【外刊精读】Day 3-Amazon's empire 总结
Day 1 单词梳理
1.sprinkle
verb:
- to shake small pieces of something or drops of a liquid on something撒，洒
e.g. She sprinkled sugar over the strawberries.
- (=strew) to include a few of something in something else点缀，包含
e.g. His poems are sprinkled with quotations from ancient Greek.
- (=drizzle) rains lightly
e.g. It's only sprinkling. We can still go out.
noun:
- sprinkling,洒，撒，小雨
sprinkler：a device for sprinkling洒水器
2.tick off
- tick sb off , = tell off . to speak angrily to somebody, especially a child, because they have done something wrong责备，斥责
- to make somebody angry or annoyed 生气，烦恼
e.g. I was really ticked off when she was so late.
- to put a mark beside a name or an item on a list to show that something has been dealt with列举，用记号标出
e.g. It’s a good idea to tick off the jobs on the list as you do them.
3.pitfall
noun:
- a danger or difficulty, especially one that is hidden or not obvious at first.危险，困难，陷阱
e.g. Getting professional advice will help you avoid the most obvious pitfalls.
4.nudge
verb
- to push somebody gently, especially with your elbow, in order to get their attention 轻推，轻触
e.g. He nudged me and whispered, ‘Look who's just come in.’
- to push somebody/something gently or gradually in a particular direction朝某方向轻推
e.g. He nudged the ball past the goalie and into the net.
- to move forward by pushing with your elbow用胳膊肘挤开往前走
e.g. He nudged his way through the crowd.
- to reach or make something reach a particular level到达，接近
e.g. Inflation is nudging 20%.
noun:
- a slight push.轻推
5.beef up
- to make sth bigger,better, more interesting,etc.使更强大，更好
6.basket case
- a country or an organization whose economic situation is very bad经济状况极差的国家或机构
- a person who is slightly crazy and who has problems dealing with situations精神失常的人，无适应能力的人
7.whinge
noun
- an act of complaining about somebody/something in an annoying way抱怨，絮絮叨叨
e.g. They were having a whinge about the amount of work they had to do.
8.entice
verb
= persuade
- to persuade somebody/something to go somewhere or to do something, usually by offering them something引诱
e.g.The bargain prices are expected to entice customers away from other stores.
9.debacle
noun
- an event or a situation that is a complete failure and causes embarrassment崩溃，垮台，大败
e.g. He should take responsibility for the debacle and resign.
10.crank out
- to produce a lot of sth quickly,especially things of low quality. 大量快速制造，粗制滥造
= turn out
11.filing
noun:
- the act of putting documents, letters, etc. into a file归档，存档
- something that is placed in an official record. 归档记录
e.g. a bankruptcy filing
file：文件
12.reminiscent
adj:
- reminding you of somebody/something 回忆起
e.g. The way he laughed was strongly reminiscent of his father.
- showing that you are thinking about the past, especially in a way that causes you pleasure缅怀过去的，怀旧的
13.bloat
verb
- to swell or make something swell, especially in an unpleasant way膨胀，肿胀
e.g. Her features had been bloated by years of drinking.
14.pristine
adj
- fresh and clean, as if new崭新的，清新的
= immaculate
e.g. he car is in pristine condition.
- not developed or changed in any way; left in its original condition未开发的，处于原始状态
= unspoiled
e.g.pristine, pollution-free beaches原始海滩
15.clout
noun
- power and influence影响力，势力
e.g. I knew his opinion carried a lot of clout with them.
- a blow with the hand or a hard object击打
e.g. You’re not too big for a clout round the ear!
verb
- to hit sb hard猛击，重打
16.immunity
noun
- the body’s ability to avoid or not be affected by infection and disease免疫力
e.g. The vaccine provides longer immunity against flu.
- the state of being protected from something受保护，豁免
e.g. The spies were all granted immunity from prosecution.
【Day 2】神句翻译&思维导图
1.The former bookseller accounts for more than half of every new dollar spent on line in U.S.
美国每线上交易1美元，这家曾经的书商就占据超过一半的份额。
2.Since the beginning of 2015, its share price has jumped by 173%,seven times quicker than in the two previous years.(and 12 times faster than the S&P 500 Index)
从2015年以来，它的股票升值超过173%，超过前两年增速的七倍（比标准普尔股票指数快了12倍）
3.With a market capitalization of some 400bn, it is the fifth most valuable firm in the world.
亚马逊市值4000亿美元，位居全球第五。
4.Never before has a company been worth so much for so long while making so little money: 92% of its value is due to profits expected after 2020.
从没有一家公司赚如此少的钱却保持着如此高的估值。其中92%的估值来自于2020年之后的预期收益。
5.Walmart already has revenues nudging 500bn and is beefing up online.
沃尔玛的财政收入逼近5000亿美元，并且在增强在线业务。
6.Last year cash-flow (before investment) was $16bn,more than quadruple the level five years ago.
去年融资之前的资金流是160亿美元，超过五年前的四倍。
7.If it makes as much money as investors hope, a rough calculation suggests its earnings could be worth the equivalent of 25% of the combined profits of listed Western retail and media firms.
如果它像投资者希望的赚那么多钱，粗略估计它的收入得是西方零售商和媒体企业的盈利总和的25%。
8.Ground for skepticism does not come much more fertile than this: Amazon will have to grow faster than almost any big company in modern history to justify its valuation.
最充分的质疑理由莫过于：亚马逊为了匹配它的估值，将不得不比现代历史中的任何大公司成长更快。
9.In an era when executives routinely whinge about pressure to produce short-term results, Amazon is resolutely focused on the distant horizon.
在这个高管们老一套地抱怨短期成果的压力太大的时代，亚马逊已经完全着眼于长远的未来。
10.Mr.Bezos emphasizes continual investment to propel its two principal businesses.
贝索斯先生强调为推动两大主流业务的持续投资。
11.A third virtuous circle is starting to whirl around Alexa, the firm’s voice-activated assistant:
第三个良性循环围绕着公司的智能语音助手Alexa展开。
12.So long as shareholders retain their faith in this model, Amazon’s heady valuation resembles a self-fulfilling prophecy.
只要股东们坚持对这种模式的信念，亚马逊的令人兴奋的估值就像是一种自我满足的预言。
13.Their faith is sustained by Amazon’s record.
他们的信念靠亚马逊的业绩支撑着。
14.It has had its failures—its attempt to make a smart-phone was a debacle.But the business is starting to crank out cash.
他也有过失败，在智能手机上额尝试就是一次灾难，那个业务只是在粗制滥造赚钱。
15.If Amazon’s approach to time-frames is unusual,so too is the sheer breadth of its activities.
如果亚马逊对于时间的掌握非比寻常，那么他对于项目的跨度范围也是如此。
16.A wingspan this large is more reminiscent of a conglomerate than a retailer, which makes Amazon’s share price seem even more bloated: stock markets typically apply a“conglomerate discount”to reflect their in-efficiencies.
如此广的跨度让人想起一个企业集团而不是一个零售商，这让亚马逊的股价看起来更加膨胀：股票市场用一个企业集团折扣来反映他们的低效。
17.Seen through this lens, Amazon appears pristine.
从这个视角看，亚马逊似乎很原始。
18.Consumers applaud it; it is the most well-regarded company in America,according to a Harris poll.
消费者为他鼓掌，据哈里斯民意调查，他是美国声誉最好的公司。
19.If it gets anywhere close to fulfilling them, it will attract the attention of regulators.
如果它接近于实现这些目标，也会吸引监管机构的注意。
20.But as it grows,so will concerns about its power.
但随着他的发展，他的影响力也将引起关注。
21.Investors value Amazon’s growth over pro-fits;that makes predatory pricing more tempting.
投资者估算亚马逊的增长而不是利润，这使掠夺性定价变得更有吸引力。
思维导图
【Day 3】小结
Amazon is an extraordinary company indeed. Its success differs from any other enterprises. the executives have long-term sights,they also broaden the breadth of its activities.
Maybe it doesn't earn too much, the principle businesses it focuses on make it virtuous circles in his services. the business model gives the shareholders enough faith, so as to its heady valuation among the world.
As well, the unusual model brings some hidden problems. Investors value Amazon’s growth over profits; that makes predatory pricing more tempting. which is not benefit for small companies and steady market. Then the government has to take some measures. Thus the world's most remarkable firm may eventually be threatened by its own success.
初读时自己只是大致了解文章意思。第二天的神句翻译才让我发现很多用法真是很巧妙，需要好好积累。花时间啃一啃~
