過去二十年，說起中國，最常見的形容是“變化太快”。高鐵像雨後春筍，城市一夜拔地而起，手機支付改變了日常生活。但當你今天再回望，會發現那種天翻地覆的節奏似乎放緩了：城市天際線趨於穩定，移動支付、外賣騎手早已成為習以為常的風景。這並不是停滯，而是一種“換擋”。中國自信正悄然從“基建狂魔”轉向“科技強國”。新能源汽車、生物科技、半導體……這些領域的突破，讓中國在全球舞台上多了幾分底氣。當“錢不是唯一的信仰”，人們開始尋找新的生活方式與意義。中國的故事，正在翻開新的一頁。1THE PACE of change is so rapid in China, it is often said, that the country can seem almost unrecognisable after a year or two away. Returning visitors find new highways, new trains, new buildings—sometimes entirely new cities. It can be a disorienting experience but also an exhilarating one. Socially, the transformation is just as wrenching, as hundreds of millions have moved from the countryside to urban areas in double time.中國的變化速度常被形容為如此之快，以至於離開一兩年再回來，這個國家幾乎讓人認不出來。歸來的訪客會看到新的高速公路、新的列車、新的建築——有時甚至是全新的城市。這種經歷既令人迷惘，又讓人興奮。在社會層面，這種轉變同樣劇烈，因為數以億計的人口正以加倍的速度從鄉村遷往城市。disorienting：causing confusion or loss of sense of direction 令人迷惑的，使人失去方向的文中It can be a disorienting experience指面對中國巨變，歸來的人會感到茫然，不知所措例如：The sudden ban on short-video apps was disorienting for many young influencers.短影片應用的突然下架讓許多網紅感到迷茫。For new graduates, entering a job market hit by property downturns can be disorienting.對應屆畢業生來說，進入受房地產低迷衝擊的就業市場可能會讓人無所適從。exhilarating: making one feel very happy, excited, or lively 令人振奮的、讓人興奮的文中but also an exhilarating one意思是: 面對翻天覆地的變化，歸來的人會覺得激情澎湃例如：The success of China’s women’s volleyball team was an exhilarating moment for the whole nation.中國女排的勝利讓全國人民激動不已。Watching the Asian Games live was an exhilarating experience for sports fans.親臨亞運會現場，對體育迷來說是一次振奮人心的體驗。wrenching: causing great emotional or physical pain 痛苦的，劇烈的，令人揪心的文中the transformation is wrenching意思: 社會轉型對人們生活的撕裂式影響。例如：The wrenching layoffs in the tech sector shocked many families.科技行業的慘烈裁員讓許多家庭措手不及。Watching the rural exodus unfold has been a wrenching sight for elderly villagers.看到鄉村人口大量外流，對留守老人來說是一種揪心的場景。in double time: very quickly, at twice the normal speed 以極快速度，飛速，字面意思是“兩倍速”。文中moved from the countryside to urban areas in double time意思是: 數億人快速完成了城市化遷移例如：Tech companies are hiring AI engineers in double time.科技公司正在飛速招聘AI工程師。2Or so it used to be. Your correspondent, returning to China after an absence of four years, has been struck by how familiar it all feels. Partly that reflects its economic maturation. Growth has slowed, and, as a result, China’s appearance is more settled. The downtown cores of its cities are largely built up. Although it continues to add high-speed rail tracks, subway lines and airport terminals, these are, compared with its aggregate, now small additions. The country’s main arteries have been in place for years.但情況已不再如昔。本刊記者在闊別中國四年後重返此地，最強烈的感受卻是：一切竟如此熟悉。這部分反映了中國經濟的成熟。增長已經放緩，因此國家的面貌趨於穩定。城市中心區域大多已建成。儘管中國仍在鋪設新的高鐵線路、地鐵線和機場航站樓，但與整體相比，這些如今只是小規模的補充。國家主要動脈早已成型。settled: stable, established, unlikely to change quickly 穩定的、成熟的文中China’s appearance is more settled意思是: 中國面貌更加穩定。例如：After years of property frenzy, the market now seems more settled.在多年的房地產狂熱後，市場如今顯得更加穩定。Public opinion on AI tutors is still forming, not yet settled.公眾對AI家教的態度仍在形成中，還未穩定下來。aggregate: the total amount, sum, or whole 總量，總和。例如：China’s aggregate electricity demand will surge with AI data centers.隨著AI資料中心的發展，中國的總用電需求將激增。The aggregate number of tourists during the holiday broke records.假期旅遊的總人數創下新高。addition: new things added to something existing 增補，新增部分文中these are, compared with its aggregate, now small additions意思是: 相對整體基建來說，新建的部分只是補充。例如：The new subway line is a welcome addition to the city’s transport system.新的地鐵線路是城市交通系統的有益補充。Recent additions to online shopping apps include AI recommendation features.最近網購應用增加了AI推薦功能。3Yes, the fleet of cars on China’s roads does now look very different as domestic electric vehicles, loaded with fancy display screens and massage seats, muscle out foreign marques. But traffic jams remain a constant. Meanwhile, things that were once revolutionary—the rise of mobile payments, the app-based economy, the myriad delivery men on scooters—have been facts of Chinese life for the better part of a decade. And with inflation so low, many prices are basically unchanged.是的，中國道路上的汽車隊伍確實已大不相同——本土電動車憑藉炫目的螢幕和按摩座椅，正逐步取代外國品牌。但交通堵塞依舊如常。與此同時，那些曾經堪稱革命性的事物——移動支付的興起、基於App的經濟形態、成群結隊的外賣騎手——在過去十年間早已成為中國生活的日常。而在低通膨的背景下，許多物價幾乎未有變化。the fleet of: a large group of vehicles, ships, etc.  一大批、車隊文中the fleet of cars on China’s roads意思是: 道路上的大量汽車例如：The fleet of shared bikes once flooded Chinese cities.曾經一度，共享單車遍佈中國城市。A fleet of delivery vans was dispatched during the Double 11 shopping festival.雙十一購物節期間，大批快遞車被派出。be loaded with: be equipped with or full of something 裝滿、配備有文中loaded with fancy display screens and massage seats意思是: 電動車配備各種豪華螢幕和按摩椅。例如：The new smartphone is loaded with AI features.新款智慧型手機配備了豐富的AI功能。During the Mid-Autumn Festival, supermarkets are loaded with mooncakes.中秋節期間，超市裡堆滿了月餅。muscle out: force someone/something out of a place or position 擠掉、排擠文中muscle out foreign marques意思是: 本土電動車把外國品牌擠出市場。例如：Local e-commerce apps are muscling out foreign platforms.本土電商應用正在擠掉國外平台。Short-video platforms have muscled out traditional TV among young people.短影片平台已把傳統電視擠出了年輕人的娛樂選擇。remain a constant: continue to exist without change 始終存在，恆常不變文中traffic jams remain a constant意思是: 堵車依舊存在例如：Housing affordability remains a constant worry for young families.房價負擔仍是年輕家庭持續的擔憂。Competition for top schools remains a constant in Chinese cities.進入名校的競爭始終存在於中國城市。myriad: countless, extremely large in number 無數，大量。文中 the myriad delivery men 意思是: 指無數外賣騎手。例如：Myriad livestreamers are trying to sell products online.無數主播正在嘗試網上帶貨。Myriad memes spread instantly after a celebrity’s scandal.某明星醜聞後，無數表情包瞬間傳播開來。4China’s confidence springs from its progress in innovation. Its leader has accelerated a long-standing pursuit of technological self-reliance, a strategy that really got going in the 1980s. China is now reaping some of the dividends. From electric vehicles to biotech, Chinese companies have emerged as world leaders. Even if China is still short of its goals in certain critical sectors such as aerospace, the trajectory in almost every advanced part of the economy has been towards stronger indigenous capacity and greater insulation from external pressure.中國的自信源自其在創新上的進展。領導人加快了長期以來追求科技自立的步伐，這一戰略最早可以追溯至上世紀80年代。如今中國正在收穫部分紅利。從電動車到生物科技，中國企業已躋身世界領先之列。即便在航空航天等關鍵領域仍未完全達標，但幾乎在經濟的每一個先進類股，中國的發展軌跡都指向更強的自主能力，以及更大的抗外部壓力的韌性。spring from: originate from; have its source in 源自於、起因於。文中 China’s confidence springs from its progress in innovation 意思是: 中國信心的來源是創新進展。例如：The current student protests spring from dissatisfaction with job prospects.當前的學生抗議源自對就業前景的不滿。Many online rumors spring from misinterpreted official statements.許多網路謠言源於對官方表述的誤解。reap: receive as a result of effort; harvesting 收穫，獲得。文中reaping some of the dividends意思是: 收穫長期投入科技創新的成果例如：Companies investing in AI are now reaping huge profits.投資AI的公司如今正收穫巨額利潤。Marathon runners reap the rewards of years of training.馬拉松選手收穫多年訓練的成果。dividend: benefits or profits received as a result of something 紅利，收益例如：Early investments in green energy are paying dividends now.對綠色能源的早期投資如今正在帶來紅利。indigenous: originating naturally or locally; native 本土的，自主的文中 stronger indigenous capacity 意思:是 中國自主研發的能力例如：China is promoting indigenous chip-making technology.中國正在推動本土晶片製造技術。insulation: protection from outside influence or pressure 隔絕，防護文中 greater insulation from external pressure 意思是: 免受外部壓力影響。例如：A diversified economy provides insulation from global shocks.多元化的經濟能為抵禦全球衝擊提供隔離。Families saving more money see it as insulation against uncertainty.家庭更多儲蓄，把它視作應對不確定性的防護。5In Mr Trump’s first term in office, the prospect of America blocking exports of high-tech products to China was profoundly threatening. This time around, Chinese officials know that they have good, though not perfect, substitutes for foreign-made semiconductors, and that China’s industrial clout gives them plenty of leverage over America.在川普的首個任期內，美國可能阻斷對華高科技產品出口的前景曾令人極為擔憂。而如今，中國官員心裡清楚，他們已經擁有不錯（儘管不完美）的國產半導體替代品，並且中國的產業實力足以賦予他們在對美博弈中擁有籌碼。substitute: things used instead of others; replacements 替代品文中 substitutes for foreign-made semiconductors 意思是: 外國晶片的替代品。例如：Domestic new-energy cars serve as substitutes for fuel vehicles.國產新能源汽車是燃油車的替代品。Plant-based meat is gaining popularity as a substitute for pork.植物肉作為豬肉替代品越來越受歡迎。leverage: the power to influence or control through resources or position 槓桿，籌碼，影響力文中 gives them plenty of leverage over America 意思是: 中國的產業實力足以賦予他們在對美博弈中擁有籌碼。例如：Rare earths give China leverage in global supply chains.稀土為中國在全球供應鏈中提供了籌碼。Big tech firms use user data as leverage in negotiations.科技巨頭把使用者資料作為談判的籌碼。6Elsewhere, attitudes are shifting as the economy slows. In China’s go-go years the pace was often manic but the rise in prosperity was palpable. Some of that has now gone into reverse. Parents worry less about what kind of work their children will find than whether they will get steady jobs in the first place. People are cutting back on spending, whether because of stagnating wages or disquiet over falling property prices.與此同時，隨著經濟放緩，人們的態度也在轉變。在中國飛速發展的年代，節奏往往近乎瘋狂，但財富的增長是切實可感的。如今，這種勢頭部分逆轉。家長們擔憂的已不再是子女會找到什麼樣的工作，而是能否首先獲得一份穩定的工作。無論是因為工資停滯，還是因fang價.下die帶來的不安，人們都在減少支出。go-go years: years of rapid economic growth and activity 高速發展年代例如：The 2000s were the go-go years for China’s property developers.2000年代是中國房地產開發商的高速發展期。palpable: easily noticed or felt 明顯的，顯而易見的。文中 the rise in prosperity was palpable 意思是: 人們能明顯感受到繁榮例如：The tension before the college entrance exam was palpable.高考前的緊張氣氛顯而易見。Excitement over AI investment is palpable in the stock market.股市對AI投資的興奮顯而易見。go into reverse: started to move backward; decline 逆轉，倒退文中 Some of that has now gone into reverse 意思是: 部分繁榮趨勢開始逆轉例如：Consumer confidence has gone into reverse amid economic slowdown.隨著經濟放緩，消費者信心逆轉。The declining birth rate has gone into reverse only in a few regions.出生率下降趨勢僅在少數地區逆轉。cut back on: reducing the amount of something縮減，減少。文中 cutting back on spending 意思是: 人們削減開支例如：Many households are cutting back on eating out due to high food prices.由於食品價格上漲，許多家庭減少了外出就餐。Young people are cutting back on luxury goods purchases.年輕人正在減少奢侈品消費。stagnate: not growing or improving; remaining unchanged 停滯的，停滯不前的。文中 stagnating wages 意思是: 工資增長停滯。例句Stagnating wages make it harder for graduates to buy homes.工資停滯讓畢業生更難買房。With stagnating demand, some factories are reducing production.需求停滯使一些工廠縮減生產。7At the same time, it is not all gloomy. Yu Hua, one of the finest writers in China today, once described the country’s transformation from the past era to modernity as moving “from an era when politics was paramount to an era when only money counts”. The economic downshift may herald a moderation of sorts. People have more time for hobbies, sports and spirituality; many can live in a world governed by things other than money—so long, that is, as they stay clear of almost anything political.然而，事情並非全然灰暗。中國當代最傑出的作家之一余華曾形容，中國從過去時代走向現代性的過程，是從“一個政治至上的年代，走向一個唯有金錢至上的年代”。經濟放緩或許預示著某種程度的緩和。人們有了更多時間投入於興趣、運動和精神追求；許多人能夠生活在一個由金錢以外的事物主導的世界——前提是，他們避開幾乎一切政治話題。paramount指more important than anything else“至為重要的，首要的”，我周末給寫作批改班第二季的學員批改作文時，剛用了這個詞——這是一篇六級真題作文，主題是“社交媒體”，學員原句是：Therefore, a right awareness of using them is a key player.我給修改為：Therefore, cultivating proper awareness of their use is of paramount importance.用到了 be of paramount importance 這種高級表達。downshift: a slowing down; reduction in pace or intensity 減速，放緩例如The downshift in property sales is reshaping China’s economy.房地產銷售的放緩正在重塑中國經濟。herald: to signal, announce, or indicate something to come 預示，宣告文中 The economic downshift may herald a moderation of sorts 意思是: 經濟減速可能預示社會更溫和的轉變。例如：The boom of AI heralds a new era in productivity.AI的繁榮預示著生產力新時代的到來。The strong debut of a film can herald its success at the box office.電影的開門紅可能預示著票房上的成功。 (Soren英語精讀寫作)