人。

( what...you are 多指品格或生活)

Seize today and let yesterday go.

把握今天，釋放昨天。

Don't just live with the knots in yourstomach.

不可生活在恐懼緊張中。(必須要去克服)

(knots in one's stomach 就是 have great fear or something badin one's life)

Complaining too much can cost you a job;think before you speak.

太多的埋怨會失去你的工作；說話前要先考慮。

Don't force your children to do somethingto glorify you; some people are just not cut out to do what you expect.

不要強迫你的兒女去做使你增添榮耀的事；有些人不是生來就適合去做你所期望的事。

(to be cut out = to design)

Try to like your life the way it is; thatis what happiness is all about.

盡量喜歡你的生活現狀，這就是幸福之所在。(it 指life)

Don't feel business deals and drinkingshould go hand in hand.

不要以為商場交易和飲酒作東是相互關連的。

Use your head and heart; only high emotionsmay cause you to say regretable things.

運用你的理智和感情；只有高度的激動，才會使你說出令人遺憾的事情。

Your job is a good chunk of your life.

你的工作是你人生的一大部份。(agood chunk 相當大的部份)

(未完待續)

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