31.norm
“norm”是名词,意思是“常态” “规范” “标准”,在有的语境下还可以翻译为“见怪不怪” “稀松平常”。
“norm” 可以用单数,可以用复数,作单数时一般会用“the norm”,常用作“be/become the norm”。
The social norm “men should earn more than their wives” remains unchanged.
最后需要注意:“normal”还有一个派生词名词“normality,它和“norm”一样都是名词,但意思有区别。“normality”的意思是正常的状态,比如印尼发生地震后,一种常态都被打破了,因此就有了生活秩序恢复正常(go back to normality)的说法;而“norm”的意思是长期形成的一种规范,它和“exception”(“例外”)相对。
32.trade-off
“trade-off”(也可以写成 'tradeoff“)是个可数名词,意思是“权衡”“折中”,也可以根据语境接地气地翻译成“鱼与熊掌不可兼得”。它是来自动词短语 'trade off',是个非常高频、好用的地道单词,可以在口语和写作中替换“balance”。
Life is full of trade-offs. You cannot have your cake and eat it too. (“You cannot have your cake and eat it too.”是口语中比较常见的英文谚语,表示“鱼与熊掌不可兼得”,可以和“trade-off”一起记忆。)
使用“trade-off”时,最常见的表达句式是“a trade-off between A and B”。
There must be a trade-off between quality and quantity for many manufacturers.
33.edge
“edge”作名词最基本的意思是“边缘”“刀刃”,不过它也常可以引申表示“优势”,我们可以用它来替换“advantage”。
As far as job hunting is concerned, experience is an absolute edge
使用“edge”时,最常见的一个搭配是“A has an edge over B”,表示 A 比 B 更好
First- and second-tier cities always have an edge over other cities in terms of cultural diversity and job opportunities.
另外,常和“edge”搭配的动词有“maintain”(保持)和“lose”(失去)
It seems the US is losing its immigrant edge, but it has maintained its military edge.
34.essence
“essence”只可作名词使用,意思是“最基础和重要的部分”,也就是我们常说的“精髓”“内核”“本质”,我们可以把它和“nature” “soul” “core”等同义词放在一起学习。
The essence of writing is clarity of thought.
35.appeal
“appeal”可以作动词也可以作名词使用,作为名词它可以表示“上诉”,“恳求”,不过我们今天要学习的是它作为名词,表示“吸引力” “感染力”的用法。当我们想表达“吸引力” “魅力”时,除了想到用“attraction” “more popular” 造句外,还可以想到用 appeal。
The classics have timeless appeal.
“appeal”前面也可以加形容词,表明在某一方面的吸引力,比如 commercial/visual/aesthetic appeal,分别指“商业上的/视觉上的/艺术上的吸引力。
Some paintings lose their aesthetic appeal over time.