The Scarlet Letter — Page 8

English → Chinese Full Text Level 8/10

Such occasions might remind the elderly citizen of that period before the last war with England, when Salem was a port by itself; not scorned, as she is now, by her own merchants and ship-owners, who permit her wharves to crumble to ruin, while their ventures go to swell, needlessly and imperceptibly, the mighty flood of commerce at New York or Boston.

这样的场合或许会让年迈的市民想起上一次英美战争之前的那个年代，那时候塞勒姆还是一个独立的港口城市；不像现在这样，被她自己的商人和船主所鄙视，任由她的码头慢慢坍塌成废墟，而他们的商业冒险却白白地、不知不觉地汇入了纽约或波士顿那汹涌澎湃的商业洪流之中。

On some such morning, when three or four vessels happen to have arrived at once,—usually from Africa or South America,—or to be on the verge of their departure thitherward, there is a sound of frequent feet, passing briskly up and down the granite steps.

在某个这样的早晨，当三四艘船恰好同时抵港——通常来自非洲或南美洲——或者正处于即将启程驶往那些地方的前夕，花岗岩台阶上便响起一阵频繁的脚步声，人们匆匆忙忙地上上下下。

Here, before his own wife has greeted him, you may greet the sea-flushed shipmaster, just in port, with his vessel's papers under his arm, in a tarnished tin box.

在这里，在他自己的妻子迎接他之前，你就可以与那位满面红光的船长打招呼了，他刚刚入港，腋下夹着一个暗淡无光的锡盒，里面装着船上的文件。

Here, too, comes his owner, cheerful or sombre, gracious or in the sulks, accordingly as his scheme of the now accomplished voyage has been realized in merchandise that will readily be turned to gold, or has buried him under a bulk of incommodities, such as nobody will care to rid him of.

船主也来到这里，或喜气洋洋，或愁眉苦脸，或和颜悦色，或郁郁寡欢，全看这趟已完成的航程所带回的货物是否能轻易变现为金钱，抑或将他压埋在一堆无人问津、无法脱手的滞销货物之下。

Here, likewise,—the germ of the wrinkle-browed, grizzly-bearded, care-worn merchant,—we have the smart young clerk, who gets the taste of traffic as a wolf-cub does of blood, and already sends adventures in his master's ships, when he had better be sailing mimic-boats upon a mill-pond.

同样也在这里——作为那种皱眉深锁、胡须花白、饱经忧患的商人的雏形——我们看到了精明能干的年轻伙计，他品味到经商之道，就如同狼崽初尝鲜血的滋味，已经开始在东家的船上投资冒险，而他本该在磨坊池塘上驾着玩具小船嬉戏才对。

Vocabulary

这样: zhèyàng — like this; in this way; such
的: de — structural particle indicating possession or modification
场合: chǎnghé — occasion; situation; context
或许: huòxǔ — perhaps; maybe; possibly
会: huì — can; will; be able to; know how
让: ràng — let; allow; cause someone to do something
年迈: niánmài — aged; old; advanced in years
市民: shìmín — city resident; citizen of a municipality
想起: xiǎngqǐ — recall; remember; think of something past
上: shàng — on; above; up; go up
一次: yīcì — one time; once
战争: zhànzhēng — war; armed conflict between nations or groups
之前: zhīqián — before; prior to; preceding a certain time
那个: nàge — that; that one; referring to something distant
年代: niándài — era; decade; period of time in history
那时候: nà shíhou — at that time; back then; in those days
还是: háishi — still; or; had better; remains the case
一个: yīgè — one; a single (general measure word)
独立: dúlì — independent; self-reliant; standing alone
港口: gǎngkǒu — harbor; port; place where ships dock
城市: chéngshì — city; urban area; municipality
不像: bú xiàng — unlike; does not resemble; different from
现在: xiànzài — now; at present; currently
被: bèi — passive marker; by (used in passive sentences)
她: tā — she; her (third-person feminine pronoun)
自己: zìjǐ — oneself; self; one's own
商人: shāngrén — merchant; businessman; trader
和: hé — and; together with; harmonious
船主: chuánzhǔ — shipowner; person who owns a vessel
所: suǒ — particle used before verb in passive constructions
鄙视: bǐshì — despise; look down on; hold in contempt
任由: rènyóu — allow freely; let something happen unchecked
码头: mǎtou — wharf; dock; pier; waterfront landing place
慢慢: mànmàn — slowly; gradually; little by little
坍塌: tāntā — collapse; crumble; fall into ruin
成: chéng — become; turn into; succeed
废墟: fèixū — ruins; rubble; remains of a destroyed structure
而: ér — yet; but; and; while (conjunction)
他们: tāmen — they; them (third-person plural pronoun)
商业: shāngyè — commerce; business; trade; commercial activity
冒险: màoxiǎn — take a risk; adventure; venture boldly
却: què — yet; but; however (adversative conjunction)
白白地: báibái de — in vain; for nothing; without result
地: de — adverbial particle linking adverb to verb
不知不觉: bùzhī bùjué — unconsciously; without realizing; imperceptibly
汇入: huìrù — flow into; merge into; join a larger stream
了: le — particle indicating completion or change of state
或: huò — or; either; perhaps (conjunction)
那: nà — that; those; referring to something distant
汹涌澎湃: xiōngyǒng péngpài — surging and turbulent; rushing with great force
洪流: hóngliú — mighty current; flood; powerful tide or torrent
之中: zhīzhōng — within; in the midst of; among
在: zài — at; in; on; located at; in the process of
某个: mǒu gè — a certain; some particular (unspecified) one
早晨: zǎochén — morning; early part of the day
当: dāng — when; while; serve as; act as
三四: sān sì — three or four; a few (approximate number)
艘: sōu — measure word for ships and boats
船: chuán — boat; ship; vessel for water transport
恰好: qiàhǎo — just right; exactly; happen to coincide
同时: tóngshí — at the same time; simultaneously; meanwhile
抵港: dǐgǎng — arrive at port; reach the harbor
通常: tōngcháng — usually; normally; generally; as a rule
来自: láizì — come from; originate from a place
非洲: Fēizhōu — Africa; the African continent
南美洲: Nán Měizhōu — South America; the South American continent
或者: huòzhě — or; either…or; alternatively
正处于: zhèng chǔyú — currently in a state of; right at a stage
即将: jíjiāng — about to; on the verge of; soon to happen
启程: qǐchéng — set out; depart; begin a journey
驶往: shǐwǎng — sail toward; head to; drive in direction of
那些: nàxiē — those; referring to plural distant things
地方: dìfang — place; location; area; region
前夕: qiányī — eve; the night before; day preceding an event
花岗岩: huāgāngyán — granite; hard igneous rock used in construction
台阶: táijiē — steps; flight of stairs; stone steps
便: biàn — then; thereupon; consequently (literary particle)
响起: xiǎngqǐ — ring out; sound; begin to be heard
一阵: yīzhèn — a burst of; a spell of; a fit of (sound/activity)
频繁: pínfán — frequent; repeated; happening often
脚步声: jiǎobùshēng — sound of footsteps; noise of walking feet
人们: rénmen — people; folks; persons (general collective)
匆匆忙忙: cōngcōng mángmáng — hurriedly; in a great rush; hastily busy
上上下下: shàngshàng xiàxià — up and down; all levels; bustling back and forth
这里: zhèlǐ — here; this place; at this location
他: tā — he; him (third-person masculine pronoun)
妻子: qīzi — wife; spouse (female)
迎接: yíngjiē — welcome; greet; go to meet someone arriving
你: nǐ — you (second-person singular pronoun)
就: jiù — then; precisely; just; right away
可以: kěyǐ — can; may; be permitted to; acceptable
与: yǔ — with; and; together with (formal conjunction)
那位: nà wèi — that (person); referring to a specific individual politely
满面红光: mǎnmiàn hóngguāng — face glowing with health; ruddy and vigorous complexion
船长: chuánzhǎng — captain; master of a ship or vessel
打招呼: dǎ zhāohu — greet; say hello; acknowledge someone
刚刚: gānggāng — just now; a moment ago; barely
入港: rùgǎng — enter port; arrive at the harbor
腋下: yèxià — under the armpit; tucked under one's arm
夹着: jiāzhe — holding under the arm; clamping; carrying tucked
暗淡无光: àndàn wú guāng — dim and lustreless; dull with no shine at all
锡盒: xīhé — tin box; small metal container made of tin
里面: lǐmiàn — inside; within; the interior of something
装着: zhuāngzhe — containing; holding; filled with something inside
船上: chuánshàng — on board the ship; aboard the vessel
文件: wénjiàn — document; file; official paper or record
也: yě — also; too; as well; either
来到: láidào — arrive at; come to; reach a place
喜气洋洋: xǐqì yángyáng — beaming with joy; radiating happiness and festivity
愁眉苦脸: chóuméi kǔliǎn — wearing a worried frown; looking miserable and troubled
和颜悦色: héyán yuèsè — with a pleasant expression; gentle and amiable demeanor
郁郁寡欢: yùyù guǎhuān — depressed; melancholy; feeling gloomy and unhappy
全看: quán kàn — entirely depends on; all comes down to
这趟: zhè tàng — this trip; this particular journey or voyage
已: yǐ — already; by now (literary form of 已经)
完成: wánchéng — complete; finish; accomplish a task or goal
航程: hángchéng — voyage; journey by sea; course of navigation
带回: dài huí — bring back; carry back to a place
货物: huòwù — goods; cargo; merchandise; commodities
是否: shìfǒu — whether or not; if; yes or no
能: néng — can; be able to; have the capacity to
轻易: qīngyì — easily; without difficulty; readily
变现: biànxiàn — convert to cash; liquidate assets into money
为: wéi — become; as; for; used as (preposition/verb)
金钱: jīnqián — money; currency; wealth in monetary form
抑或: yìhuò — or; alternatively; either…or (formal written usage)
将: jiāng — will; about to; going to (future marker)
一堆: yīduī — a pile of; a heap of; a bunch of things
无人问津: wú rén wènjīn — nobody shows interest; completely ignored by all
无法: wúfǎ — unable to; cannot; have no way to
脱手: tuōshǒu — sell off; get rid of; slip from one's hands
滞销: zhìxiāo — unsalable; slow-moving goods; poor market demand
之下: zhīxià — under; below; beneath; subordinate to
同样: tóngyàng — similarly; likewise; in the same way
作为: zuòwéi — as; in the capacity of; serve as; regard as
那种: nà zhǒng — that kind of; that type of; such a sort
皱眉: zhòuméi — frown; knit one's brows in displeasure or worry
深锁: shēnsuǒ — deeply furrowed; tightly locked; firmly closed
胡须: húxū — beard; facial hair; whiskers on a man's face
花白: huābái — salt-and-pepper; graying; mixed white and dark hair
饱经忧患: bǎojīng yōuhuàn — having experienced much hardship and suffering
雏形: chúxíng — embryonic form; rudimentary shape; prototype stage
我们: wǒmen — we; us (first-person plural pronoun)
看到: kàndào — see; catch sight of; notice something
精明能干: jīngmíng nénggàn — shrewd and capable; clever and competent in business
年轻: niánqīng — young; youthful; in the early years of life
伙计: huǒjì — fellow; partner; shop assistant; buddy
品味到: pǐnwèi dào — taste; experience; savor the flavor of something
经商: jīngshāng — engage in trade; do business; pursue commerce
之道: zhīdào — the way of; the method or principle of something
就如同: jiù rútóng — just like; exactly as; similar to something else
初尝: chūcháng — first taste; taste for the first time; initial try
鲜血: xiānxuè — fresh blood; blood (often implying violence or sacrifice)
滋味: zīwèi — taste; flavor; feeling; the sensation of something
已经: yǐjīng — already; by now; having done something previously
开始: kāishǐ — begin; start; commence an activity
东家: dōngjiā — employer; boss; owner; master (traditional term)
投资: tóuzī — invest; put money into; make an investment
本该: běngāi — should have; ought to by rights; naturally supposed to
磨坊: mófāng — mill; a building where grain is ground into flour
池塘: chítáng — pond; small body of still water; pool
驾着: jiàzhe — driving; steering; piloting; operating a vehicle
玩具: wánjù — toy; plaything; object used for children's play
小船: xiǎochuán — small boat; little vessel; dinghy
嬉戏: xīxì — frolic; play; engage in lighthearted amusement
才对: cái duì — that's what should be done; only then is it right

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