VOA慢速英語：詞匯掌故：尖端前沿

Only the Best Are on the 'Cutting Edge'

詞匯掌故：尖端前沿

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

這里是美國之音慢速英語詞匯掌故節(jié)目。

For today's program, we go into the kitchen!

在今天的節(jié)目中，我們要走進(jìn)廚房。

There is a good chance you do not go one day without using a knife. It is an important tool when cooking, and without it, you could not make many dishes.

很有可能你一天都離不開刀，它是一種重要的烹飪工具，如果沒有它，你就沒法做很多菜。

This brings to mind a story – a true story.

這讓人想起了一個(gè)真實(shí)的故事。

Years ago, a friend and I were making dinner together at my place. She had the job of cutting up vegetables for soup. Halfway through cutting the onions, she said that my knife was not sharp and would not cut. I was surprised. I had given her my best knife. But when I looked over at her, I had to smile. Actually, I did more than smile. I laughed out loud. "It might work better if you use the cutting edge of the knife," I joked.

幾年前，我跟一位朋友在我家一起做晚飯。她的任務(wù)是切做湯的蔬菜。在切洋蔥的過程中，她說我家的刀不夠鋒利，切不動。我很驚訝，我給了她我家最鋒利的刀。但是當(dāng)我看了看她時(shí)，我不由得笑了。實(shí)際上我不只是笑，我是在大笑。我笑話她說：“如果你用刀刃切，可能效果會更好。”

Let's just say, my friend did not spend a lot of time in the kitchen. She ate out a lot!

這么說吧，我這個(gè)朋友不怎么進(jìn)廚房，她經(jīng)常在外面吃飯。

In this example, the cutting edge is the sharp edge of a knife. But we also use it to mean something much more.

在這個(gè)例子中，cutting edge是指刀刃，但是我們也用它來表達(dá)更多含義。

The cutting edge is the newest and most modern part of any industry. Ideas, tools, technology -- whatever you use in your job -- can all be cutting-edge.

它也可以指任何行業(yè)中最新、最現(xiàn)代化的部分，包括理念、工具、技術(shù)，你工作中用到的方方面面，都可能是最前沿的。

Whatever business or industry you work in, it feels good to be a leader in it. When you know the newest tools or ideas to do your job, you can say you are "on the cutting edge" or that you are simply "cutting-edge."

無論你從事什么樣業(yè)務(wù)或行業(yè)，成為其中的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者都會很棒。當(dāng)你知道一些完成工作的最前沿的工具或理念時(shí)，你就可以用on the cutting edge，或者直接用cutting-edge來描述。

For example, teachers on the cutting edge of education use the latest technology and ideas in the classroom. Cutting-edge architects know the latest materials, tools and designs to use in the structures they build. Some of the best doctors use cutting-edge technology to treat diseases.

例如，處于教育前沿的教師們在課堂上用到最新的科技和理念。最前沿的建筑師了解最新的材料、工具和設(shè)計(jì)，用于他們建造的房屋之中。一些最好的醫(yī)生使用尖端技術(shù)來治療疾病。

All industries have their own cutting edge.

所有行業(yè)都有自己的前沿。

We have other words to help describe this idea of "cutting edge."

我們用其它詞幫助描述前沿這個(gè)概念。

For example, people who on the cutting edge of their industry are on the forefront or front line. They are the vanguard. The vanguard is the group of people who are the leaders of a movement in society, politics or in a given industry.

例如，位居行業(yè)尖端的人士，站在了這個(gè)行業(yè)的最前沿。他們是先驅(qū)者(vanguard)。先驅(qū)者是指社會、政治或某個(gè)特定行業(yè)運(yùn)動的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者。

We usually use "vanguard" in the singular form and in a prepositional phrase. So, you can be at the vanguard of a social or political movement. You can also be in the vanguard of a movement.

我們通常使用vanguard的單數(shù)形式以及用在介詞短語中。所以，你可以用 at the vanguard of或是in the vanguard of。

This expression comes from a military term. In battle, the vanguard are the soldiers, other personnel or equipment that are at the front of a fighting force.

這個(gè)表達(dá)出自一個(gè)軍事術(shù)語。在戰(zhàn)斗中，vanguard(先頭部隊(duì))是指戰(zhàn)隊(duì)部隊(duì)打頭的是士兵、其他人員或裝備。

People on the cutting edge, or in the vanguard, are blazing a trail. When you blaze a trail in the woods, you make a trail for others to follow. You do this by cutting down plants that may be in your way. You can also mark trees with a cut, also called a blaze.

最前沿人士或者先驅(qū)者開辟了一條道路。當(dāng)你在樹林里開辟一條道路時(shí)，你開辟了一條讓其他人可以跟著走的小路。你可以通過砍掉擋路的植物，或者在樹上做標(biāo)記。

Blazing a trail is a difficult job. But it makes it much easier for people walking behind you.

開辟道路是一項(xiàng)艱巨的任務(wù)，但是它讓跟隨者更輕松。

The same can be said for life.

生活也是如此。

Trail-blazers, people on the cutting edge or in the vanguard are not satisfied with the status quo -- the way things have always been done. They are always looking for a new, better or faster way to do something.

開拓者、前沿人士或者先驅(qū)者不滿足于現(xiàn)狀。他們總是在尋找更新、更好或更快的方式來做某事。

So people on the cutting edge use the latest tools and ideas to be on the forefront of their field. They are the vanguard and blaze trails for others to follow.

所以前沿人士采用最新的工具或理念，站到這個(gè)行業(yè)的最前列。他們是其他人可以追隨的先驅(qū)或開拓者。

We could say that people who use our website are on the cutting edge of learning English -- well, until science makes a magical solution that gives you language ability overnight.

我們可以說，使用我們網(wǎng)站的人們站在了學(xué)習(xí)英語的最前沿，直到科學(xué)產(chǎn)生一種神奇的解決方案，讓你一夜之間獲得語言能力。

Now, that would be very cutting edge.

這樣，它就會是最前沿的。

And that's all for this Words and Their Stories! Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.

以上就是本次詞匯掌故節(jié)目的全部內(nèi)容。我是安娜·馬特奧。