VOA慢速英語：詞匯掌故：好奇害死貓

'Curiosity Killed the Cat'

詞匯掌故：好奇害死貓

Now, the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories.

現(xiàn)在是美國之音慢速英語詞匯掌故節(jié)目。

Our weekly program is about the words, expressions and idioms we use in American English.

我們每周播出的這個節(jié)目是關(guān)于美式英語中用到的一些單詞、表達(dá)和習(xí)慣用語。

In any language, idioms can be difficult. Sometimes, you need to know a lot of ‘cultural backstory' -- the meaning behind the words -- to understand these sayings. And using them the right way can cause problems for English learners.

在任何語言中，習(xí)慣用語都很難。有時候，你得了解很多文化背景，也就是詞語背后的含義才能理解這些說法。要用對它們是英語學(xué)習(xí)者的一道難題。

But do not worry. Even people who grew up in the United States speaking English have problems with some of these idioms.

但是不要擔(dān)心，即使是在美國長大的英語人士遇到其中一些習(xí)慣用語時也搞不懂。

On another Words and Their Stories, we told how the idiom "blood is thicker than water" is misunderstood. This week we talk about another expression Americans usually get wrong.

在另一期詞匯掌故節(jié)目中，我們講述了“血濃于水”這句習(xí)語是如何被誤解的。本周我們來談一談美國人通常會用錯的另一種表達(dá)。

That expression is: Curiosity killed the cat.

這句表達(dá)就是好奇害死貓。

I know. It does not sound very nice. But trust me. It's not that bad.

我知道，這句話聽起來不太好，但是相信我，它也沒那么糟糕。

First, let's start with the word "curious."

首先我們來講一講好奇這個詞。

The word curious means to want to know things you don't know; to investigate. So to be curious is not a bad thing. Adults and teachers often praise children with curious minds for asking questions -- sometimes a lot of questions!

好奇是指想要知道你不知道的東西，去弄清楚。所以好奇并不是什么壞事。大人和老師經(jīng)?？洫労闷嫣釂柕暮⒆?，有時候他們會提出很多問題。

Curious people can be very interesting. They want to know more about the world around them. Another way of saying curious is inquisitive. The verb "inquire" means to ask one or more questions.

好奇的人可能會很有趣。他們希望更多了解周圍的世界。另一種表述好奇的方式是inquisitive。動詞inquire意思是指提出一個或多個問題。

However, prying is a form of curiosity but not in a good way. Someone who is said to be prying into other people's business wants to know about things that do not concern them. And often prying is an effort to find out secrets by looking for them in improper ways.

然而，prying(打探)是一種不正常的好奇。據(jù)說有些人向別人打探，想要知道一些跟他們無關(guān)的事情。通常打探是指通過不正當(dāng)方式探尋秘密。

We often use it this way. We say to someone, "Look, I don't mean to pry ..." and then we go ahead and pry by asking them a personal question that is none of our business.

我們經(jīng)常這樣使用它。我們對某人說：“看，我不是想打探什么…”然后我們繼續(xù)提出跟自己無關(guān)的私人問題來打探。

Sometimes when we pry we are simply concerned about someone. But it can still start trouble. So, as we said, curiosity is usually a good thing. But it can also put you in harm's way.

有時候當(dāng)我們打探時，我們只是關(guān)心某人。但是這仍然可能會惹麻煩。所以，正如我們所說，好奇通常是好事，但是它也會把你置于險境。

"Curiosity killed the cat" is an idiom we use to warn people. Being curious can get you into trouble. We often use this expression when others ask prying questions.

我們經(jīng)常使用好奇害死貓這句習(xí)慣用語來警示人們。好奇會讓你陷入麻煩之中。我們經(jīng)常在別人打探問題時用到這句表達(dá)。

People asking such questions are trying to find out something that is none of their business. They are being nosy.

人們提出這類問題是在試圖弄清楚一些跟他們無關(guān)的事情，他們是多管閑事。

Okay, so now, let's hear an example of a nosy person asking prying questions by putting their nose where it does not belong.

所以現(xiàn)在就讓我們來聽聽一個好管閑事的人如何多管閑事打探八卦。

So, last night I saw Tom out with a woman and it wasn't Jessica!

昨晚我看到湯姆跟一個女人在一起，那個女人不是杰西卡。

Really? They haven't broke up, have they?

真的嗎?他們沒有分手啊，是吧?

I don't think so. You know, I'm having lunch with Jessica tomorrow. Maybe I'll ask her.

我覺得沒分手。你知道，我明天要和杰西卡一起共進(jìn)午餐。也許我會問問她。

I wouldn't do that if I were you.

如果我是你，我不會這么做。

Why? Aren't you curious?

為什么?你不好奇嗎?

A little. But it's not a good idea to stick your nose into other people's business.

有點(diǎn)好奇，但是多管閑事不是個好主意。

I'm not being nosy. I'm just ... curious.

我不是多管閑事，我只是好奇。

Well, you know what they say, "Curiosity killed the cat." Just leave it alone.

嗯，你知道人們咋說，”好奇害死貓，“ 別管它了。

Ahh ... maybe you're right.

啊，也許你說得對。

Here's the problem. "Curiosity killed the cat" is only part of the expression. The whole idiom goes like this: "Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back."

問題在于，好奇害死貓只是一句表達(dá)的一部分，整句習(xí)慣用語是這樣的：好奇害死貓，但是知道真相的滿足感又讓它起死回生。

That last part really changes the meaning. The cat gets to live. Curiosity does not kill it. So, we use the first half of the saying as a warning: Be careful of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation! But the second part -- "satisfaction brought it back" -- shows that the risk might be worth it.

這句習(xí)語的后半部分完全改變了它的含義。貓可以活下去，好奇心并沒有害死它。所以我們用前半部分作為警示：要小心那些不必要的調(diào)查或?qū)嶒?yàn)的危險性!但是第二部分滿足感使其起死回生，向我們表明這種風(fēng)險可能是值得的。

Not many English speakers know that in the original idiom the cat survives. But now you do! In the end, the way most Americans use the idiom is as a warning and they simply say "curiosity killed the cat."

很多說英語的人士都不知道，在最初的這句習(xí)語中，貓活了下來。但是現(xiàn)在你知道了!最后，大多數(shù)美國人使用這句習(xí)語就是作為一種警示，他們就是在說好奇害死貓。

And that's the end of Words and Their Stories for this week.

以上就是本期詞匯掌故節(jié)目的全部內(nèi)容。

I'm Anna Matteo.

安娜·馬特奧報(bào)道。