1. 认识这个词(基础篇)
英英释义:to influence someone so that they change their opinion
例句:Don’t be swayed by your emotions.
2. 体会这个词 (进阶篇)
“sway”是及物动词,本意是”摇晃、摇摆“(可以试着闭上眼睛,边读边用一只手从左到右摇摆,感受一下“sway”)。它常被引申为“影响、使动摇”,因此很多时候它可以用来替换 influence 和 impact。但需要注意,从上面的英英释义可以看得出来,sway 的影响程度要高于 influence 和 impact。
我们经常说的“别让情绪左右了你”,就可以说成:
Don’t be swayed by your emotions.
现在很多西方国家的民众都受到民粹主义政客的摆布,就可以说:
Across much of the West, people are swayed by populist politicians.(populist 就是“民粹主义”)
再来看《经济学人》中的一处例子,来自一篇关于 Facebook 对美国竞选影响的文章,里面正好先后出现了 sway 和 influence。原文第一句过长,在此有删改:
People wonder whether some content and ads shown to each user could be biased and help sway political attitudes. Could Facebook influence the outcome of this presidential election?
3. 作业:
1)翻译:
人们往往会被广告所影响,购买很多根本不需要的东西。
People tend to be swayed by commercials and purchase lots of things that are unnecessary. 或 People are often swayed by advertisements and buy lots of things that they do not necessarily need.
2)结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等,先想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达,然后再进行造句。
场景:我总是试着影响女儿的价值观。
造句:
I always try to sway my daughter's values.