【现象级英语】每日一词11.13

parallel  n.

释义：a person or thing that is similar to another   

例句：There are many striking parallels between Shanghai and New York City.   

“parallel”作形容词讲，本意是“与......平行的（A is parallel to B）”；作名词讲，本意是“平行线（a pair of parallel lines）”。它的名词意思可以引申为“相似处、共性”，由几何中的平行线而来，形象、有画面感。

在口语和写作中，如果想描述两个事物的共同特征，除了用 similarity 外，还常可以用“parallel”替换。     

 

例① 很多年前在《英语沙龙》杂志读到现任北大光华学院金融教授 Michael Pettis 的一个访谈，主题是中美文化差异。他在回答“中国哪个城市最像纽约”的时候，是这样说的：   

There are many striking parallels between Shanghai and New York City. 

“striking”的意思是“明显的”，经常用来修饰 difference 和 similarity，也常用来修饰 parallel。我们可以在上面这句话的基础上，改写造句：   

When many New Yorkers visit Shanghai, they can readily sense familiar parallels between Shanghai and the Big Apple.（“The Big Apple”是纽约市的昵称。）   

例② 2014 年底我从美国东海岸搬到旧金山，参加了当地两个 Toastmasters Club 公众演讲俱乐部。当时有会员问我喜不喜欢旧金山，我大概是这么说的：   

I love San Francisco as much as I love New York City. In terms of cultural diversity and vibrancy, I see a lot of striking parallels between the two cities.   

“parallel”最常见的一个用法是“to draw parallels/a parallel between A and B”，意思是“在 A 的身上可以看到 B 的影子”。当我们想表达“A 和 B 有很大的相似之处”时，就可以想到使用“parallel”。

   

例③ Many foodies try to draw a parallel between Chinese noodles and Italian pasta.   

例④ Some psychologists have drawn mind-boggling parallels between video gaming and casino gamble.   

【作业】

1. 使用《牛津英语搭配词典》查 “parallel”，了解它的常用搭配。

draw/make a parallel with 与...做比较

a parallel between A and B

a parallel in...在...方面的相似之处

a parallel to/with... 与...的相似之处

2. 翻译：这本书主要写的是传统出版业和数字出版业之间有趣的相似性。   

This book draws interesting parallel between traditional publishing and the digital one.

（参考翻译：The book draws interesting parallels between traditional publishing and digital publishing. 或者 The book examines interesting parallels between traditional publishing and digital publishing.）     

3. 造句练习

场景: 有专业人士说瑜伽和太极有相似之处，都是需要借助呼吸和冥想来完成体式练习。

造句: Some professionals draw a parallel between Yoga and Tai Chi, because both use controlled breathing and meditation to enhance the practice.