英国国王查尔斯三世首次圣诞致辞

年度英音，没有英国女王的第一个圣诞节，听一听查尔斯三世首次圣诞致辞。

🤔️小作业：

无注释原文：

King Charles’s Christmas message – text in full

From: The Guardian

I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father.

I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.

Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition.

In the much-loved carol O Little Town Of Bethlehem we sing of how “in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light”.

My mother’s belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people and it is one which I share with my whole heart.

It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch, with goodness and compassion, the lives of others, and to shine a light in the world around them.

This is the essence of our community and the very foundation of our society.

We see it in the selfless dedication of our armed forces and emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us all safe, and who performed so magnificently as we mourned the passing of our late Queen.

We see it in our health and social care professionals, our teachers and indeed all those working in public service, whose skill and commitment are at the heart of our communities.

And at this time of great anxiety and hardship, be it for those around the world facing conflict, famine or natural disaster, or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm, we see it in the humanity of people throughout our nations and the Commonwealth who so readily respond to the plight of others.

I particularly want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously give food or donations, or that most precious commodity of all, their time, to support those around them in greatest need, together with the many charitable organisations which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances.

Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras, have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year. Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbour as our self.

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently visited Wales, shining a light on practical examples of this community spirit.

Some years ago, I was able to fulfil a life-long wish to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity.

There, I went down into the Chapel of the Manger and stood in silent reverence by the silver star that is inlaid on the floor and marks the place of our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth.

It meant more to me than I can possibly express to stand on that spot where, as the Bible tells us, ‘the light that has come into the world’ was born.

While Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief.

So, whatever faith you have, or whether you have none, it is in this life-giving light, and with the true humility that lies in our service to others, that I believe we can find hope for the future.

Let us therefore celebrate it together, and cherish it always.

With all my heart, I wish each of you a Christmas of peace, happiness and everlasting light.

- ◆ -

注：中文文本为机器翻译仅供参考，并非一一对应

含注释全文：

King Charles’s Christmas message – text in full

From: The Guardian

I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father.

我站在温莎城堡这座精致的圣乔治教堂里，离已故女王、我亲爱的母亲和我亲爱的父亲安息之地如此之近。

exquisite /ɪkˈskwɪz.ɪt/ 1）表示“精美的；精致的；优雅的”，英文解释为“very beautiful and delicate”如：an exquisite piece of china 一件精致的瓷器。

2）表示“（感觉）剧烈的，强烈的；（品质）完美的，卓越的”，英文解释为“used to describe feelings such as pleasure or pain that are extremely strong, or qualities that are extremely good; great”如：exquisite joy 狂喜

lay sb to rest 表示“安葬（某人），埋葬（某人）”，英文解释为“to bury a dead person”举个🌰：

She was laid to rest next to her husband. 她被安葬在丈夫旁边。

I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.

我想起了你们中的许多人给我和我的妻子寄来的感人至深的信件、卡片和留言，你们对我们全家的爱和同情，让我感激不尽。

Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition.

对于我们所有失去亲人的人来说，圣诞节是一个格外伤感的时刻。在每一个熟悉的季节交替时刻，我们都能感受到他们的缺席，并在每一珍贵的传统中怀念他们。

poignant /ˈpɔɪ.njənt/ 表示“令人痛苦的，酸楚的；深深打动人的”，英文解释为“causing or having a very sharp feeling of sadness”举个🌰：

The photograph awakens poignant memories of happier days. 照片唤起了对美好时光的深情追忆。

In the much-loved carol O Little Town Of Bethlehem we sing of how “in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light”.

在备受喜爱的圣诞颂歌《小城伯利恒》（O Little Town Of Bethlehem）中，我们唱到“在那黑暗的街道上 永恒真光照耀”。

carol /ˈkær.əl/ 表示“欢快的歌；圣歌；（通常指）圣诞颂歌”，英文解释为“a happy or religious song, usually one sung at Christmas”如：a carol concert 颂歌音乐会。

My mother’s belief in the power of that light was an essential part of her faith in God, but also her faith in people and it is one which I share with my whole heart.

我母亲对光的力量的信念是她对上帝的信念以及对人的信念的重要组成部分，这也是我全心全意分享的信念。

It is a belief in the extraordinary ability of each person to touch, with goodness and compassion, the lives of others, and to shine a light in the world around them.

这是一种信念，相信每个人都有非凡的能力，可以用善良和同情心来触动他人的生活，并在他们周围的世界中发光。

This is the essence of our community and the very foundation of our society.

这是我们社区的本质，也是我们社会的基础。

We see it in the selfless dedication of our armed forces and emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us all safe, and who performed so magnificently as we mourned the passing of our late Queen.

我们从武装部队和应急服务部门的无私奉献中看到了这一点，他们孜孜不倦地工作，保护我们所有人的安全，在我们哀悼女王逝世时，他们表现得极为出色。

表示“（因失去…而）哀悼，忧伤”，英文解释为“to feel and show sadness because sb has died; to feel sad because sth no longer exists or is no longer the same”举个🌰：

They mourn the passing of a simpler way of life. 他们对逝去的较为淳朴的生活感到惋惜。

近义词：

📍grieve for表示“（尤指因某人的去世而）悲伤，悲痛，伤心”，英文解释为“to feel very sad, especially because sb has died”举个🌰：

They are still grieving for their dead child. 他们还在为死去的孩子伤心。

We see it in our health and social care professionals, our teachers and indeed all those working in public service, whose skill and commitment are at the heart of our communities.

我们从医护人员、教师以及所有从事公共服务的人身上看到了这一点，他们的技能和投入是我们社区的核心。

And at this time of great anxiety and hardship, be it for those around the world facing conflict, famine or natural disaster, or for those at home finding ways to pay their bills and keep their families fed and warm, we see it in the humanity of people throughout our nations and the Commonwealth who so readily respond to the plight of others.

在这个极度焦虑和艰难的时刻，无论是世界各地面临冲突、饥荒或自然灾害的人，还是那些在家想方设法支付账单、养家糊口的人，我们在各国和英联邦人民的人性中看到了这一点，他们总是乐于帮助他人应对困境。

be it … or … 相当于 whether it be … or …；构成让步状语从句，表示「无论...还是...，不管...还是...」

📍《经济学人》（The Economist）一篇讲述大脑沉默突触的相关研究文章中提到：Any successful learning system, be it a brain or a piece of artificial-intelligence software, must strike the right balance between stability and flexibility. 任何成功的学习系统，无论是大脑还是人工智能软件，都必须在稳定性和灵活性之间取得适当的平衡。

表示“饥荒；饥荒时期”，英文解释为“a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens”举个🌰：

Another crop failure could result in widespread famine. 如果庄稼再次歉收就可能导致大范围饥荒。

表示“困境，窘境”，英文解释为“an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad, or difficult one”，如：the plight of the poor/homeless 穷人/无家可归者的困难处境。

补充：

📍plight作动词，plight one‘s troth表示“答应结婚，订婚；结婚”（to promise to marry someone）。

🎬电影《笔下求生》（Stranger Than Fiction）中的台词提到：lts desperate attempts to escape... only underscore the hopelessness of its plight. 它绝望的挣扎 只能强调它无望的处境。

I particularly want to pay tribute to all those wonderfully kind people who so generously give food or donations, or that most precious commodity of all, their time, to support those around them in greatest need, together with the many charitable organisations which do such extraordinary work in the most difficult circumstances.

我特别要向那些无比善良的人致敬，他们慷慨地提供食物或者捐赠，或是献出自己最宝贵的东西——时间，以支持他们周围最需要帮助的人，以及向许多慈善组织致敬，他们在最困难的情况下做出了非凡的工作。

1）表示“有成效的结果”，英文解释为“If one thing is a tribute to another, the first thing is the result of the second and shows how good it is.”举个🌰：

His success has been a tribute to hard work, to professionalism. 他的成功是辛勤工作和兢兢业业的结果。

2）表示“（尤指在正式场合表达敬意的）颂词，礼物；称赞；敬意；（尤指对死者的）致敬，颂词；悼念；致哀；吊唁礼物”，英文解释为“A tribute is something that you say, do, or make to show your admiration and respect for someone. An act, a statement or a gift that is intended to show your respect or admiration, especially for a dead person”举个🌰：

The song is a tribute to him. 这首歌是敬献给他的。

📍pay tribute to sb/sth 表示“赞扬，称赞”，英文解释为“to praise someone or something”举个🌰：

The minister paid tribute to the men who had fought the blaze. 部长高度赞扬了奋力扑灭大火的勇士们。

1）表示“商品，货物”，英文解释为“a product or a raw material that can be bought and sold”如：rice, flour and other basic commodities 稻米、面粉和其他基本商品；

2）表示“宝贵品质”，英文解释为“a valuable quality”举个🌰：

If you're going into teaching, energy is a necessary commodity. 如果你要干教师这一行，必须要有充沛的精力。

Our churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and gurdwaras, have once again united in feeding the hungry, providing love and support throughout the year. Such heartfelt solidarity is the most inspiring expression of loving our neighbour as our self.

我们的教堂、犹太教会堂、清真寺、寺庙和谒师所又一次联合起来，为饥饿的人提供食物，全年提供爱和支持。这种发自内心的团结是爱邻如己的最鼓舞人心的表现。

synagogue /ˈsɪn.ə.ɡɒɡ/ 表示“犹太教堂，犹太会堂”，英文解释为“a building in which Jewish people worship and study their religion”

mosque /mɒsk/ 表示“清真寺”，英文解释为“a building for Islamic religious activities and worship”

gurdwara /ɡɜːˈdwɑː.rə/ 表示“锡克教庙宇”，英文解释为“a Sikh temple (= a religious building where people worship)”

The Prince and Princess of Wales recently visited Wales, shining a light on practical examples of this community spirit.

威尔士王子和王妃最近访问了威尔士，揭示了这种社区精神的实例。

Some years ago, I was able to fulfil a life-long wish to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity.

几年前，我有幸实现了毕生的愿望，访问伯利恒和基督降生教堂。

the Nativity /nəˈtɪv.ə.ti/ 表示“耶稣诞生，圣诞”，英文解释为“the birth of Jesus Christ, celebrated by Christians at Christmas”举个🌰：

Christmas is the season when Christians around the world recount the story of the Nativity. 圣诞节是世界各地的基督徒讲述耶稣诞生故事的时节。

There, I went down into the Chapel of the Manger and stood in silent reverence by the silver star that is inlaid on the floor and marks the place of our Lord Jesus Christ’s birth.

在那里，我走进马槽教堂，默默地站在镶嵌于地板上的银星旁，这颗星象征着我们的主耶稣基督诞生的地方。

reverence /ˈrev.ər.əns/ 表示“尊敬；崇敬”，英文解释为“a feeling of respect or admiration for someone or something”举个🌰：

She has/shows/feels great reverence for her professors. 她对教她的那些教授们很崇敬。

inlaid /ɪnˈleɪd/ 表示“镶嵌的；嵌饰的”，英文解释为“having a decorative pattern put into a surface, or forming a pattern like this”举个🌰：

The top of the wooden chest was inlaid with ivory. 木箱的顶部镶嵌着象牙。

It meant more to me than I can possibly express to stand on that spot where, as the Bible tells us, ‘the light that has come into the world’ was born.

站在那个地方，对我来说意义重大难以言喻，正如《圣经》告诉我们的那样，“来到世界之光诞生的地方”。

While Christmas is, of course, a Christian celebration, the power of light overcoming darkness is celebrated across the boundaries of faith and belief.

虽然圣诞节理应是基督教的庆祝节日，但光明战胜黑暗的力量跨越了信念和信仰的界限也值得庆祝。

Christian /ˈkrɪs.tʃən/ Christian /ˈkrɪs.ti.ən/ 作名词，表示“基督徒”，英文解释为“someone who believes in and follows the teachings of Jesus Christ”；作形容词，表示“基督教的；仁慈的；友好的；乐善好施的”。

So, whatever faith you have, or whether you have none, it is in this life-giving light, and with the true humility that lies in our service to others, that I believe we can find hope for the future.

因此，无论你有什么信仰，或者你没有信仰，正是在这种赋予生命的光亮中，以及带着我们为他人服务的真正谦卑，我相信我们能够找到未来的希望。

Let us therefore celebrate it together, and cherish it always.

让我们一起庆祝，并永远珍惜它吧。

With all my heart, I wish each of you a Christmas of peace, happiness and everlasting light.

我衷心祝愿你们每个人都有一个和平、幸福和永恒光明的圣诞节。

- 今日盘点 -

exquisite

lay sb to rest

poignant

carol

compassion

mourn

be it ... or ...

famine

plight

tribute

commodity

synagogue

mosque

gurdwara

the Nativity

reverence

inlaid

Christian

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