2022年12月11日 VOA慢速英語：'一成不變的'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
現(xiàn)在，來自美國之音慢速英語的單詞及其故事。
 
On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples and notes on usage.
在這個節(jié)目中，我們探索英語中的單詞和表達。我們提供示例和用法說明。
 
Some things in life change easily and often. They are fluid. They change and move as fluids do -- easily. When we are planning events or establishing rules and policies, sometimes it is good to keep things fluid or changeable.
生活中的某些事情很容易且經(jīng)常發(fā)生變化。它們是流動的。它們像流體一樣變化和移動——很容易。當我們計劃活動或制定規(guī)則和政策時，有時讓事情保持流動或多變是件好事。
 
 
But some things are not easily moved or changed. They are fixed or inflexible.
但有些東西是不容易移動或改變的。它們是固定的或不靈活的。
 
To describe these inflexible things, we can say they are set in stone. Things that are set in stone are very difficult or impossible to change.
要描述這些不靈活的東西，我們可以說它們是一成不變的。一成不變的事情很難或不可能改變。
 
We can say that permanent rules, laws, and policies are set in stone. It often takes several difficult actions to change them.
我們可以說，永久的規(guī)則、法律和政策是一成不變的。改變它們通常需要幾個艱難的行動。
 
The dates of some events are also set in stone.
一些事件的日期也是一成不變的。
 
For example, weddings take a lot of planning. Some people even start planning for their wedding a year or more ahead of time.
例如，婚禮需要大量的計劃。有些人甚至提前一年或更長時間開始籌劃他們的婚禮。
 
You simply cannot tell friends and family that your wedding will happen sometime in June. You must find a space for the ceremony. You need to invite people and find out how many are coming. You need to decide on food, music, and flowers. And you must have money to pay workers to do different things.
您根本無法告訴朋友和家人您的婚禮將在六月的某個時間舉行。你必須為儀式找一個地方。你需要邀請人，看看有多少人來。你需要決定食物、音樂和鮮花。而且你必須有錢支付工人去做不同的事情。
 
So, setting a wedding date in stone is the best way to make sure the wedding happens smoothly. Setting the date in stone means it cannot change. Or at least, changes would cause problems for people and possibly cost you a lot of money.
所以，一成不變的婚禮日期是確保婚禮順利進行的最好方法。將日期固定在石頭上意味著它不能更改?；蛘咧辽?，改變會給人們帶來麻煩，并且可能會花費你很多錢。
 
We also use this expression with two other verbs: carve and write. So, you can say something is carved in stone or something is written in stone. The meaning stays the same.
我們還將此表達式與其他兩個動詞一起使用：carve 和 write。所以，你可以說 something is carved in stone 或 something is written in stone。含義保持不變。
 
On the other hand, if a rule, date, or event could be changed easily, we can say it is penciled in.
另一方面，如果可以輕松更改規(guī)則、日期或事件，我們可以說它是用鉛筆寫的。
 
If you pencil something in, you are admitting that it is not set in stone. It may change and may be erased. When using this expression, however, you do not need to really use a pencil.
如果您用鉛筆寫東西，你承認它不是一成不變的。它可能會改變，也可能會被刪除。然而，當使用這個表達方式時，你并不需要真正使用鉛筆。
 
So, when we say something is not carved, set, or written in stone, we mean it can be changed.
因此，當我們說某事不是雕刻、設置或寫在石頭上時，我們的意思是它可以改變。< br/>
 
For example, many workers were upset by some new office rules. So, the supervisor said, "If they don't work, we can always change them." In other words, the rules are not carved in stone.
例如，許多員工對一些新的辦公規(guī)則感到不滿。所以，主管說，“如果它們不起作用，我們可以隨時更換它們。”換句話說，規(guī)則不是一成不變的。
 
Before we end the program, here is one more example for set in stone. The editor used it when he sent back my edited story. He gave some changes but added, "These are just suggestions. They are not set in stone."
在我們結束程序之前，這里還有一個一成不變的例子。編輯在發(fā)回我編輯好的故事時使用了它。他做了一些修改，但補充說：“這些只是建議。它們并非一成不變。”
 
It's good to have an editor with a sense of humor!
有一個有幽默感的編輯真好！