龔靜

Throughout history， gold has been a sign of purity， beauty and power. Calling something golden means it has great quality and value.

從古至今，“黃金”一直是純凈、美麗和力量的象征。如果把某物比喻為黃金，就意味著它有著很好的質(zhì)量和極高的價值。

The“golden ratio1” is found in art， architecture and nature. It describes a rectangle with a length2 about one and one-half times its width3. Objects using this ratio in their design seem to please the eye more than others.

“黃金比例”可以用在藝術(shù)、建筑以及自然中。它指的是1.5：1的長寬比。具有“黃金比例”的物體通常比其它比例的物體更賞心悅目。

The “golden mean” says moderation4 in all things is the best way to live ones life. It is an idea linked to the Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle. Similar thoughts exist in Buddhism and Confucianism.

“中庸之道（golden mean）”是指做任何事情要講究“中庸”，這是最佳的生活方式。這個觀點不僅與古希臘哲學家亞里士多德的觀點相符，同時還存在于佛教和儒家思想之中。

Ancient Greek myths5 told of a time long ago when people lived in peace and happiness. Poets called it “The Golden Age”. A golden age now describes a historical period of great artistic， scientific or economic progress. It can even recall a time of success and popularity for an industry. For example， the 1930s and 40s were called “The Golden Age of Radio.”

古希臘神話講述了很久以前人們寧靜祥和的生活，詩人們稱之為“黃金時代”。這個表達現(xiàn)在用來描述在藝術(shù)上、科學上或經(jīng)濟上飛速發(fā)展的歷史階段，甚至也能用來形容歷史上某個產(chǎn)業(yè)的輝煌及流行的時期。例如，20世紀三四十年代被稱為“收音機的黃金時代”。

You may have heard the proverb6 “silence is golden.” This means silence is of great value—it is sometimes better to say nothing than to speak.

你可能聽過這樣一句俗語——“沉默是金”。意思是沉默也是很有價值的，有時候“此時無聲勝有聲”。

You might say your child was “good as gold” when he behaved well at school. British writer Charles Dickens used this expression in 1843. He was describing the child Tiny Tim in the book “A Christmas Carol.”

如果你的孩子在學校表現(xiàn)很好，你可以說他“很乖（good as gold）”。英國作家查爾斯·狄更斯于1843年在《圣誕頌歌》一書中曾用這個表達來描述一個叫小提姆的小孩。

You might tell someone “you are golden” when that person does something very well.

如果一個人把某件事做得很出色，你可以對他說“你真棒（You are golden）！”

“Gold-digger” is another description. But this does not say something nice about a person. A “gold-digger” is someone who seeks to marry a rich person because he or she is only interested in that persons money.

“拜金者（或釣金龜婿的人）”又是另外一種表述。但這可不是什么好詞。它是指那些想盡辦法與有錢人結(jié)婚的人，因為他們的眼里只有錢。

Maybe you like old songs from the 1950s or 60s that are still well known and popular today. These are called “golden oldies.”

也許你會喜歡20世紀五六十年代到現(xiàn)在大家都耳熟能詳?shù)囊恍└枨＿@些歌曲被稱為 “懷舊金曲”。

Today， most older people look forward to reaching their “golden years.” This is when hard-working people can retire to a life of ease7 and fulfillment8.

現(xiàn)在，很多年長的人們都盼著進入“退休時期（golden years）”，到了那時，努力工作的人們便可以退休并且安度晚年了。

下面，我們來一起回顧一下帶“金”的表達：

golden ratio： 黃金比例

golden mean： 中庸之道

The Golden Age： 黃金時代

silence is golden： 沉默是金

good as gold：（小孩）很乖

you are golden： 你真棒

gold-digger： 拜金者（釣金龜婿的人）

golden oldies： 懷舊金曲

golden years： 退休時期

英語原文摘選自VOA Special

[1] ratio n. 比率，比例 [2] length n. 長度

[3] width n. 寬度；廣度 [4] moderation n. 適度

[5] myth n. 神話 [6] proverb n. 諺語，格言

[7] ease n. 輕松，舒適；安逸，悠閑 [8] fulfillment n. 滿足