BBC Learning English 英语教学

Small change “零钱”还可以指“不值一提的事”

内容简介

菲菲为了介绍本集的《地道英语》搭配,打开了自己的钱包给 Neil 看。她给 Neil 展示的这样东西在英语里可以形容事物或人“微不足道、无足轻重,没有价值”。你知道菲菲展示的是什么东西吗?来学习一个含义丰富的英语口语表达。

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(关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。)

Feifei
大家好,欢迎来到 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。你是 Neil。

Neil
And hello, you are Feifei.

Feifei
Neil, a question: if you looked into my purse, what would you find?

Neil
Not much! Probably lots of small coins that aren't worth much.

Feifei
Well, I'm not rich – but yes, you would find small change. 在英语里,“零钱、小面值硬币”的说法是“small change”。

Neil
OK, is this the phrase for this programme?

Feifei
Not exactly. The phrase is 'small change' but it's not about money. Something that is insignificant or trivial, meaning not important, can also be described as 'small change'.

Neil
Like getting a seat on the train during the rush hour is small change for me.

Feifei
And getting chocolate sprinkles on top of my cappuccino is small change for me.

Neil
Really? That's 'big change' for me!

Feifei
原来,搭配“small change”除了可以指“零钱”以外,还可以用来表示“不重要、没有意义或微不足道的事情”。

Neil
Let's hear some examples that are far from being 'small change'.

Examples
I've only got a cold so my health problems are small change compared with your broken leg.

Eating out every night is small change to Molly – she can afford it with the huge salary she's on.

Where I sit on the plane is small change to me, as long as we arrive on time.

Feifei
这里是 BBC 英语教学的《地道英语》节目。在这集节目里,我们正在学习“small change”这个说法。它除了有“零钱”的意思以外,还可以被用来形容事情相比之下“没有价值、不值一提”。这个说法后面可以接介词“to”指某事对某个人来说一点也不重要。

Neil
We can also describe someone as being 'small change', so they are not important. Feifei, do you think I'm small change in this programme?

Feifei
Of course not, Neil. 除了事物以外,我们还可以用“small change”来描述某人“无足轻重”。You are very important to this programme, and besides we couldn't afford the other presenter!

Neil
Ha ha. Very funny. So now we've explained 'small change', can you lend me some? 

Feifei
You mean money? How much do you want?

Neil
Ten pounds?

Feifei
Neil, that is not small change, and your request is not small change either. So the answer is 'no'!

Neil
Ah, well, it was worth a try. See ya.

Feifei
Bye.

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