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And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
欢迎收听VOA慢速英语《词汇掌故》节目。
On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
在本节目中，我们探讨英语中的单词和短语。
We give examples, notes on usage, and sometimes we use them in short conversations.
我们举例子并对用法进行解释说明，有时我们会在简短的对话中使用它们。
Many English expressions come from the world of animals.
许多英语短语来自动物世界。
And, today we talk about a seabird called an albatross.
今天我们来谈谈一种叫信天翁的海鸟。
An albatross is a large web-footed seabird.
信天翁是一种足上有蹼的大型海鸟。
In fact, this family of seabirds includes some of the largest.
事实上，这种海鸟家族包括一些最大的海鸟。
They have long thin wings and are excellent gliders.
它们长着细长的翅膀，是出色的滑翔者。
To glide means to move smoothly, silently, and effortlessly.
滑行的意思是平稳、无声、毫不费力地移动。
Considering that an albatross can fly seemingly without effort, it is a bit surprising how we use the word in conversations.
考虑到信天翁似乎可以毫不费力地飞行，我们在对话中使用这个词的方式有点令人惊讶。
An albatross describes something – a burden – that weighs heavily on us and prevents us from accomplishing something.
albatross指的是沉重地压在我们身上，阻碍我们完成某事的负担。
It can be a problem that does not go away.
这可能会是一个永远不会消失的问题。
This problem makes it difficult or impossible to do or achieve something.
这个问题使你很难或不可能去做或完成某件事。
An albatross can also be something that gets in our way – a roadblock that keeps us from getting what we want.
albatross也可以指阻碍我们的东西——阻碍我们得到我们想要的东西的路障。
It hinders us. Or if you prefer the noun – it is a hinderance to our success or to our ability to be happy.
它阻碍了我们。或者如果你更喜欢这个名词，它是我们成功或获得快乐的障碍。
Some describe an albatross as a mental burden.
有些人将albatross描述为一种精神负担。
For example: Her never-ending search for fame and fortune became an albatross to a normal, happy life.
例如：她对名利永无止境的追求成了她正常幸福生活的枷锁。
Here is another example: His albatross was his huge credit card debt.
下面还有一个例子：他的枷锁是他的巨额信用卡债务。
It weighed heavily on every decision he made.
这对他所做的每一个决定都有很大影响。
So, how did the name of this large, graceful bird come to have this meaning?
那么，这种体型庞大、姿态优雅的鸟的名字是如何有这个意思的呢？
On Merriam-Webster's online dictionary, experts explain that this usage of the word comes from European sea mythology.
在韦氏在线词典上，专家解释说，这个词的这个用法来自欧洲的海洋神话。
Albatrosses are known for following ships at sea.
信天翁以在海上跟踪船只而闻名。
They can glide for long periods of time without flapping their wings.
它们可以在不拍打翅膀的情况下滑行很长时间。
So, some sailors had superstitious beliefs about the birds.
因此，一些水手对这种鸟有迷信观念。
A superstition is a belief that certain things or events will bring good or bad luck.
迷信是指相信某些事情或事件会带来好运或厄运的观念。
In Samuel Taylor Coleridge's 1798 poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a sailor kills an albatross that had been following his ship.
在塞缪尔·泰勒·柯勒律治1798年的诗歌《古舟子咏》中，一个水手杀死了一只跟随他的船的信天翁。
As punishment and proof that he killed the bird, the crew hung the large seabird from the sailor's neck.
作为他杀死那只鸟的惩罚和证据，船员们把那只大海鸟挂在水手的脖子上。
To this day, the albatross remains a symbol for something that causes extreme guilt or something that is a great burden.
直到今天，信天翁仍然是引起极度内疚或沉重负担的事物的象征。
And that's the end of this Words and Their Stories. Until next time … I'm Anna Matteo.
以上就是本期《词汇掌故》节目的全部内容。下次见……我是安娜·马特奥。
译文为可可英语翻译，未经授权请勿转载！
