本文節選自《經濟學人》2019.02.23期Business版塊中的一篇文章,講述了香奈兒在老佛爺離世後該何去何從的境況
本文共節選五段,建議大家先自主閱讀原文,再學習精讀筆記。
文末會總結此次學習寫作可以使用的詞句,讀者也可自己總結。會定期將內容進行總結,做成word分享,希望大家也能堅持學習
1
「I am verygrounded, just not on this earth,」 was one of numerousbon motsfrom Karl Lagerfeld, who died on February19th. Mr Lagerfeld,born inHamburg 85years ago, may not have felt he belonged on this planet but he knew very well what its wealthierinhabitantswanted to wear. As one of the great artists of FrenchcouturealongsideChristian Dior,Coco ChanelandYves Saint Laurent, Mr LagerfeldmadeChanel, where he wascreative directorfor over 35 years, the multinational brandit is today. His death willensurethatParisian gossips, alreadyabuzz withrumours about the future of the fashion house, will have plenty to chat about.
grounded:對生活持有理性、現實的態度。I am agrounded person, but I also chase my dream if given the chances我是個腳踏實地的人,但機會到來時我也會追逐我的夢想【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用bon mots:妙語雋言【寫作推薦】詞組積累born in:出生於哪個地方;如果是burn on後面接的是具體的日期,如burn on February 23rdin 2019inhabitants:居民,住民。注意:這個詞不僅可以用來形容人,也包括動物。【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用couture:時裝設計alongside:與…一起;與…同時together with or at the same time as sth/sb如traditional beliefs still flourish alongside a modern urban lifestyle。現代城市生活方式盛行的同時,傳統信念仍然大行其道。【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用Christian Dior:克裡斯汀·迪奧(是著名法國時尚消費品牌,一直是炫麗的高級女裝的代名詞)Coco Chanel:可可·香奈兒(法國奢侈品品牌)Yves Saint Laurent:伊夫聖羅蘭(世界知名奢侈服飾品牌,始於1962年)creative director:創意總監made sth it is today:成就了某事今日的面貌,地位等【寫作推薦】詞組積累ensure:確保,使必然。Parisian gossips:傳播於巴黎人間的流言蜚語。-ian代表人。Paris是巴黎abuzz with:充斥。著abuzz是「嘈雜的,熱鬧的」的意思。Abuzz with sth,形容某事在耳旁聒噪,嘈雜,很形象的描述了流言充斥於耳,議論紛紛的情況【寫作推薦】詞組積累「我是個理性的人,只是這個我不在地球上。」這是於今年2.19日離世的卡爾·拉格菲爾德(Karl Lagerfeld,國際知名品牌香奈兒藝術總監(老佛爺))眾多妙語雋言之一。85年前出生於德國漢堡的老佛爺可能並不覺得他屬於這個星球,但他很清楚地知道地球上較富有的人們喜歡穿什麼。作為法國時裝設計、克裡斯汀·迪奧、可可·香奈兒和伊夫聖羅蘭的藝術大師,通過35年香奈兒創意總監身份,老佛爺成就了香奈兒今天的跨國品牌地位。他的離世,無疑會讓早已被香奈兒的未來何去何從的流言充斥於耳的巴黎人,有更多的談資。
2
Chanel’s owners, Alain and Gérard Wertheimer,owetheirvast fortune toMr Lagerfeld’stenureat thefashion house. When the brothers hired him totake over, the brand had become 「old hat」 in Mr Lagerfeld’s words. The boxy suits that had been Coco Chanel’ssignaturedesignappealedmostlytomiddle-aged women. Mr Lagerfeld modernised the Chanel look with longer, thinner lines and snazzy details.A workaholic, hehardly evertook time off, designing around 14 collections a year ranging from couture tohigh-street fashions. 「To design is to breathe, so if I can’t breathe, I’m in trouble,」 he often said.
Owevast fortune to:owe sth to sb欠某人某物。I owe ten thousand yuan to you我欠你1萬元。a fortune:巨款,本身就代表了錢有很多,vast更說明錢的數量之大。還可以說a big fortune【寫作推薦】詞組積累tenure:任期,任職。One’s tenure at a company在某公司的任職期間;one’s tenure as a teacher in university在某大學做教師【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用fashion house:時裝公司;時尚屋。這裡指的是香奈兒公司take over:接管;繼承。Take over a company接管一家公司;Take over their parents businesses繼承他們父母的生意【寫作推薦】詞組積累old hat:陳腐之事,過時的東西【寫作推薦】詞組積累signature:除了常用的署名的意思外,還有特徵,象徵的意思。appealed to someone:吸引某人appeal to someone = to attract or interest someone【寫作推薦】同義互換middle-aged women:中年女性。中年人的表達:a middle-aged personA workaholic:工作狂【寫作推薦】簡單地道表達hardly ever:幾乎從來不 。hardly是幾乎不的意思,ever表示永遠。另外有兩組詞學生時代經常講解【寫作推薦】詞組積累1:……hardly when……:剛……就……,如I asked my husband hardly when he opened the door先生剛把門打開我就問道。2:……no sooner than……:意義同上,如The telephone rang no sooner than he had come into the house他剛一進屋,電話鈴就響了。翻譯都是把這兩組詞後面的內容先翻,再翻譯前面的high-street fashions:high-street是大街的意思,大街上的流行款式即大眾時尚香奈兒所有人阿蘭.維德摩爾(Alain Wertheimer)和熱拉爾.維德摩爾(Gerard Wertheimer在老佛爺任職期間欠了他很大一筆錢。當他們聘請老佛爺接管這家公司時,這家公司的品牌在其口中變成了「過時的東西」。過去,作為香奈兒象徵性設計的四四方方的套裝吸引的大多數都是中年婦女。老佛爺用更長、更纖細以及更時髦的設計細節使得香奈兒更現代化。作為一個工作狂,他幾乎從不休息。他每年大約產出14套設計,內容範圍從高級時裝設計到大眾流行時尚。他過去經常說:「設計就是呼吸,如果我不能再呼吸了,我就遇到麻煩了。」
3
Theextravagant and costlyfashion showsforwhich Chanel becamerenownedalso had a purpose. A 115-foot rocket thatsimulatedablast-offsurrounded by models, or a fake supermarketstocked withChanelwashing powder,ketchup and pasta, created astirwhichhelpednot onlythe sales ofexquisite, expensivefrocksbut alsohugely profitableaccessoriessuch as sunglasses and perfume. Those around him alsohad anunusualinstinct forthe fashion business. Jacques Helleu, the firm’slong-serving head of marketing, understood the importance of protecting a luxury brand. Chanel fought for itsintellectual propertylong before other fashion houses realised the importance of doing so.
extravagant and costly:奢侈昂貴的。兩個詞都可以表示「昂貴的,價高的」意思renowned:renown名譽,聲望。Renowned as/for sth作為……/因……而聞名。可以和known as/for進行同義替換【寫作推薦】同義替換simulate:~ sth假裝、冒充blast-off:火箭發射stocked with:stock with貯備、貯存washing powder,ketchup and pasta:洗衣粉,番茄醬和義大利麵stir:震動,轟動excitement, anger or shock that is felt by a number of people.Create a stir或者cause a stir都是引起轟動的意思。 【寫作推薦】詞組積累另外在02-21《與情緒有關的表達》中有:the teenagers taking part in Chicago’s Becoming a Man (BAM) initiative admit to a variety of frustrations, some trivial, some tragic, that canstir their anger.觸怒某人。這裡的stir作為動詞,是激起的意思frocks:連衣裙,女裝help the sales of sth:幫助……的銷售。或者也可以說improve the sales of sth提高……的銷量【寫作推薦】詞組積累hugely profitable:利潤豐厚的。Hugely是極大程度上,極其地,同義可替換largely或extremely【寫作推薦】同義替換accessories:配飾,配件had an instinct for/to do:對……有本能、天賦。She has an instinct for language她在語言方面有天賦。同義詞有have a gift for sth或者be gifted in sth,如She is gifted in language【寫作推薦】同義替換long-serving:在職很久的head of marketing:市場部主管。Head of sth……的主管,首腦intellectual property:智慧財產權,知識財產香奈兒聞名的昂貴時裝表演也有其目的。一個被模特圍繞的模仿起飛的115英尺火箭,或是一個假的,堆滿洗衣粉,番茄醬和義大利麵的巨大商場,這些都引起過轟動,並有助於精緻而昂貴的女裝以及利潤豐厚的配飾,如太陽鏡和香水的銷售。那些在老佛爺身邊的人也擁有對時尚業不尋常的直覺。公司長期任職的市場部主管賈克海盧(Jacques Helleu)明白保護一個奢侈品牌的重要性。香奈兒早在其他時裝公司之前就知道了要為保護智慧財產權作鬥爭。
4
Chanel’s cash andcachetare attractivepropositions. Bernard Arnault, the boss ofMot Hennessy Louis Vuitton(lvmh), the world’s biggestluxury-goodsgroup, is said to havecoveted Chanel for years. Philippe Blondiaux, Chanel’schief financial officer, last year denied any plans to sell or seek astock market listing.
Cachet:威信,聲望。同義詞還有prestige, reputation,以及上文3段中的renown【寫作推薦】同義替換Propositions:a thing that you intend to do 欲做的事。To meet your Mr right is not a simple proposition.遇見你的命中注定不是一件簡單的事。這裡指的是得到香奈兒的資金和聲望是令人垂涎欲滴的事情。Mot Hennessy Louis Vuitton:酩悅·軒尼詩·路易威登奢侈品集團luxury-goods:奢侈品。也可以直接luxuriescoveted Chanel for years:對香奈兒覬覦多年。Covet sth覬覦某物【寫作推薦】詞彙積累chief financial officer:財務長stock market listing:上市香奈兒的資金和聲望是誘人的。世界上最大的奢侈品集團,酩悅·軒尼詩·路易威登奢侈品集團的老闆伯納德·阿諾特(Bernard Arnault)據說對香奈兒以覬覦多年。香奈兒的財務長菲利普·蒲隆地奧克斯(Philippe Blondiaux),去年否決了任何銷售計劃或者尋求上市。
5
Aninsidersays the Wertheimer brothers hadvowed tokeep Mr Lagerfeld in his job until he died. Will the plans for Chanel now change?A salestill looks unlikely, according to Dirk Boventer of Atreus,a retail consultant. Alain,the chief executive, announced that Mr Lagerfeld wouldbe succeeded byVirginie Viard, his closest and most trusted associate for some 30 years. Ms Viard will need tomake a mark.Until she does, Chanel without Mr Lagerfeldis less ofa trophy for potential investors.
insider:業內人士vowed to:vow to do發誓要做某事A sale:銷售,出售。這裡指的是出售股份a retail consultant:零售顧問the chief executive:總裁,執行長be succeeded by:由……接替。Succeed接替,繼任。與上文2段中的take over可以互換。【寫作推薦】同義替換make a mark:字面意思是做個標記,留下印記。另外的意思表示為「做出一番可以讓人銘記的事」to change something, or to do something important, so that people notice and remember you【寫作推薦】詞彙積累is less of sth for someone:對某人來說不再是某物【寫作推薦】詞彙積累一位業內人士說維特海默兄弟發誓會保留老佛爺的工作直到其離世為止,香奈兒現在的計劃會改變嗎?根據泰國護膚品公司Atreus的零售顧問Dirk Boventer所說,出售股份看起來仍不太可能。總裁Alain宣布老佛爺的位置會由維吉尼·薇婭德接任,她是老佛爺近30年來最親密,也最信賴的助手。薇妮德需要做出一番事跡,在此之前,沒有老佛爺的香奈兒對潛在的投資者來說將不再是一座值得捧得獎盃。
總結
grounded:對生活持有理性、現實的態度。I am agrounded person, but I also chase my dream if given the chances我是個腳踏實地的人,但機會到來時我也會追逐我的夢想【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用inhabitants:居民,住民。注意:這個詞不僅可以用來形容人,也包括動物。【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用alongside:與…一起;與…同時together with or at the same time as sth/sb如traditional beliefs still flourish alongside a modern urban lifestyle。現代城市生活方式盛行的同時,傳統信念仍然大行其道。【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用tenure:任期,任職。One’s tenure at a company在某公司的任職期間;one’s tenure as a teacher in university在某大學做教師【寫作推薦】詞義精析運用appealed to someone:吸引某人appeal to someone = to attract or interest someone【寫作推薦】同義互換renowned:renown名譽,聲望。Renowned as/for sth作為……/因……而聞名。可以和known as/for進行同義替換【寫作推薦】同義替換hugely profitable:利潤豐厚的。Hugely是極大程度上,極其地,同義可替換largely或extremely【寫作推薦】同義替換had an instinct for/to do:對……有本能、天賦。She has an instinct for language她在語言方面有天賦。同義詞有have a gift for sth或者be gifted in sth,如She is gifted in language【寫作推薦】同義替換Cachet:威信,聲望。同義詞還有prestige, reputation,以及上文3段中的renown【寫作推薦】同義替換be succeeded by:由……接替。Succeed接替,繼任。文中另有take over:接管;繼承。Take over a company接管一家公司;take over their parents businesses 繼承他們父母的生意。【寫作推薦】同義替換bon mots:妙語雋言【寫作推薦】詞組積累made sth it is today:成就了某事今日的面貌,地位等【寫作推薦】詞組積累abuzz with:充斥。著abuzz是「嘈雜的,熱鬧的」的意思。Abuzz with sth,形容某事在耳旁聒噪,嘈雜,很形象的描述了流言充斥於耳,議論紛紛的情況【寫作推薦】詞組積累Owevast fortune to:owe sth to sb欠某人某物。I owe ten thousand yuan to you我欠你1萬元。a fortune:巨款,本身就代表了錢有很多,vast更說明錢的數量之大。還可以說a big fortune【寫作推薦】詞組積累old hat:陳腐之事,過時的東西【寫作推薦】詞組積累hardly ever:幾乎從來不hardly是幾乎不的意思,ever表示永遠。另外有兩組詞學生時代經常講解【寫作推薦】詞組積累1:……hardly when……:剛……就……,如I asked my husband hardly when he opened the door先生剛把門打開我就問道。2:……no sooner than……:意義同上,如The telephone rang no sooner than he had come into the house他剛一進屋,電話鈴就響了。翻譯都是把這兩組詞後面的先翻,再翻譯前面的stir:震動,轟動excitement, anger or shock that is felt by a number of people.Create a stir或者cause a stir都是引起轟動的意思。【寫作推薦】詞組積累另外在02-21《與情緒有關的表達》中有:the teenagers taking part in Chicago’s Becoming a Man (BAM) initiative admit to a variety of frustrations, some trivial, some tragic, that canstir their anger.觸怒某人。這裡的stir作為動詞,是激起的意思help the sales of sth:幫助……的銷售。或者也可以說improve the sales of sth提高……的銷量【寫作推薦】詞組積累coveted Chanel for years:對香奈兒覬覦多年。Covet sth覬覦某物【寫作推薦】詞彙積累make a mark:字面意思是做個標記,留下印記。另外的意思表示為「做出一番可以讓人銘記的事」to change something, or to do something important, so that people notice and remember you【寫作推薦】詞彙積累is less of sth for someone:對某人來說不再是某物【寫作推薦】詞彙積累A workaholic:工作狂【寫作推薦】簡單地道表達本文商業話題相關詞彙
creative director:創意總監a retail consultant:零售顧問the chief executive:總裁,執行長the chief financial officer:財務長head of marketing:市場部主管。Head of sth……的主管,首腦insider:業內人士couture:時裝設計frocks:連衣裙,女裝fashion house:時裝公司;時尚屋。這裡指的是香奈兒公司accessories:配飾,配件luxury-goods:奢侈品。也可以直接luxurieshigh-street fashions:hihg-street是大街的意思,大街上的流行款式即大眾時尚extravagant and costly:奢侈昂貴的。兩個詞都可以表示「昂貴的,價高的」意思help the sales of sth:幫助……的銷售。或者也可以說improve the sales of sth提高……的銷量【寫作推薦】詞組積累stock market listing:上市A sale:銷售,出售。這裡指的是出售股份hugely profitable:利潤豐厚的。Hugely是極大程度上,極其地,同義可替換largely或extremely【寫作推薦】同義替換