张爱玲：公寓生活记趣 | 双语阅读--粉丝服务平台-粉丝头条-fensifuwu.com

日期： 2023-04-19 09:03:05 来源：独霸上海的妖怪收集编辑：张爱玲

每年都有那么一段时间，会沉迷于张爱玲的文学世界。上个月又把她的散文集《流言》拿出来读了一遍，再次感叹写得实在太好了，行云流水，妙语连珠，灵气十足，让人百读不厌。

这周的文学专栏，我选了其中一篇《公寓生活记趣》，带大家读一读张爱玲笔下的上海公寓。文章写于1943年，那年，她23岁。

公寓生活记趣

Notes on Apartment Life

作者 | 张爱玲

译者 | Andrew F. Jones

原著 | 流言

读到“我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒”的两句词，公寓房子上层的居民多半要感到毛骨悚然。屋子越高越冷。自从煤贵了之后，热水汀早成了纯粹的装饰品。构成浴室的图案美，热水龙头上的Ｈ字样自然是不可少的一部分；实际上呢，如果你放冷水而开错了热水龙头，立刻便有一种空洞而凄怆的轰隆轰隆之声从九泉之下发出来。

On encountering the line “I long to ride the wind home / but fear those coral towers and jade domes / for high places are unbearably cold" the majority of apartment dwellers who live on the top floor might well feel a shudder of recognition run down their spines. The higher the apartment, the colder. Ever since the price of coal went up, radiators have become purely decorative The “H” on the hot water tap may be an indispensable feature of a bathroom's design, but as things stand now, if you mistakenly turn on the hot water instead of the cold, a series of wails and hollow thumps emerges from the “Nine Springs” of the netherworld somewhere down below.

encounter [ɪnˈkaʊntər] v. to come upon or meet with, especially unexpectedly 遭遇，邂逅
long to do sth to have a strong desire or yearning to do something 渴望做某事
coral [ˈkɔrəl] n.[U] 珊瑚
jade [dʒeid] n.[U] 玉石
dome [doʊm] n.[C] a rounded roof or ceiling that is shaped like half of a ball 圆顶，穹顶
unbearably [ʌnˈbɛrəbli] adv. to an unbearable extent; extremely 难以忍受地，极其
dweller [ˈdwɛlər] n.[C] a person or animal that lives in a particular place or region 居住者
a shudder of sth a brief convulsive movement or tremor; a feeling of fear or disgust 一阵颤动，一阵恐惧
recognition [ˌrɛkəɡˈnɪʃən] n.[sing, U] the act of recognizing or the state of being recognized; acceptance or acknowledgment of something as valid or as entitled to consideration 认出，承认
spine [spaɪn] n.[C] the series of vertebrae extending from the skull to the coccyx; the backbone 脊柱，脊椎
radiator [ˈreɪdiˌeɪtər] n.[C] a device that transfers heat from one fluid to another, especially a car engine's cooling system 散热器，暖气片
indispensable [ˌɪndɪˈspɛnsəbəl] adj. absolutely necessary; essential 不可或缺的，必不可少的
mistakenly [mɪsˈteɪkənli] adv. in a mistaken manner; erroneously 错误的，不正确地
wail [weil] n.[C] a prolonged high-pitched cry of pain, grief, or anger 哀号，哭声
hollow [ˈhɑloʊ] adj. (of sound) as if made by hitting an empty container（声音）空洞的，低沉的
thump [θʌmp] n.[C] the sound of something heavy hitting something 砰然落下，物体落下的声音
netherworld [ˈnɛðərˌwɔrld] n.[C] the world of the dead; the underworld 冥界，阴间

那是公寓里特别复杂，特别多心的热水管系统在那里发脾气了。即使你不去太岁头上动土，那雷神也随时地要显灵。无缘无故，只听见不怀好意的“嗡……”拉长了半晌之后接着“訇訇”两声，活像飞机在顶上盘旋了一会，掷了两枚炸弹。在战时香港吓细了胆子的我，初回上海的时候，每每为之魂飞魄散。

That is the sound of the apartment building's terribly complicated and capricious hot water system losing its temper, Even if you don't engage in deliberate provocation, this god of thunder might well make an appearance at any time. It comes at you out of nowhere with an evil, elongated buzz followed by two blasting sounds, exactly like an airplane circling over the roof of the building before dropping two bombs. Having lost my courage in the terror of wartime Hong Kong, this sound used to throw me into a panic when I first got back to Shanghai.

capricious [kəˈprɪʃəs] adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behavior 反复无常的，任性的
provocation [ˌprɑvəˈkeɪʃən] n.[C,U] action or speech that makes someone annoyed or angry, especially deliberately 挑衅，煽动
elongated [ˈilɔŋˌɡeɪtɪd] adj. having an elongated shape, form, or structure 拉长的，细长的
blasting [ˈblæstɪŋ] adj. the act of causing to burst by means of explosives; extremely unpleasant or annoying 爆炸的，极其讨厌的

若是当初它认真工作的时候，艰辛地将热水运到六层楼上来，便是咕噜两声，也还情有可原。现在可是雷声大，雨点小，难得滴下两滴生锈的黄浆……然而也说不得了，失业的人向来是肝火旺的。

Early on, the pipes still went about their work conscientiously, laboriously transporting hot water up to the sixth floor, where it arrived with a gurgle or two. That was easily forgiven. But nowadays there is loud thunder but very little rain, and we are lucky if we get two drops of rusty yellow mud . . . but there isn't much elseI can say; the unemployed fly so easily off the handle.

conscientiously [ˌkɑnʃiˈɛnʃəsli] adv. in a thorough and responsible way 一丝不苟地，认真地
laboriously [ləˈbɔrɪəsli] adv. 艰难地，费力地

梅雨时节，高房子因为压力过重，地基陷落的原故，门前积水最深。街道上完全干了，我们还得花钱雇黄包车渡过那白茫茫的护城河。

In the rainy season, because tall buildings exert too much pressure on the ground and the foundation sinks into the topsoil, the deepest puddles are clustered right around the front entrance. The street will be completely dry, but we still have to spend money hiring rickshaws to cross the vast and misty moat that rings the building.

exert pressure on sth to put pressure on something, to apply force on something 施加压力于某事
topsoil [ˈtɒpsɔɪl] n.[U] the top layer of soil 表层土壤
puddle [ˈpʌdl] n.[C] a small pool of liquid, especially rainwater on the ground 水坑，小水洼
cluster [ˈklʌstər] n.[C] a group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together 群，簇
rickshaw [ˈrɪkʃɔː] n.[C] a small, light two-wheeled vehicle pulled by one person, used especially in parts of Asia 人力车
mist [mɪst] n.[C,U] a mass of tiny water droplets in the air, resembling a thin fog 薄雾，霭
moat [məʊt] n.[C] a deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack 护城河

雨下得太大的时候，屋子里便闹了水灾。我们轮流抢救，把旧毛巾、麻袋、褥单堵住了窗户缝；障碍物湿濡了，绞干，换上，污水折在脸盆里，脸盆里的水倒在抽水马桶里。忙了两昼夜，手心磨去了一层皮，墙根还是汪着水，糊墙的花纸还是染了斑斑点点的水痕与霉迹子。

When there is too much rain, the apartment itself will flood. We take turns coming to the rescue, using old towels, burlap bags, and sheets to block up the cracks in the window. When these things get wet through, we wring them out and put them back, squeezing the dirty water into wash basins and then pouring it into the toilet. After two days and two nights of work, a whole layer of skin has been rubbed off our palms, but water still pools at the base of the walls, and the patterned wallpaper is dappled with water stains and spots of mildew.

come to the rescue to help someone who is in trouble or danger 施以援手
burlap [ˈbɜːlæp] n.[U] a coarse, plain-woven fabric made from jute, hemp, or a similar fiber, used especially for sacking 粗麻布
sheet [ʃiːt] n.[C] 床单
block sth up to stop something from flowing or moving by blocking it 堵塞
crack [kræk] n.[C] a narrow opening or fissure in a material or structure 缝隙
wring sth out to squeeze something tightly in order to remove water or other liquid from it 拧干
squeeze [skwiːz] v. to press something firmly, especially with your fingers 挤，压榨
wash basin a sink fixed to a wall or floor and having waste pipes connected to it 洗脸盆
rub sth off to remove something by rubbing it, to erase something 擦去
pattern [ˈpætən] v. to decorate with a repeated design or pattern 设计图案于
dappled [ˈdæpəld] adj. covered with spots of colour that are lighter or darker than the main colour, or covered with areas of light and darkness 有斑点的，花斑的，斑驳的
mildew [ˈmaɪldjuː] n.[U] a thin, whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on damp or decaying matter, especially fabric or paper 霉菌

风如果不朝这边吹的话，高楼上的雨倒是可爱的。有一天，下了一黄昏的雨，出去的时候忘了关窗户，回来一开门，一房的风声雨味，放眼望出去，是碧蓝的潇潇的夜，远处略有淡灯摇曳，多数的人家还没点灯。

If the wind is not blowing in our direction, however, rain at the top of a tall building is actually quite lovely. One day, it rained around dusk. I had forgotten to close the windows on my way out, and when I came home and opened the front door, the apartment was full of the sound of wind and the smell of rain, so I looked out the window. It was a deep blue, raindrop-spattered night, with a few pale lamps swaying in the distance. Most of the houses had yet to turn on their lights.

dusk [dʌsk] n.[U] The time of day immediately following sunset and preceding darkness. 黄昏
spatter [ˈspætər] v. To cause liquid to scatter in drops or small splashes when landing on a surface.（使）溅湿，（使）弄脏
pale [peɪl] adj. Lacking intensity of color or brightness. 苍白的，暗淡的
sway [sweɪ] v. To move or swing slowly from side to side. To exert influence or control over. 摇摆

常常觉得不可解，街道上的喧声，六楼上听得分外清楚，仿佛就在耳根底下，正如一个人年纪越高，距离童年渐渐远了，小时的琐屑的回忆反而渐渐亲切明晰起来。

I am often astounded by how extraordinarily clearly one can hear street noises from the sixth floor, as if it was all happening right beneath one's ears, resembling the way people's memories of trivial incidents from their childhood become increasingly clear and close the older and more distant they become.

astound [əˈstaʊnd] v. to shock or greatly surprise someone 使震惊，使大吃一惊
resemble [rɪˈzɛmbl] v. to be similar to someone or something 类似，相似
trivial [ˈtrɪviəl] adj. of little importance or significance 不重要的，琐碎的
incident [ˈɪnsɪdənt] n.[C] an event or occurrence 事件，事情

我喜欢听市声。比我较有诗意的人在枕上听松涛，听海啸，我是非得听见电车响才睡得着觉的。在香港山上，只有冬季里，北风彻夜吹着常青树，还有一点电车的韵味。长年住在闹市里的人大约非得出了城之后才知道他离不了一些什么。城里人的思想，背景是条纹布的幔子，淡淡的白条子便是行驰着的电车——平行的，匀净的，声响的河流，汩汩流入下意识里去。

I like to listen to city sounds. People more poetic than I listen from their pillows to the sound of rustling pines or the roar of ocean waves, while l can't fall asleep until I hear the sound of streetcars. On the hills in HongKong, it was only in the winter when the north wind blew all night long through the evergreens that I was reminded of the charming cadence of a streetcar. People who have lived their entire lives amid the bustle of the city do not realize what exactly they cannot do without until they have left. The thoughts of city people unfold across a striped curtain. The pale white stripes are streetcars in motion, moving neatly in parallel, their streams of sound flowing continuously into subconscious strata.

rustle [ˈrʌsl] v. If things such as paper or leaves rustle, or if you rustle them, they move about and make a soft, dry sound. （树叶等）沙沙作响，发出沙沙声
roar [rɔr] v. to make a very loud, deep sound 吼叫，咆哮
evergreen [ˈɛvəˌɡrin] n.[C] a plant, bush, or tree that has leaves for the whole year 常青植物，常绿植物
cadence [ˈkeɪdəns] n.[C] the rhythm or flow of sounds in language or music; a modulation or inflection of the voice 抑扬顿挫，节奏感
bustle [ˈbʌsl] n.[sing.] busy and usually noisy activity 忙碌，熙攘，喧闹
unfold [ʌnˈfoʊld] v. to open or spread out something that has been folded; to reveal or disclose something gradually 展开，呈现，逐渐显露
striped [straɪpt] adj. having stripes or a pattern of stripes 有条纹的，条纹样的
continuously [kənˈtɪnjuəsli] adv. without interruption or break; in a continuous way 连续地，不间断地
strata [ˈstreɪtə] plural of stratum; one of the parts or layers into which something is separated 部分，层，阶层

我们的公寓近电车厂邻，可是我始终没弄清楚电车是几点钟回家。“电车回家”这句子仿佛不很合适——大家公认电车为没有灵魂的机械，而“回家”两个字有着无数的情感洋溢的联系。但是你没看见过电车进厂的特殊情形吧？一辆衔接一辆，像排了队的小孩，嘈杂，叫嚣，愉快地打着哑嗓子的铃：“克林，克赖，克赖，克赖！”吵闹之中又带着一点由疲乏而生的驯服，是快上床的孩子，等着母亲来刷洗他们。车里的灯点得雪亮。

Our apartment is near the streetcar depot, but I've never been able to tell exactly what time the streetcars come home. The phrase “streetcars coming home” doesn't seem quite right: everybody knows that streetcars are soulless machines and that the words coming home” practically overflow with sentimental associations. But have you ever actually seen the strange spectacle of streetcars going into their garage? One car after another, like small children waiting in line, noisy, squealing, hoarse bells happily sounding out ”cling, clang, cling, clang" Amid the noise, a sense of a docility born of exhaustion, like children before bedtime waiting for their mothers to help them wash up. The lights in the streetcars shine bright white.

depot [ˈdiːpoʊ] n.[C] a place for storing large amounts of equipment, food, etc. 车站，仓库
overflow with sth to be filled with a particular feeling or quality 充满，洋溢
sentimental [ˌsɛntəˈmɛntl] adj. affectedly or extravagantly emotional 多愁善感的，感情脆弱的
spectacle [ˈspɛktəkl] n.[C] an impressive sight or display 奇观，场面
squeal [skwiːl] v. a long, high-pitched cry or noise 尖叫，尖啸
hoarse [hɔrs] adj. sounding rough and harsh, typically as the result of a sore throat or of shouting 声音嘶哑的
docility [dəʊˈsɪlɪti] n.[U] the quality of being docile; easily managed or handled 温顺，驯顺

专做下班的售票员的生意的小贩们曼声兜售着面包。有时候，电车全进了厂了，单剩下一辆，神秘地，像被遗弃了似的，停在街心。从上面望下去，只见它在半夜的月光中袒露着白肚皮。

Vendors who specialize in selling to streetcar ticket collectors coming off the late shift callout as they hawk bread. Every once in a while, when all the streetcars have gone inside, a single one is left parked outside, mysteriously, as if it had been abandoned in the middle of the street. Seen from above, its exposed white belly gleams in the moonlight in the depths of the night.

vendor [ˈvɛndɚ] n.[C] a person or company offering something for sale, especially a trader in the street 小贩，商贩

这里的小贩所卖的吃食没有多少典雅的名色。我们也从来没有缒下篮子去买过东西，（想起《侬本痴情》里的顾兰君了。她用丝袜结了绳子，缚住了纸盒，吊下窗去买汤面。袜子如果不破，也不是丝袜了！在节省物资的现在，这是使人心惊肉跳的奢侈。）

The vendors around here rarely sell any particularly fancy snacks. Nor have we ever lowered a basket out the window to the street to buy things from them, (Which reminds one of Violet Koo in the movie Nong ben chiging [I'm a fool for you.] She makes a rope out of silk stockings, attaches a paper box to the end, and lowers it out the window to buy noodle soup. No real silk stockings could ever survive such an ordeal! In the current climate of rationing and “resource conservation,” this is a shocking extravagance that sets one's pulse racing).

stockings [ˈstɑːkɪŋz] n.[pl.] a close-fitting covering for the foot and leg, usually made of nylon or another synthetic fabric 长筒袜
ordeal [ɔːrˈdiːl] n.[C] a difficult or painful experience, especially one that lasts for a long time and is hard to bear 磨难
climate [ ˈklaɪmət ] n.[C] a general attitude or feeling; an atmosphere or a situation which exists in a particular place 倾向，思潮，风气，环境气氛
rationing [ˈræʃənɪŋ] n.[U] the controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services 定量供应
extravagance [ɪkˈstrævəɡəns] n.[U] behaviour in which you spend more money than you need to 奢侈，铺张
pulse [pʌls] n.[C] the rhythmic throbbing of arteries produced by the regular contractions of the heart 脉搏

也许我们也该试着吊下篮子去。无论如何，听见门口卖臭豆腐干的过来了，便抓起一只碗来，噔噔奔下六层楼梯，跟踪前往。在远远的一条街上访到了臭豆腐干担子的下落，买到了之后，再乘电梯上来，似乎总有点可笑。

Maybe we should try lowering a basket to the street. Every time we hear the vendor who sells stinky tofu coming down the street, we have to grab a bowl, race down six flights of steps, give chase down the street, and, having finally located our man several long blocks away and made our purchase, take the elevator back home. All this seems faintly ridiculous.

stinky [ˈstɪŋki] adj. having a strong and unpleasant smell 发臭的
flight [flaɪt] n.[C] a set of steps or stairs, usually between two floors of a building（通常指两个楼层间的）一段楼梯，一段台阶

我们的开电梯的是个人物，知书达理，有涵养，对于公寓里每一家的起居他都是一本清帐。他不赞成他儿子去做电车售票员——嫌那职业不很上等。再热的天，任凭人家将铃揿得震天响，他也得在汗衫背心上加上一件熨得溜平的纺绸小褂，方肯出现。他拒绝替不修边幅的客人开电梯。

Our elevator man is a real character, well read and erudite, of rare cultivation, a man who keeps meticulous tabs on the comings and goings of each family in the building. He doesn't approve of his son becoming a ticket collector on a streetcar because it's not a sufficiently classy profession. On even the hottest of days, no matter how urgently someone is ringing the electric buzzer, he still insists on donning a neatly ironed silk vest over his sleeveless undershirt before emerging from his room, He refuses to operate the elevator for visitors who dress sloppily.

well-read [ˌwɛl ˈrɛd] adj. having read extensively; knowledgeable 博学的
erudite [ˈɛrʊˌdaɪt] adj. having or showing extensive knowledge; learned 博学的
cultivation [ˌkʌltɪˈveɪʃən] n. the deliberate development of a particular quality or skill 〔某种素质或技能的〕培养
meticulous [məˈtɪkjʊləs] adj. showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise 一丝不苟的
buzzer [ˈbʌzər] n.[C] a device that makes a loud and continuous buzzing sound 呼叫器
don [ dɒn ] v. to put on (clothing) 穿上
sloppily [ ˈslɒpəli ] adv. in a careless or messy manner 邋遢地

他的思想也许缙绅气太重，然而他究竟是个有思想的人。可是他离了自己那间小屋，就踏进了电梯的小屋——只怕这一辈子是跑不出这两间小屋了。电梯上升，人字图案的铜栅栏外面，一重重的黑暗往下移，棕色的黑暗，红棕色的黑暗，黑色的黑暗……衬着交替的黑暗，你看见司机人的花白的头。

His thinking may incline too much toward the outmoded ideals of the traditional gentry, but at least he thinks. True, he leaves his little room only to step into the little room of an elevator. One fears that his whole existence will be consumed shuttling back and forth between these two cells. As the elevator rises, layer after layer of darkness shifts past the L-shaped brass grillwork of the gate: brown darkness, reddish brown darkness, darkest darkness, and, set against these alternations of darkness, the grizzled head of the elevator operator.

outmoded [aʊtˈməʊdɪd] adj. no longer fashionable or useful; outdated 过时的
gentry [ˈdʒɛntri] n.[pl.]people belonging to a high social class 绅士阶层，上流社会人士
grillwork [ˈɡrɪlwɜːk] n. a framework of metal bars or wires, used as a barrier or as support for something 网格状物
grizzled [ˈɡrɪzld] adj. having or streaked with gray hair 花白的

没事的时候他在后天井烧个小风炉炒菜烙饼吃。他教我们怎样煮红米饭；烧开了，熄了火，停个十分钟再煮，又松，又透，又不塌皮烂骨，没有筋道。

When he has a moment off, he goes to the back courtyard and cooks stirfried dishes and griddle cakes on a little coal-burning stove. He taught us how to cook wild red rice: after the rice comes to a boil, kill the flame, and let it sit for ten minutes before continuing. What results is rice that is soft, cooked through, but not the least mushy or lacking in texture.

stirfry [ˈstɜːrˌfraɪ] v. to fry small pieces of meat, vegetables, etc. quickly while mixing them around 煸炒，翻炒
griddle [ˈɡrɪdl] v. To cook on a flat metal surface. 用锅煎
mushy [ˈmʌʃi] adj. soft and pulpy; having the consistency of mush 糊状的，稠的
texture [ˈtɛkstʃər] n.[C,U] the feel, appearance, or consistency of a surface or substance 质地，口感

托他买豆腐浆，交给他一只旧的牛奶瓶。陆续买了两个礼拜，他很简单地报告道：“瓶没有了。”是砸了还是失窃了，也不得而知。再隔了些时，他拿了一只小一号的牛奶瓶装了豆腐浆来，我们问道：“咦？瓶又有了？”他答道：“有了。”新的瓶是赔给我们的呢还是借给我们的，也不得而知。这一类的举动是颇有点社会主义风的。

I once asked him to buy soy milk for us and gave him a used milk bottle for that purpose. After having made these purchases by proxy for two weeks, he rather matter-of-factly reported: “The bottle's gone.” Whether it was broken or merely stolen, we didn't know. A little later on, he brought us a slightly smaller bottle full of soy milk: “Oh? The bottle's back?” He replied: “It's back.” We could never ascertain whether this new bottle was meant to compensate us for the lost one or was merely on loan, These sorts of incidents have something of a socialistic tinge to them.

proxy [ˈprɑksi] n. a person authorized to act on behalf of another 代理人
matter-of-factly adv. in a direct, straightforward manner 不带感情地，不动声色地
ascertain [ˌæsərˈteɪn] v. to find out for certain; to make certain 查明，确定
compensate [ˈkɑmpənˌseɪt] v. to make up for; to pay for; to reimburse 补偿，赔偿
a tinge of sth a slight amount or trace of something 一丝，一点，微量

我们的《新闻报》每天早上他要循例过目一下方才给我们送来。小报他读得更为仔细些，因此要到十一二点钟才轮得到我们看。英文、日文、德文、俄文的报他是不看的，因此大清早便卷成一卷插在人家弯曲的门钮里。

He invariably glances through the Xinwen bao (Daily news) before delivering it to our apartment every morning. He must read the tabloids rather more carefully, for we rarely get to see them before eleven or twelve noon. He doesn't read the English, Japanese, German, or Russian papers, which is why, bright and early each morning, they are rolled up and stuck in the crook above everyone's doorknobs.

invariably [ɪnˈvɛrɪəbli] adv. always, without changing 总是，不变地
glance through sth to take a quick look at something 简单地查看，浏览
tabloid [ˈtæblɔɪd] n.[C] a newspaper with small pages and short articles, often about famous people and not taken seriously 小报，小报式的
doorknob [ˈdɔːrˌnɑːb] n.[C] a handle used for opening/closing a door 门把手，把手

报纸没有人偷，电铃上的钢板却被撬去了。看门的巡警倒有两个，虽不是双生子，一样都是翻领里面竖起了木渣渣的黄脸，短裤与长统袜之间露出木渣渣的黄膝盖；上班的时候，一般都是横在一张藤椅上睡觉，挡住了信箱。每次你去看看信箱的时候总得殷勤地凑到他面颊前面，仿佛要询问：“酒刺好了些吧？”

No one steals the papers, but the metal facing over the doorbells was once pried off and taken away. There are actually two guards responsible for securing the front entrance. They are not twins, but they seem to share the same sawdusty yellow faces sticking out above button-down collars and sawdusty yellow knees sticking out between their shorts and the tops of their high socks. They doze on wicker chairs in front of the mailboxes during their shift. Whenever you want to check the mail, they block the way so that you must solicitously push your face close to theirs, as if to enquire whether their acne has shown any improvement lately.

pry [praɪ] v. To move or lift something by prying it. 撬开，撬动
sawdust [ˈsɔːdʌst] n.[U] tiny particles of wood that are made from sawing wood 木屑
doze [doʊz] v. to sleep lightly 打盹，小睡
wicker [ˈwɪkər] adj. made of very thin pieces of wood twisted together 柳条编的，枝条编的
solicitously [səˈlɪsɪtəsli] adv. in a manner expressing excessive care or concern 热切地，殷勤地
enquire [ɪnˈkwaɪər] v. to ask for information or to ask a question 询问，问询

恐怕只有女人能够充分了解公寓生活的特殊优点：佣人问题不那么严重。生活程度这么高，即使雇得起人，也得准备着受气。在公寓里“居家过日子”是比较简单的事。找个清洁公司每隔两星期来大扫除一下，也就用不着打杂的了。没有佣人，也是人生一快。

Perhaps only women can fully appreciate the advantages of apartment life: the problem of hired help becomes much less pressing. The cost of living is high, and even if you can afford a maid, you have to prepare for her to be annoyed by your shortcomings. Domestic life is a relatively simple matter in an apartment, You can arrange for a company to come by once every two weeks and do a thorough cleaning, thus eliminating the need for hired help. Not having to have a maid is one of the best things in life.

ruinous [ˈruːnɪəs] adj. causing ruin or destruction; disastrous 毁灭性的，破坏性的

抛开一切平等的原则不讲，吃饭的时候如果有个还没吃过饭的人立在一边眼睁睁望着，等着为你添饭，虽不至于使人食不下咽，多少有些讨厌。许多身边杂事自有它们的愉快性质。看不到田园里的茄子，到菜场上去看看也好——那么复杂的，油润的紫色；新绿的豌豆，熟艳的辣椒，金黄的面筋，像太阳里的肥皂泡。

Leaving any notions of the ideal of equality aside, it's terribly annoying. If not utterly ruinous in terms of one's appetite, to have someone who has not yet eaten standing over you and watching as you eat at mealtimes, always at the ready to give you more rice. There are so many little chores that are inherently pleasurable to perform. If you can't see eggplants growing in a garden, it's almost as lovely to see them at the vegetable market: a purple so very complex and so glossy placed next to pale green new peas, ruby ripe peppers, and golden yellow gluten shining like soap bubbles in the sun.

appetite [ˈæpətaɪt] n.[C,U] a strong desire for or interest in something 食欲，兴趣
glossy [ˈɡlɒsi] adj. having a shiny or lustrous surface 有光泽的，光滑的
gluten [ˈɡluːtn] n.[U] a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley 麸质

把菠菜洗过了，倒在油锅里，每每有一两片碎叶子粘在篾篓底上，抖也抖不下来；迎着亮，翠生生的枝叶在竹片编成的方格子上招展着，使人联想到篱上的扁豆花。

Every time one washes spinach and drops it into the wok, there are always one or two broken leaves stuck to the bottom of the bamboo basket, and no matter how hard you shake, they refuse to budge. In the light, the fresh emerald leaves displayed against the rectangular weave of the basket call to mind snow pea flowers on a trellis. And why must we call other things to mind at all? Isn't the beauty of the basket itself sufficient?

spinach [ˈspɪnɪdʒ] n.[U] a leafy green vegetable rich in iron 菠菜
wok [wɒk] n.[C] a pan with a round bottom used in Chinese cooking 炒锅
budge [bʌdʒ] v. to move slightly 移动，挪动
emerald [ˈemrəld] n.[C] a bright green precious stone 翡翠
rectangular [rekˈtæŋɡjʊlər] adj. having a shape with four straight sides and four right angles, especially one with unequal adjacent sides 矩形的，长方形的
weave [wiːv] v. to make cloth by interlacing threads 编织，织造
trellis [ˈtrelɪs] n.[C] a frame of latticework used to support climbing plants 格子架，藤架
fealty [ˈfiːəlti] n.[U] loyalty to a lord or ruler 忠诚，效忠

其实又何必“联想”呢？篾篓子的本身的美不就够了么？我这并不是效忠于国社党，劝诱女人回到厨房里去。不劝便罢，若是劝，一样的得劝男人到厨房里去走一遭。当然，家里有厨子而主人不时的下厨房，是会引起厨子最强烈的反感的。这些地方我们得寸步留心，不能太不识眉眼高低。

None of this is intended as a display of my fealty to the National Socialist Party and its efforts to coax women back into the kitchen. There is so little point in coaxing, and if one must coax, it would only be right to urge men into the kitchen for a visit as well. Obviously, when people who have hired a cook start to hang around the kitchen, they will be looked on with some distaste. We must be careful not to infringe upon the prerogatives of our betters.

coax [kəʊks] v. to persuade or gently encourage someone to do something 哄骗，劝诱
infringe upon sth to violate or break (a law, rule, etc.) 侵犯，违背
prerogative [prɪˈrɒɡətɪv] n.[C] a special right or privilege 特权，特别权利
betters [ˈbetəz] n.[pl.] people who are superior in ability or qualities 更好的人，上等的人

有时候也感到没有佣人的苦处。米缸里出虫，所以掺了些胡椒在米里——据说米虫不大喜欢那刺激性的气味，淘米之前先得把胡椒拣出来。我捏了一只肥白的肉虫的头当做胡椒，发现了这错误之后，不禁大叫起来，丢下饭锅便走。

Sometimes, one also feels rather acutely the bitterness of life without help. There were weevils in the rice crock, so I sprinkled white pepper inside: apparently weevils do not appreciate the pungent aroma, and you can remove the peppercorns before soaking the rice. I mistook the head of a fat weevil for a peppercorn and squeezed it between my fingers. Once l realized my mistake, I could not help letting out an appropriately dismayed squeal, dropping the pot, and running away.

acutely [əˈkjuːtli] adv. in a way that shows a perceptive understanding or insight; intensely, sharply 敏锐地，尖锐地
weevil [ˈwiːvəl] n.[C] a small beetle with a snout that is typically found in grain products and other foodstuffs and can be a pest 象鼻虫，蚜茧虫
crock [krɒk] n.[C] a pot, jar, or other container, especially one used for cooking or storing food 罐子，陶罐
sprinkle [ˈsprɪŋkl] v. to scatter (a substance) over something in small drops or particles 撒，洒
pungent [ˈpʌndʒənt] adj. having a sharply strong taste or smell 辛辣的味道刺激的
aroma [əˈrəʊmə] n.[C] a distinctive, typically pleasant smell 香气，芳香
peppercorn [ˈpɛpəkɔːn] n.[C] a dried berry of a climbing vine, used as a spice and condiment, especially in Indian and Asian cooking 胡椒粒
dismayed [dɪsˈmeɪd] adj. cause (someone) to feel consternation and distress 沮丧的，失望的

在香港遇见了蛇，也不过如此罢了。那条蛇我只见到它的上半截，它钻出洞来矗立着，约有二尺来长，我抱了一叠书匆匆忙忙下山来。正和它打了个照面。它静静地望着我，我也静静地望着它，望了半晌，方才哇呀呀叫出声来，翻身便跑。

In fact, when I saw a snake in Hong Kong once, it was much the same. All I saw of that snake was his upper half, stretching to a height of nearly two feet, just after it had slithered from out of a hole. I was holding a stack of books as I walked rapidly down a hill when I came face to face with it. It gazed quietly at me and l gazed quietly back, and it was only after a long pause that I screamed, turned, and fled.

squeal [skwiːl] v. to make a long, high-pitched cry or noise 尖叫，发出长而尖的声音
slither [ˈslɪðər] v. to slide or slip unsteadily 滑动，蠕动
a stack of sth a large quantity of something, typically piled up or arranged neatly 一堆，一摞
gaze [ɡeɪz] v. to look steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought 凝视，注视

提起虫豸之类，六楼上苍蝇几乎绝迹，蚊子少许有两个。如果它们富于想象力的话，飞到窗口往下一看，便会晕倒了罢？不幸它们是像英国人一般地淡漠与自足——英国人住在非洲的森林里也照常穿上了燕尾服进晚餐。

Speaking of insects, there are hardly any flies up on the sixth floor, but every so often a few mosquitoes do make an appearance. If they were endowed with the slightest bit of imagination, surely they would faint dead away upon flying to the window and looking down to the ground far below: Unfortunately, these mosquitoes are all too similar to the English in their indifference and self-satisfaction. Even in the jungles of Africa, an Englishman still wears tails to dinner.

be endowed with sth to have a particular quality or feature by nature or as a gift 赋有，天生具有

公寓是最合理想的逃世的地方。厌倦了大都会的人们往往记挂着和平幽静的乡村，心心念念盼望着有一天能够告老归田，养蜂种菜，享点清福。殊不知在乡下多买半斤腊肉便要引起许多闲言闲语，而在公寓房子的最上层你就是站在窗前换衣服也不妨事！

An apartment is an ideal retreat from the world outside. Often, people who are weary of metropolitan life yearn for the quiet harmony of the countryside, longing for the day when they might retire to their old country home, keep bees, plant a few crops, and enjoy a well-earned rest. Little do they know that in the countryside the mere purchase of a half pound of smoked meat elicits storms of idle gossip, whereas in an apartment on the top floor, you can change clothes right in front of the window without anyone knowing the difference!

retreat [ rɪˈtriːt ] n.[C] a private and safe place 退隐处，静居处，僻静处
be weary of sth to be tired of or bored with something 厌烦，不感兴趣
metropolitan [ˌmetrəˈpɑlətən] adj. of or relating to a large city, especially the main city of a country or region 大都市的
yearn for sth to have a strong desire or longing for something 渴望，向往
harmony [ˈhɑːrməni] n.[U] the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole 和谐，协调
long for sth to have a strong desire or yearning for something 渴望，向往
well-earned adj. deserved as a result of hard work or effort 应得的，劳有所值的
elicit [ɪˈlɪsɪt] v. to draw out or bring forth 引出，诱出
storms of sth a large amount or quantity of something 大量，大批
idle [ˈaɪdl] adj. without purpose or effect; pointless or frivolous 无所事事的，闲散的

然而一年一度，日常生活的秘密总得公布一下。夏天家家户户都大敞着门，搬一把藤椅坐在风口里。这边的人在打电话，对过一家的仆欧一面熨衣裳，一面便将电话上的对白译成了德文说给他的小主人听。

Even so, the secrets of everyday life must be made public at least once a year. In the summer, each and every family throws its doors wide and brings rattan chairs out into the hallway to take the breeze. Someone over there is talking on the telephone. The servant boy across the hall is ironing some clothes as he translates the telephone conversation into German for the benefit of his little master.

rattan [ræˈtæn] n.[U] fabrics these stems used as a material for making wicker furniture, or furniture made from them 藤，藤条，藤制品
breeze [briːz] n.[C] a gentle wind 微风

楼底下有个俄国人在那里响亮地教日文。二楼的那位女太太和贝多芬有着不共戴天的仇恨，一捶十八敲，咬牙切齿打了他一上午；钢琴上倚着一辆脚踏车。不知道哪一家在煨牛肉汤，又有哪一家泡了焦三仙。

There is a Russian man downstairs noisily giving Japanese lessons, The woman on the second floor seems to be locked in mortal combat with Beethoven, gritting her teeth as she repeatedly pummels the piano, against which a bicycle is precariously propped. Someone somewhere is making beef stew, and someone else simmering a Chinese herbal brew that counters indigestion.

pummel [ˈpʌməl] v. to repeatedly hit someone or something hard with the fists 连续猛打
precariously [prɪˈkɛrɪəsli] adv. in a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse 不稳定地
prop [prɑp] v. to support something physically, often by leaning it against something else or putting something under it 支撑，支持
simmer [ˈsɪmər] v. to cook something gently at or just below the boiling point 煨，炖
counter [ˈkaʊntər] v. to do something in order to prevent something bad from happening or to reduce its bad effects 抵消，对抗，制止
indigestion [ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛstʃən] n.[U] pain or discomfort in the stomach associated with difficulty in digesting food 消化不良

人类天生的是爱管闲事。为什么我们不向彼此的私生活里偷偷的看一眼呢？既然被看者没有多大损失而看的人显然得到了片刻的愉悦？凡事牵涉到快乐的授受上，就犯不着斤斤计较了。较量些什么呢？——长的是磨难，短的是人生。

Mankind is naturally inclined to mind other people's business. Why shouldn't we take the occasional stealthy glance at one another's private lives, if the person being looked at suffers no real damage and the one who looks is afforded a moment of pleasure? In matters involving the provision and procurement of pleasure, there's no need to be overly fussy. What, in the end, is there to fuss about? Misery endures, but life is short.

be inclined to do sth to tend to do something; to have a preference for doing something 倾向于做某事
stealthy [ˈstɛlθi] adj. done or acting in a cautious and surreptitious manner, so as not to be seen or heard 偷偷摸摸的
be afforded sth to have the financial, material, or other means or resources to do or obtain something 有财力、物力或其他资源去做或得到某事
provision [prəˈvɪʒn] n.[C,U] the action of providing or supplying something for use 供给，提供
procurement [prəˈkjʊrmənt] n.[U] the action of obtaining or procuring something 采购
fussy [ˈfʌsi] adj. fastidious about one's needs or requirements; hard to please. 过分讲究的，难以取悦的
fuss about sth to worry or be concerned about something excessively 过分关注，过分担心
endure [ɪnˈdjʊr] v. to suffer patiently; to remain in existence 忍耐，忍受，持续存在

屋顶花园里常常有孩子们溜冰，兴致高的时候，从早到晚在我们头上咕滋咕滋锉过来又锉过去，像瓷器的摩擦，又像睡熟的人在那里磨牙，听得我们一粒粒牙齿在牙龈里发酸如同青石榴的子，剔一剔便会掉下来。

The kids in the building sometimes go roller-skating in the roof garden and when they get excited, the scrape of the wheels moving back and forth across the ceiling goes on from morning to evening, sounding like nothing so much as dishes rasping against each other or a sleeper steadily grinding his teeth, setting your own teeth on edge, like the sour little pips of a green pomegranate, ready to drop to the ground with a flick of a finger.

scrape [skreɪp] n.[C,U] a slight injury or an unpleasant noise produced by rubbing against a surface 擦伤，摩擦声
rasp [ræsp] v. to make a rough unpleasant sound 发出刺耳、撕裂的声音。
grind one's teeth to make a noise by rubbing your teeth together 把牙齿咬得嘎嘎响，出声地磨牙
pip [pɪp] n.[C] one of the small seeds of a fruit such as an apple or an orange（苹果、柑橘等水果的）籽，种子
pomegranate [ˈpɑmˌɡrænət] n.[C] 石榴
flick [flɪk] n.[C] a sudden, quick movement 轻打，轻甩，轻击

隔壁一个异国绅士声势汹汹上楼去干涉。他的太太提醒他道：“人家不懂你的话，去也是白去。”他揎拳撸袖道：“不要紧，我会使他们懂得的！”隔了几分钟他偃旗息鼓嗒然下来了。上面的孩子年纪都不小了，而且是女性，而且是美丽的。

The foreign gentleman next door rushes furiously up the stairs to give them a piece of his mind. His wife warns: “They won't understand what you're saying anyway. It's a waste of time." He balls his fists and rolls up his sleeves. “No matter. I'll make them understand." A few minutes later, he descends the stairs with the wind knocked out of his sails. The kids upstairs aren't so young anymore, and they're female, and they are pretty.

furiously [ˈfjʊərɪəsli] adv. in a very angry way 大发雷霆
fist [fɪst] n.[C] a hand with the fingers and thumb held tightly in 拳，拳头
descend [dɪˈsɛnd] v. to go or come down 下降，降临。
knock the wind out of sb’s sails 使某人泄气，打击某人的信心。

谈到公德心，我们也不见得比人强。阳台上的灰尘我们直截了当地扫到楼下的阳台上去。“啊，人家栏干上晾着地毯呢——怪不过意的，等他们把地毯收了进去再扫吧！”一念之慈，顶上生出了灿烂圆光。这就是我们的不甚彻底的道德观念。

Speaking of public-spiritedness and morality, we cannot really claim to be any better than anyone else. We sweep the dust on our balcony down to the balcony below us without the slightest hesitation. “Oh, they've put their carpet out to dry on the railing. It would be such a shame to dirty it. Let's wait until they take it back in before we sweep.” One kind thought such as this. and a glimmering halo materializes around one's head, This, then, is our not-so-very thorough sense of ethics.

morality [məˈræləti] n.[U] principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior 道德，品德
balcony [ˈbælkəni] n.[C] a platform enclosed by a wall or balustrade on the outside of a building, with access from an upper-floor window or door 阳台
railing [ˈreɪlɪŋ] n.[C] a fence or barrier consisting of one or more horizontal rails and vertical supports 栏杆
halo [ˈheɪloʊ] n.[C] a bright circle that is often shown above or around the heads of holy people in religious art 〔神像头上的〕光轮，光环
materialize [məˈtɪriəlaɪz] v. to become actual fact; to happen or appear in reality 实现，变为现实
the sense of ethics a person's understanding of what is right and wrong in behavior; the moral principles that govern a person's behavior 道德观，伦理观

The End

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张爱玲：公寓生活记趣 | 双语阅读

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百元茅台没人买，千元茅台有人追。十年前，有人花百元买了一万股茅台，后出手追中石油，如今，茅台一飞冲天，中石油深套十年。炒股，不要见异思迁，价值投资是首选。#股票#

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