Jessica在北京學中文,她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞,就會來請教她。今天是方方要問的:保質期。
FF: Jessica, 你過來幫我看看,這個牛奶是不是過期了呀?
Jessica: Let me see...Hmm, I'm not sure. When did you get this?
FF: 兩周前吧! 那時候牛奶大減價,我就一口氣買了4瓶! 貪便宜, 可是忘了看保質期...
Jessica: Milk normally has a shelf life of a week. Shelf is spelled s-h-e-l-f, 是貨架的意思。shelf life 能夠放在貨架上的日子,也就是保質期!
FF: 原來是這樣! 那我都買兩個禮拜了,我看這牛奶肯定過期了....
Jessica: I bet you're right. I think this milk is past-date. You'd better throw it away!
FF: Past-date, 這里的date就是盒子上標識的生產日期。past-date 也就是過期了的意思! 真可惜,這可是最好的牛奶,這些牛都是只吃鮮草,聽古典音樂長大的!
Jessica: That sounds like a top shelf product to me! 高檔商品!
FF: Top shelf, 在貨架上最高的地方,就是指高檔貨! 那相對來說,價格便宜的產品又要怎么說呢?
Jessica: It's the opposite of that. We call it a bottom shelf product. Basically less expensive stuff is put on the bottom shelf.
FF:Top shelf product, 高檔貨,bottom shelf product, 便宜貨! 我記住了。
Jessica: 好!那你說說看,What have you learned today?
FF: 今天我們學到的內容包括:
第一,保質期是shelf life;
第二,過了保質期可以用 past-date;
第三,高級貨叫做top shelf product, 便宜貨叫做bottom shelf product!