商务英语

从 2000年年初开始，财富中文网增设“商务英语”栏目，本栏目编撰者 Greg Laskaris为美国加利福尼亚经理人ESL（英语作为第二语言）专家，是国际商务英语培训机构 Business Training International的创始人。现将“商务英语”最新内容选登如下（欲了解单词发音及更多双语内容请登录：www.fortunechina.com）：

WORD-A-DAY：

hazard 危险（名词）（noun） An obstacle that presents a risk; anything that poses a serious danger.

EXAMPLE： During the huge storm， drivers had to avoid hazards like electric power lines and large trees that had fallen across the road.

在大暴雨期间，驾驶汽车必须回避各种危险，包括电线和横倒在道路上的大树。

saleable 可售的（形容词）

（adjective） Describing goods that can be sold due to theircondition or availability. （NOTE： also “salable”）

EXAMPLE： After the disaster the owner and his employees sorted carefully through their flooded store to locate any saleable merchandise.

灾难过后，老板和员工把被洪水淹过的商店里的商品分类，确定还可以销售的物品。

solipsism 唯我论（名词）

（noun） Excessive focus on oneself without consideration for the needs or wishes of other people.

EXAMPLE： The popular actor's effusive autobiography revealed the magnitude of his solipsism and showed how he often ignored his unfortunate wife and children.

从这位知名演员的充满激情的自传能够看出，他极端自我，经常无视他不幸的妻子和孩子。

steely 冷冰冰的（形容词）

（adjective） Describing something strong like steel; resolute; icy and unfriendly; stern.

EXAMPLE： The wolf watches us on the forest trail with steely eyes.

在森林的路上，这头狼用冷冰冰的眼光盯着我们。

unqualified 1. 不限制的（形容词）；2. 不合格的（形容词）

1. （adjective） Describing a statement or opinion that is made without any limitations or restrictions whatsoever.

EXAMPLE： The board of directors is happy to provide its unqualified support for the company's new president.

董事会乐于为公司的新总裁提供无保留的支持。

2. （adjective） Lacking necessary qualifications.

EXAMPLE： Several people without university degrees applied for jobs at our firm but we rejected them because they were unqualified.

几位没有大学学位的人申请我们公司的职位，但被我们拒绝了，因为他们不合格。

PHRASE-A-DAY：

sneaking suspicion 隐隐的怀疑，直觉（非正式）

（INFORMAL） A strong， intuitive belief based on little or no evidence.

EXAMPLE： I have a sneaking suspicion my son will marry the young woman he met recently.

我有直觉，我的儿子会和他最近相识的女孩结婚。

the point of no return 不能回头的节点（成语）

（IDIOM） A certain point after which no reversal of decision or direction can be made.

EXAMPLE： We reached the point of no return when we signed a large loan agreement with the bank in order to start our new restaurant.

为了开新餐馆，我们和银行签下了高额贷款的协议，我们从此不能回头。

to buy a pig in a poke 盲目消费（成语）

（IDIOM） To make an unwise purchase without inspecting it beforehand. （NOTE： a “poke” in old usage was a large， rough sack）

EXAMPLE： I didn't want to buy a pig in a poke， so I went to a shop to buy a new bicycle instead of purchasing it online.

我不想盲目购买，所以我会去实体店买新自行车，而不是网购。

R/drsDAPyruWy7PpacF+vQ==to cast doubt on （someone or something） 质疑

To cause someone or something to be viewed with skepticism or uncertainty.

EXAMPLE： The new scientific discoveries cast doubt on many traditionally accepted beliefs.

这项新的科学发现对很多既定的传统观点提出了质疑。

to open a conversation 开始谈判

To start a discussion， usually one that will continue at length.

EXAMPLE： To expand our business， we may need to open a conversation with some investors and potential commercial partners.

为了扩张业务，我们可能需要开启与几位投资人和潜在的商业伙伴的谈判。

to take umbrage 生气

To become annoyed， ashamed， or resentful because of what someone did or said to you， sometimes without much justification.

EXAMPLE： If anyone suggests even a small change in her daily routine，my obsessively methodical aunt takes umbrage and frowns angrily.

我的姑妈在做事时特别讲条理，谁建议她给自己的日常生活做出一点小的改变，她都要发火，生气地皱起眉头。