VOA慢速英语2019 词汇掌故：不要高兴得太早（在线收听）

Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch

Today we talk about a proverb often used in American English.

今天我们将会讲述美式英语中一句常用的谚语。

A proverb is a short, well-known saying that offers a piece of advice. Our example of a proverb takes us to a farm – a chicken farm, to be exact.

谚语是指能够提供建议的简短而又著名的说法。我们的谚语示例将我们带到了农场，确切来说是养鸡场。

Our explanation is part science, part folklore.

我们的讲解有一部分是自然科学，还有一部分是民间传说。

First, the science.

首先来说自然科学部分。

You probably know that chickens come from eggs. A female chicken or hen lays eggs and then they hatch into chicks. Well, not all of them. Some eggs do not have a baby bird.

你可能知道鸡来自于蛋。母鸡生蛋，然后把它孵成小鸡。好吧，不是所有蛋。有些蛋孵不出小鸡。

So, at our farm, a hen produces 15 eggs. If the farmer counts the eggs, she might expect to have 15 chicks once the eggs are hatched. But then five of those eggs do not hatch. Her expectations were not met, so she feels disappointed. She tells her friend how sad she feels. The friend may say to her, "Well, don't count your chicken before they hatch."

所以在农场里，一只母鸡产15个蛋。如果农场主数蛋，她可能预期这些蛋孵出来会有15只小鸡。但是随后有5个蛋没有孵化。她的期望落空了，所以她感到失望。她给朋友说自己的感受。朋友可能会给她说：“鸡蛋还没孵出的时候，不要数小鸡。”

Another way of saying this proverb is: "Don't count your chickens until they are hatched."

这句谚语的另一种说法是：“不要在孵化出来之前数小鸡。”

So, this proverb means you should not depend on something that has yet to happen. It is unwise to make plans based on something that hasn't happened. Another meaning of this proverb is this: Do not assume to have everything you want until you actually have it in your hands.

因此这句谚语的意思是，不要去依赖一些尚未发生的事情。基于尚未发生的事情来做规划是不明智的。这句谚语的另一个含义是：不要假设你得到了自己想要的东西，直到你真真切切地把它握在手里。

Now, let's talk about the folklore part of our explanation.

我们再来看看我们解释中的民间传说部分。

"Don't count your chickens until they are hatched" is a very old saying. Language experts say it appears in different forms and in many different cultures. It is also used in Aesop's Fables, a collection of stories from between 1,300 and 1,400 years ago.

“不要在孵化出来之前数小鸡”是一种非常古老的说法。语言专家表示，它以各种形式在多种不同文化中出现过。它也出现在伊索寓言这本来自于1300到1400年前间的故事集中。

The fable we are talking about is known as "The Milkmaid and Her Pail." A long time ago, a young woman carried a bucket of milk on her head. As she walked, the milkmaid dreamed of a better life. She wanted to be rich. So, she thought she could sell her milk and then use the money to buy chickens. With chickens she could sell eggs and earn more money!

我们说的是“挤奶女工和她的桶”这篇寓言。很久以前有位年轻女子头上顶着一桶牛奶。当这位挤奶女工走在路上时，她开始幻想过上更好的生活。她想要发财。所以，她想她可以卖掉牛奶，然后用这些钱买些小鸡。有了鸡她就可以卖蛋，赚更多的钱。

With lots of money, the milkmaid could shake her head "no" to all the men in her village who wanted her hand in marriage. The young woman was so caught up in her thoughts that she actually shook her head "no." This caused the pail of milk to fall from her head and crash to the ground. Along with it -- her dreams of becoming rich and independent.

有了很多钱，这位挤奶女工就可以摇头拒绝村里所有想跟她结婚的男子。这位年轻女子想得如此入神，她真的摇头说不。这让她头顶上的这桶奶掉了下来撒了一地。随之而来破碎的是她变得富有和自立的梦想。

When she told her mother what happened, her mother said, "My child, do not count your chickens before they are hatched."

当她告诉妈妈发生了什么事情时，她的妈妈说：“孩子，不要在孵化出来之前数小鸡。”

So, that is the folklore from Aesop's Fables. Now, let's hear how to use this expression in everyday speech.

这就是伊索寓言中的民间传说。我们再来听听在日常对话中如何使用这句表达。

John and Samantha are friends. Both are looking for jobs. John just had a job interview the day before and cannot wait to tell Samantha all about it.

约翰和萨曼莎是朋友。两人都在找工作。约翰前一天刚刚完成了一次面试，他迫不及待地跟萨曼莎说。

Samantha, how is your job search going?

萨曼莎，你找到工作没？

It's going okay. I spoke with two potential employers last week and I should hear something back soon. But for now I'm still saving all the money I can from my part-time work. How about you?

还好。我上周跟两位潜在雇主谈过，应该很快会有结果。但我现在还是攒下了我兼职赚到的所有钱。你咋样啊？

I had a great interview yesterday! In fact, afterward, the woman I spoke with talked as if I was already her employee!

我昨天面试很顺利！实际上，面试官之后跟我谈的好像我已经入职了一样。

Wow! That's great news, John. Good for you!

哇，约翰，真是个好消息。恭喜你啊！

Thanks! And the best thing ... the pay is great. I'll be able to buy a townhouse. In fact, I have an appointment today to look at one, right near my new job! I'll have a full-time job and a new home in less than a month!

谢谢！更棒的是，薪水很高。我将能够买套房。实际上，我今天就约好了看房，就在我新公司的附近。一个月内我就会有份全职工作和一个新家。

Wait a minute, John. Did you actually get something in writing from the company?

等一下，约翰。你从这份公司拿到什么书面保证没？

Well, not yet.

好吧，还没呢。

Did you actually sign a contract?

签合同了吗？

Well, no but ...

好吧，也没有，但是......

A little friendly advice, John. You don't officially have the job. So, try not to count your chickens before they hatch.

约翰，给你个友善的建议。你还没有正式得到这份工作。所以，不要高兴太早。

What do you mean? The job is a sure thing.

你什么意思？这份工作是铁板钉钉的事。

Nothing is guaranteed, John. So, you know, don't get your hopes up. That way, you won't be disappointed if things don't work out.

约翰，万事无绝对哦。你知道，不要期望太高。这样如果事情不顺利你也不会那么失望。

So, I should probably return the expensive clothes and briefcase I just bought for the job?

所以，我应该退掉我刚为这份工作买的昂贵服装和公文包？

I think so. Maybe for right now.

我是这么想的。也许目前应该这样。

Let's keep our fingers crossed for John. Hopefully, all his eggs will hatch and he'll get that high-paying job.

让我们为约翰祈祷。期望他不是高兴得太早，能得到这份高薪工作。

And that's all we have for you today. Join us again next week for another Words and Their Stories.

以上就是本期词汇掌故节目的全部内容。下期节目再见。Words in This Story

folklore – n. traditional customs, beliefs, stories, and sayings

lay – v. to produce an egg

hatch – v. to come out of an egg

disappoint – adj. to fail to meet the expectation or hope of

assume – v. to think that something is true or probably true without knowing that it is true

interview – n. to participate in an interview for a position (such as a job)

contract – n. a legal agreement between people, companies, etc.

expensive – adj. costing a lot of money