“势利”指“根据财产和地位看待人”,英语译为snobbish。例如:1. 简·爱感到她永远无法同这些势利而高雅的人们竞争。Jane feels she can never compete with these snobbish, elegant people.
2. 他发现这个奢侈品店的店员可能是最势利的一群人。He found the shop assistants in this luxury store were per⁃haps the most snobbish group of people.
“势利眼”或“势利小人”,英语译为snob。如:3. 约翰有点势利眼,他太羡慕社会地位较高的人,而不尊重社会地位较低的人。John is a bit of a snob,who admires people in the higher social classes too much and has no respect for people in the lower social classes.
“势利行为”,英语译为snobbery。例如:5. 这名男子对穷人采取势利态度,总是摆臭架子,因此几乎所有的人都对他的势利行为感到恼怒。The man adopted a snobbish attitude toward poor people, al⁃ways talking through his nose, so almost everyone was annoyed by his snobbery.
6. 这个有钱人从骨子里就势利,常常炫富。他周围的人把他的行为看作是一种可耻的势利行为。The rich man has a snobbish bone in his body, and often shows off his wealth. The people around him all consider his behavior as a shame⁃ful piece of snobbery.▲
(本栏目供稿:王逢鑫教授)