【文章一】

“No, no, no! I’m not buying Smith’s Potato Chips this week. They’re not on sale, $3.00 for one bag this week. Crazy.”

“不，不，不!”我這周不買史密斯薯片了。這周不打折，3美元一袋，真是瘋了。”

So says my mum every time I finish the snacks when I lived at home and want more. She hardly buys toilet paper, detergent, chocolate and other necessary household items unless they are on sale. You can call her thrifty. Frugal. Stingy. A penny-pincher.

每次我在家里吃完零食還想吃的時候，我媽媽都會這么說。除非打折，否則她幾乎不買衛(wèi)生紙、洗滌劑、巧克力和其他必要的家居用品。你可以說她節(jié)儉、吝嗇、小氣，是一個守財奴。

I used to laugh at my mum counting her coins when she came home from buying groceries, making sure no cashiers had shortchanged her and that she didn’t drop a single cent on the way back. I laughed and clapped my hands like a seal until one day when I was in between jobs, I needed money. I realised then my parents and many Asian generations before me work hard for their money and save for a number of reasons.

我過去常常嘲笑我媽媽買完雜貨回家后數著硬幣，確保收銀員沒有少找她錢，而且在回家的路上她也沒有掉一分錢。我大笑著，像海豹一樣拍手，直到有一天，當我沒有工作卻需要錢的時候，那時我才意識到，我的父母和我之前遇到的許多亞洲人都是為了賺錢而努力在工作，出于各種原因在存錢。

When my family and I lived in Malaysia, I remembered my white-collar worker dad always worked on Saturdays. Very rarely did we dine out at eateries where the tables had fancy tablecloths and the walls artsy decor; we usually ate at home. When we went shopping and I picked out a shirt that was not on sale, my mum would go, “So expensive!” and dragged me by the hand to the bargain section.

當我和家人住在馬來西亞時，我記得我的白領爸爸總是在周六還在努力工作。我們很少到外面的餐館吃飯，即便那里的桌子鋪著華麗的桌布，墻壁裝飾得很有藝術氣息；我們通常在家吃飯。當我們去購物時，我挑了一件不打折的襯衫，我媽媽會說:“太貴了!“然后拉著我的手，把我拖到特價商品區(qū)。
原創(chuàng)翻譯：龍騰網 http://top-shui.cn 轉載請注明出處


Up until today, hardships are commonly faced by many in developing parts of Asia such as India, China and the Philippines. Although there are CBDs, high rise buildings and the latest technologies in these regions, truth be told, life is financially and socially difficult here – the cost of living is usually at a moderate or high level, corruption and bribery are often rife. Those living away from these areas tend to have it difficult too. In isolated towns, people frequently make a living working in sweatshops, are paid single figures by the hour, live in non-air conditioned cramped shop houses and struggle to prepare a full dinner most evenings.

直到今天，印度、中國和菲律賓等亞洲發(fā)展中國家的許多人仍然普遍面臨著生活困難。雖然這些國家也有中央商務區(qū)、高樓大廈和最新的科技，但說實話，這里的生活在經濟層面和社會層面上都很困難——生活成本通常處于中等或較高的水平，腐敗和賄賂盛行。那些在偏遠地區(qū)的人也會遇到困難。在偏遠的城鎮(zhèn)，人們經常在血汗工廠打工謀生，拿著每小時個位數的工資，住在沒有空調的狹窄的掛壁房里，大多數時候都難以擁有一頓豐盛的晚餐。

People here, and even Asians living in certain suburbs in the Western world, want a better quality of life, especially for their kids. Saving allows them to dream for better basic necessities or permanent moves overseas that will almost guarantee more financially and socially stable livelihoods. When they do manage to live a more cushy lifestyle, like my parents, they remember the hardships that they faced and reckon it pays to save and so continue to save.

這里的人，甚至是生活在西方國家某些郊區(qū)的亞洲人，都想要得到更好的生活質量，尤其是為了他們的孩子。存錢能使他們得到更好的基本必需品，或者永久移居海外，這樣就幾乎可以保證更穩(wěn)定的經濟和社會生活。當他們過上了更輕松的生活時，他們就會像我的父母一樣想起他們以前所面臨的困難，并認為存錢是值得的，因此就會繼續(xù)存錢。

Another reason why Asians are tight with their money can be put down to the fact that many Asians are insistent on “having face”, to show-off to family and relatives. Many Asians hold the mentality that owning pricey goods and living lavish lifestyles are prestigious and admirable. So perhaps they save and save to afford luxurious items and show them off like they are kings of the world.

亞洲人節(jié)儉的另一個原因可以歸結為這樣一個事實，即許多亞洲人堅持“有面子”，可以向家人和親戚炫耀。許多亞洲人認為擁有昂貴的商品和奢侈的生活方式是值得羨慕和欽佩的。所以也許他們存錢是為了買得起奢侈品，然后像世界之王一樣到處炫耀。

Investing hard earned dough on stocks, shares and properties is very popular among many Asians all over the world. That’s yet another feasible reason why they skimp on spending. They simply can’t spend much – their earnings are stashed away for investment purposes.

把辛苦賺來的錢投資于股票、期貨和房地產，在世界各地的亞洲人中非常流行。這是他們節(jié)省開支的另一個可能的原因。他們根本不能花太多錢——因為他們的收入都被用于了各項投資。

Of course, sometimes such investments bring about good returns. Sometimes extremely good returns that tempt one to buy lots of fancy things and appear well-to-do.

當然，有時這樣的投資也會帶來不錯的回報。有時極其豐厚的回報會誘使一個人買很多漂亮的東西，讓自己看起來很富有。

There is the possibility that some Asians, especially the younger generation, seem well-off and rich not because they strategically manage their money well, but because they like to spend. It has been suggested that this demographic sees being cheap as rather distasteful and so spend lavishly. However, this may or may not be the case with all of them. Research has shown some Chinese students feel “guilty about using future money” and retain the frugal attitudes of their parents and grandparents.

一些亞洲人，尤其是年輕一代，看起來很富有，不是因為他們善于理財，而是因為他們喜歡花錢。有人認為，這部分人對便宜的東西相當反感，因此出手闊綽。然而，這可能是也可能不是他們所有人的情況。研究表明，一些中國學生“對透支感到內疚”，并繼承了父母和祖父母的節(jié)儉主義理念。

My parents’ stinginess has rubbed off on me. Before buying something, I always wait a few days to see if I really want or need it. Sometimes I order the cheapest item on the menu just because, well, it saves me money. The cheapest dish on offer can be just as filling as the most expensive one.

我父母的節(jié)儉影響了我。在買東西之前，我總是會等幾天看看我是否真的想要或需要它。有時我會點菜單上最便宜的菜，只是因為這樣能省錢。最便宜的菜和最貴的菜一樣都能填飽肚子。
原創(chuàng)翻譯：龍騰網 http://top-shui.cn 轉載請注明出處


I guess it’s because I like having plans and being prepared if I have no source of income flowing into my pockets. In the instance I suddenly find myself trudging through a rainy day, it would be nice to have savings to fall back on. It only makes the sun shine brighter on these days.

我想這是因為我喜歡制定計劃，以防我會突然失去收入來源。當我突然發(fā)現自己正在下雨天艱難跋涉時，有存款可以依靠就太好了。這會讓這些天的陽光變得更明媚。
原創(chuàng)翻譯：龍騰網 http://top-shui.cn 轉載請注明出處


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【文章二】

When we think of summer, we think of sun. The beach. Blue skies. Cool drinks. Our swim suit coming off as we swim in the strong yet warm ocean waters.

當我們想到夏天，我們會想到的是陽光、海灘、藍色的天空、清涼的飲料，穿著泳衣在溫暖的海水中游泳。

Summer’s my favourite time of the year in Melbourne – December through to February – for many reasons. I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels this way.

從12月延續(xù)到2月的夏天是我在墨爾本最喜歡的時節(jié)，原因有很多，而且我相信我不是唯一一個有這種感覺的人。

We feel so much more productive, so much more eager about getting up during summer in Melbourne – there’s something about warmth that can be so inviting.

在墨爾本的夏天，我們會覺得自己的工作效率更高，也更渴望起床——溫暖是一種如此誘人的東西。

We feel alive, full of energy when it’s summer in Melbourne. Flowers blooming on city sidewalks. The cricket and the Australian Open Tennis on. Outdoor orchestra concerts. So much to see and do.

在墨爾本的夏天，我們總是感到充滿活力，精神抖擻。城市的人行道上鮮花盛開，板球賽和澳大利亞網球公開賽正在如火如荼地進行著，還有戶外的管弦音樂會，有那么多可以看的和做的。

And so we get to go places in Melbourne when it’s warm, places so easy to get to by foot or public transport. Going out, we discover people and places, and have fun and exciting times. Be at one with everything and everyone. And we can get away without taking an umbrella with us most summer days – 4-seasons in one day doesn’t usually happen this season, more so in autumn and spring. We get the chance to have some peace come summer

所以當墨爾本天氣變暖的時候，我們會去一些很容易步行或乘坐公共交通到達的地方。走出去，發(fā)現新的人和地方，享受歡樂的時光，與所有的人和事物融為一體。。而且在夏天的大多數時間我們都可以不帶傘外出——這在一年四季中的其它季節(jié)并不常見，在秋天和春天更是如此。到了夏天，我們總是會在內心中感受到更多的平靜。

Then again, not all Asians like summer, fearing the hot summer sun. My Chinese-Malaysian mum has never been to Melbourne’s beaches in summer, afraid of getting tanned and turning “all dark and ugly”. And she hates hot air on her skin.

不過，并不是所有的亞洲人都喜歡夏天，有的亞洲人害怕炎熱的夏日陽光。我的華裔馬來西亞媽媽從來沒有在夏天去過墨爾本的海灘，她害怕被曬黑，變得“又黑又丑”，她也討厭熱空氣吹在皮膚上。

Some Asians spend most of their lives in hot, humid parts of Asia, and maybe, naturally summer in the western world doesn’t feel nice at all to them. Plus, when the weather heats up in Melbourne, some of us get red Asian cheeks when we usually don’t. Happens to me. Some think it’s cute, but a lot of the time red cheeks are annoyingly painful.

一些亞洲人一生中大部分時間都生活在炎熱潮濕的亞洲地區(qū)，也許西方世界的夏天對他們來說一點也不舒服。此外，當墨爾本的天氣變熱時，我們中的一些人的亞洲人的臉頰會變紅，不過這通常不會發(fā)生在我身上。有些人認為這會顯得很可愛，但很多時候，臉頰發(fā)紅是令人煩惱的痛苦。

There are flies everywhere come summer in Melbourne, flies that seem to be a bother to Asians. Countless times summer flies have flown around my face. Countless times I’ve seen flies annoyingly flying around me and my Asian friends but not my Caucasian friends standing an arm’s length away from us. Maybe sometimes five-spice sauce sticks on our lips after we eat Asian, sauce that flies probably like.

而到了夏天，墨爾本到處都是蒼蠅，蒼蠅似乎是亞洲人很討厭的東西。蒼蠅無數次的在我臉旁飛來飛去。我無數次看到蒼蠅煩人地在我和我的亞洲朋友周圍飛來飛去，但我的白人朋友卻站在離我們還沒有一臂遠的地方安然無恙。我猜也許有時候我們吃完亞洲菜后嘴唇上會沾上五香醬，蒼蠅可能是喜歡這種醬的氣味。