The english we speak(BBC教學)第266期:A leopard can't change its spots 江山易改本性難移

Rob and Feifei have been to a wedding. Feifei hopes Tim, the groom, might change his bad habits now that he's married but Rob thinks he's like a leopard. What is it about this wild animal that can be compared with Tim's behaviour? Listen to the programme to find out.

羅布和菲菲去參加了一個婚禮。菲菲希望新郎蒂姆結婚後能改變他的壞習慣，可是羅布認爲新郎像“豹子”一樣。爲什麼把這種野生動物和蒂姆的行爲進行比較？請收聽本期節目並找出答案。

Feifei: Hello, I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak. Joining me is Rob.

菲菲：大家好，我是菲菲，這裏是地道英語節目。今天和我一起主持節目的是羅布。

Rob: Hello everyone.

羅布：大家好。

Feifei: Did you enjoy Jane and Tim's wedding yesterday?

菲菲：昨天簡和蒂姆的婚禮你玩得開心嗎？

Rob: Yes, it was good wasn't it — especially the party afterwards — all that dancing and drinking.

羅布：開心，婚禮非常好，是吧？尤其是婚禮後的派對，舞蹈和飲料非常好。

Feifei: I did notice! I'm really happy for them but I do hope that Jane will help Tim change his bad habits — Tim used to be messy, forgetful and always late for everything!

菲菲：我也注意到了！我真的爲他們兩人感到高興，不過我特別希望簡能幫助蒂姆改掉他的壞習慣，蒂姆不整潔、健忘，而且做什麼都遲到！

Rob: I don't think he'll change — a leopard doesn't change his spots.

羅布：我想他是不會改的，所謂江山易改，本性難移。

Feifei: A leopard doesn't change its spots? I think I know that Rob, but what has a leopard got to do with Tim?

菲菲：豹子不會改變斑點？羅布，這我知道，可是豹子和蒂姆有什麼關係？

Rob: Quite a lot Feifei. The phrase — a leopard doesn't change its spots OR a leopard can't change its spots — means he won't change. He will always be the same person and his bad habits are here to stay.

羅布：菲菲，有很大的關係。這個短語的意思是他不會改變的。他會一直這樣，他的壞習慣也會持續下去。

Feifei: Oh I see. So his bad habits will never change — they will always stay the same. So Rob, you are comparing a leopard, who can never change its spotty appearance, with someone who will never change the way they behave?

菲菲：哦，我明白了。就是說他的壞習慣永遠不會改掉，會一直存在。羅布，你是把永遠無法改變斑點的豹子和永遠不會改變行爲的人進行了比較？

Rob: You've got it. Let's hear some examples of how people use the phrase...

羅布：說得對。我們來聽些例句，看看這個短語如何應用。

Examples

例句

I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but a leopard can't change its spots — she won't do it.

我對凱倫說，如果她想通過考試，她就要更加努力學習，可是江山易改，本性難移，她不會這麼做的。

Freddie promised he wouldn't get into trouble at school but I don't believe him — a leopard can't change its spots.

弗雷迪承諾他不會在學校惹麻煩，可是我不相信他，所謂江山易改，本性難移。

Feifei: A leopard can't change its spots — and someone can't change their habits. So Rob, you don't think Jane will be able to change Tim?

菲菲：豹子不能改變自己的斑點，人們也不會改變他們的習慣。羅布，你認爲簡能改變蒂姆嗎？

Rob: No — he's stubborn — maybe he's going to have to change Jane — she is very neat and tidy and always turns up on time — maybe he could teach her to relax more — chill out.

羅布：不能，他非常頑固，可能他會改變簡，簡整潔又幹淨，而且很準時，可能蒂姆會讓簡放鬆一些。

Feifei: Hmmm — I don't know if she would change either. Rob, could we say a tiger never changes its stripes?

菲菲：嗯，我不知道簡是不是會改變。羅布，我們能說老虎不能改變花紋嗎？

Rob: Ha ha — yes we could say that — and it would mean the same thing — in that she won't change. Oh dear, I'm not sure if their marriage is going to last!

羅布：哈哈，可以這麼說，這也是一樣的意思，她不會改變的。哦天哪，我不確定他們的婚姻能不能持續下去！

Feifei: No... or maybe it will. You know what they say? Opposites attract!

菲菲：也許可以持續。你知道他們說什麼嗎？異性相吸！

Rob: Yes they do Feifei, you're right. Ok, bye for now.

羅布：的確是，菲菲，你說得對。現在該結束節目了。

Feifei: Goodbye.

菲菲：再見。

譯文屬僅供學習交流使用，未經許可請勿轉載

重點講解：
1. compare with 相比；
例句：They often compare the present with the past.
他們經常將現在與過去做比較。
2. turn up （常指出其不意地或經長久等待後）出現，到來，露面；
例句：Something must be wrong that she hasn't turned up.
她還沒來，準出了什麼問題。
3. on time 準時；按時；
例句：Their planes usually arrive on time.
他們的飛機通常都會準時抵達。
4. chill out （疲勞、緊張過後）放鬆，鬆弛；
例句：I'm sick of studying at weekends. I just want to chill out.
我就討厭在週末學習，我想要的是放鬆一下。