美國人對婚姻的表達

現代人生活忙碌，一切講求快速，節省時間。日常英語的說與寫，也趨向簡單明了，能用兩個字，就不用三個字，有時摻些俚語、口語，也能減少用字。下面舉些例句，談談美國人在婚姻上的一些表達方式。（句中的主詞和動詞時態，可視需要，加以改變）

（1）結婚前：

(before marriage)

When you start dating , it is better to use your head more than your heart.

( 當你開始約會時，最好多用頭腦，少用感情。)

If you are not completely ready to start a family, you should not allow yourself to be pressured into it.

( 假如你還未完全準備好成家，可別因壓力而促成。)

He (She) may be untrust worthy and unwilling to make a life-time commitment to you.

( 他也許不信任或不願意為你做出終身的承諾。)

Sometimes you may have to bite the bullet, lay your cards on the table and end the romance.

( 有時你必須忍著痛苦，為結束浪漫的愛情而攤牌。)

Some parents are not supportive and comfortable with interracial dating.

( 有些父母對異族男女約會，既不支持，也不舒服。)

It would not be unreasonable to air your true feelings toward her (him).

( 表達你內心對他真正的感受，不是不合理的。)

About his poor behavior, your complaints are under-standable.

( 對於他的不良行為，你的埋怨是可以理解的。)

Is love really blind in terms of age and appearance?

( 從年齡和外表來說，愛情是真正盲目的嗎？)

Her parents are concerned about her relationship with a man of such a disparity of age and experience.

( 她的父母關心她與一位年齡和經驗懸殊的男子來往。)

To start a family sometimes could be perplexing or complicated.

( 成個家有時是件困惑或複雜的事。)

If something goes wrong with your choice of mate , you may be left with life-long guilt and trauma.

( 假如你選錯了對象，你一生會感到內疚和創傷。)

She has been wanting to start a family , but he does not feel any great urgency.

( 她很想成家，但他倒不著急。)

It might be difficult for her to establish and enforce boundaries with a much older man.

( 她與一位年齡很大的男人建立共識，也許有所困難。)

If he is unable to carry on an intellectual conversation with you , he may lack a man's mentality.

( 假如他不能與你聰明地交談，他也許缺乏男人的智能。)

He may not be the one for you because he is not as smart as you think he is.

( 他也許配不上你，因為他不是你想象中那麼聰明。)

She feels his behavior has besmirched his family name.

( 她覺得他的行為損害了他的家庭名聲。)

When she saw the way he behaved , she flat-out and refused to date him again.

( 當她看到他的所做所為，她斷然地不再與他約會。)

During his two-year efforts, his dating seems to be hit-or-miss.

( 他兩年的約會過程時好時壞。)

She may find out he is a type of a lowlife ( scumbag ) for herself.

( 她也許發現他是一個卑鄙的人。)

In order not to be considered a cheap-skate or a free-loader , it is better to go ditch during your dating.

( 為了不要讓人認為是位小氣鬼或揩油者，在約會中，最好是各付各的帳。)

To start a family is indeed a serious matter ; it is not a spur-of the-moment decision.

( 成家確是一件嚴肅的事，不是出於一時衝動的決定。)

Should she continue to date him , her dad may refuse to walk her down the aisle.

( 假如她繼續與他約會，她老爸也許不會帶她進結婚禮堂。)

If you marry a military person , will you mind moving from pillar to post ?

( 假如你與軍人結婚，你在乎常常遷移搬家嗎？)

How will you react if he asks you to sign a pre-nup?

（如果他要你簽訂婚前合約，你會怎樣反應呢？）

( pre-nup 是 pre-nuptial agreement的簡稱 )

The idea of an elopement with him will make your family rife with tension.

( 與他私奔的想法，會讓你的家人很緊張。)

( elope 是私奔的動詞 )

As she wants to spend her life without having to work , she dates only wealthy and upwardly mobile men.

( 她想一生不必工作，所以只跟富有和能陞官的男人約會。)

( upwardly mobile 指在經濟、社會等方面能有上升趨勢的。)

Many Chinese parents do not approve of their chil-dren's dating with less educated or lower-level persons.

( 許多中國父母不贊成他們的子女與教育水平差或低層人約會。)

Don't fall in love with a womanizer who may not be on the level.

( 不要與「沉溺於女人窩」里的男人談戀愛，他也許不合你的水平。)

In making a long-term commitment , your rationale should carry more weight than feelings.

( 要做長期性的承諾，你的細心思考，要比感情用事更有分量。）

（2）幸福婚姻：

(happy marriage)

The couple is (are) head over heels in love.

( 這對夫婦完完全全的相愛。)

( couple 當做整體時，動詞用單數；當個體時，動詞用複數)

( head over heels = completely ; 只用 heels，不用feet )

Although he is not good-looking , his wife considers him a prize.

( 雖然他不是帥哥，但妻子認為他是她的獎賞。)

They decided to wed on the most romantic day (of the year), Valentine's Day.

( 他們決定在最浪漫的情人節那天結婚。)

With big smiles, the two looked into each other's eyes as they said their vows.

( 他們兩位露出笑容，彼此凝視，許願終身。)

A marriage certificate is for more than "a piece of pa-per". This piece of paper makes your commitment to each other binding ( by law).

( 結婚證書，不僅僅只是一張紙；而這張紙是法律對你們彼此承諾的保障。)

They get along beautifully ; have a wonderful rela-tionship; share many interests and truly enjoy being to-gether.

( 他們相處得很棒；有美好的關係；興趣相投，真正享受兩人在一起的樂趣。)

Husband and wife should be equal partners ; neither is (the) leader nor (the) follower.

( 夫妻應該是平等的合作關係，沒有誰是頭，誰是從。)

She chooses to be a stay-at-home wife and puts her career on hold.

( 她選擇當個家庭主婦，把她的事業擱在一邊。)

He is a splendid husband and an excellent provider.

( 他是一位值得高度讚賞的老公，也是一位最好的養家活口者。)

( provider 在這裡＝bread winner )

A good marriage is not a matter of luck; it is giving and forgiving , knowing when to talk and when to keep quiet.

( 美好的婚姻不是僥倖的；它需要付出和寬容，也要知道什麼時候該說話，什麼時候該保持沉默。)

A successful marriage must be worked on (at) by both parties.

( 成功的婚姻，必須靠雙方的努力。)

He happens not to be rich in money, but rich in the inner qualities that matter.

( 他在金錢上不富有，但他有內在美，那是最重要的。)

( that matter = that are the most important )

He is always there for his wife regardless of the situa-tion.

( 不論什麼情況，他都在她身旁盡心效勞。)

Her husband always does the dishes and other chores at home.

( 她老公常常在家洗碗和做其它家事。)

Even though she makes substantially more than he does, she still is deeply in love with him.

( 雖然她賺錢比他多，她仍然深深地愛他。)

Their love and commitment have deepened despite their financial hardship.

( 儘管他們經濟困難，他們的愛情和承諾尤為加深。)

Despite being the primary income provider , she seems to enjoy her happy partnership.

( 儘管她是主要的收入供應者，她似乎享受著幸福的伴侶關係。)

They have a wonderful loving relationship that has progressed at a very natural pace for both of them.

( 他們有個自然逐步發展的美好愛情關係。)

Most women prefer husbands with big hearts.

( 多半女人喜歡心地善良令人窩心的老公。)

For marriage, you should find a nice person to love and be a loveable person (worthy of love)yourself.

( 要結婚，應該找位你愛的人，你自己也要是個可愛的人。)

( loveable person 指大家喜歡的人；worthy of love指男女間值得相愛的人)

What a wife really wants is to be in charge of her own life.

( 太座真正所要的，就是能掌握自己的生活。)

Many women have married their "best friends" and lived happily ever after.

( 許多女人與她們最好的朋友結婚，而生活一直十分美滿。)

Her husband practically waits on her hand and foot every day.

( 她老公實際上每天伺候她無微不至。)

(waits on her hand and foot = does everything for her)

Many months into their marriage , they are still bask-ing in the glow of their wedding.

( 婚後多個月，他們仍在感受著婚禮熱烈的情景。)

( bask 本意是取暖；glow 是燃燒 )

A couple's minds and bodies are intimately united ; when one suffers, the other sympathizes (empathizes).

( 夫婦是精神和肉體兩方面的密切結合；當一方面受挫，另一方也受影響。)

( 用 sympathize 有 recognize 的意思；如用 em-pathize 則有 same feeling 的意思 )

She likes to be a homemaker; she always works at home making as if it were her career.

( 她喜歡做個家庭主婦；她常把家務當做事業。)

Newlyweds would feel more comfortable and happy if they don't live with their parents.

( 新婚夫婦如果不與父母同住，會感到比較舒適和快樂。)

The couple always enjoy strolling hand in hand around the park.

( 這對夫婦常常手牽手在公園附近散步。)

Some people insist that a "normal" married couple should share the same bedroom no matter what, but others find harmony sleeping in separate rooms.

( 有些人強調正常夫妻不管怎樣應該同房睡覺，但也有人發現分房睡也很和諧融洽。)

A faithful husband should always refuse a date by saying"I am sorry, but I am happily married."

( 忠誠的老公應該拒絕約會，並且對她說：「抱歉，我已有幸福的婚姻。」)

He found out the joyous news that his better-half was expecting.

( 他得悉他另一半懷孕的喜訊。)

( 指懷孕時，expecting 後面 "a baby" 通常都被省去 )

He was happy to attend birthing classes with his wife.

( 他很高興與太座一同參加「產前講習」的課程。)

She has gotten back into shape after having a baby.

( 她有了小孩后，已經恢復正常的身材。)

Their marriage is on solid ground ; they are approaching their golden wedding anniversary next week.

( 他們的婚姻有紮實的基礎，下周是他們結婚 50年金婚紀念。)

For a "forever"(happy) marriage, the seven letters of FOREVER may stand for Fun, Openness, Rational, Exclusive, Value, Equality and Romance.

( 如要永遠幸福的婚姻，那麼「永遠」的七個字母FOREVER也許代表：樂趣、坦誠、理性、專一、珍惜、平等和浪漫。)

We wish you and your husband many happy years together surrounded by loving friends.

( 祝你年年與老公幸福生活在一起，好友長在左右。)

(3)不幸婚姻：

(unhappy marriage)

He was no longer attracted to his wife.

( 他對太座不再有好感。)

Living with her (him) is becoming more difficult by the day.

( 每天與她生活愈感困難。)

She found out that her husband has not made her the first priority in his life.

( 她發現她的老公沒有把她放在他生活上的首要地位。)

He was depressed, impatient and no longer in love with his wife.

( 他感到沮喪、不耐煩，與妻子不再相愛。)

Her "Mr. Right" has turned out to be all wrong.("Mr. Wrong")

( 她的「如意郎君」，變成一點都不如意。)

( 也可用 "Mrs. Right" 或 "Mrs. Wrong" )

One of the worst things in a woman's life is being married to the wrong man.

( 女人生命中最糟的事，就是嫁錯了男人。)

Trying to keep up with his life is causing a rift in their marriage.

( 想要跟上他的生活方式，造成他們婚姻不和。)

Her husband was sick of her naysaying all of his ideas.

( 她老公不喜歡她對他所有想法的反對。)

( naysay v. 反對，否定 )

She complained that her husband was married (more)to his company than (he was) to her.

( 她埋怨老公與公司的結合勝過與她的婚姻。)

What is ailing in (about) her marriage is that she no longer trusts her husband.

( 她的婚姻出毛病是因為她不再信任老公。)

( ail v. 生病 )

The couple has (have) had a lot of material things, but they don't have each other's hearts.

( 這對夫婦在物質上很充裕，但沒有彼此的心。)

Buying flowers or gifts for his wife on special occasions is not his thing.

( 在特別場合送花送禮給老婆，不是他喜歡的那一套。)

Their marriage was rocky because her husband's job took him out of town for days at a time.

( 她老公一次出城工作多天，使他們的婚姻有些不穩。)

She is heartsick that she did not see his poor behavior before she married him.

（她難過沒有在婚前看到他不良的行為。）

The stay-at home wife feels overworked , under appreciated and suffocated.

( 不上班而待在家的太太覺得過分勞累，未受到賞識，和悶得喘不過氣來。)

Working wives are grappling with the day-to-day challenge of balancing family and work.

( 上班的太太為了兼顧家庭和工作，每天都在應付挑戰。)

( grapple v. 搏鬥、對付 )

Her world fell apart when her husband asked for a separation.

( 當她老公提出分居時，她肝腸寸斷。)

( her world = her life ; fall apart 破碎 )

Well-intentioned friends and relatives really want to save her marriage.

( 好心好意的親友，真想幫助她挽回婚姻。)

We urged the couple to patch things up.

( 我們鼓勵這對夫婦修補爭端。)

( patch v.修補 )

After coming to terms with his problems, his wife put him into marriage counseling.

( 他的問題達成妥協后，他太太要他接受婚姻諮詢。)

( come to terms 達成協議 )

The counselor placed a strong emphasis on communication techniques needed to repair their hurting marriage.

( 諮詢顧問強調溝通的技巧，彌補受損的婚姻。)

They are trying to fill the void in their marriage with a baby.

( 他們想生個孩子去彌補他們婚姻的空隙。)

( void = empty space )

She has been ambivalent about divorcing her hus-band.

( 她對於離婚一直舉棋不定。)

Her marriage got stuck in a "catch 22."

( 她的婚姻處於左右為難的局面。)

If you don't speak up and compromise , you and your husband will further drift apart.

( 假如你不直說和妥協，你與老公就會更疏遠。)

( further 也可放在 drift 後面 )

There seems no terrific idea for warming up their chilly marriage.

（似乎沒有絕佳的方法使他們冷淡的婚姻加溫。）

She is seriously contemplating divorce ; she sees no other option.

（她認真地考慮離婚，看來沒有其它選擇。）

She will not under any circumstances put up with her husband' s abuse.

（在任何情況下，她都不願容忍老公的虐待。）

She finally spilled her guts that her husband has been cheating on her.

（她最後說出老公騙她，在外拈花惹草的秘密。）

（spill one's guts全盤說出秘密）

In the beginning he was with another woman only to spite his wife.

（起先他與別的女人來往，只是為了讓他老婆生氣。）

His running around with another woman starts to strain their marriage.

（他與別的女人私通交往，玷污了他們的婚姻。）

She has been trapped in an unfaithful marriage for years.

（多年來她陷於不忠誠婚姻的困境。）

She has nowhere to run from her unfaithful husband.

（她面對不忠的丈夫難以自處。）

She feels robbed not only of the sanctity of her marriage, but also of her dignity , self esteem and future.

（她覺得不但她婚姻的神聖性被剝奪，同時也喪失了尊嚴、自尊和未來。）

Her husband claims he was under the influence and the woman took unfair advantage of him.

（她丈夫聲稱他是在酒醉后，被那女子勾引上床。）

She has drilled her husband with accusations and questions. ( about his affairs )

（她對丈夫的外遇，咄咄逼人的指控和盤問。）

（drilled 有 interrogated 的意思）

Her problem appears to be a bit beyond the scope of marriage counseling.

（她的問題似乎有點超出婚姻諮詢的範圍。）

Like all marriages , they have their ups and downs.

（就像所有的婚姻一樣，他們也時好時壞。）

Their marriage seems like a roller coaster ride.

（他們的婚姻，像坐雲霄飛車般時起時落。）

After they have been married just short of one year, the two decided to part ways.

（他們結婚不到一年就決定分離了。）

（part ways＝split ）

They are on the verge of divorce ; their marriage is a wreck.

（他們在離婚的邊緣，他們的婚姻正瀕臨破裂。）

They were in the midst of a very bitter divorce, but fortunately they came to terms with each other.

（他們的離婚處於極度難堪的過程中，幸虧他們彼此還能妥協。）

Her family still hope some day the divorced couple will start mending ( their ) fences.

（她家人仍盼望有一天這對離婚夫婦能破鏡重圓。）

（to mend one's fences 修復友好關係）

For most Americans when a marriage fails , exes can be friends if they enjoy each other's company.

（多半美國人婚姻失敗后，如果前夫前妻彼此願意，還能成為朋友。）（exes＝ex-husband and ex-wife）

A civilized couple will avoid fighting fire with fire after the divorce.

（一對有教養的夫妻，離婚後，也會避免「以牙還牙」的爭鬥。）

Many Americans love their step-children as their own. (children)

（許多美國人愛護他們的繼子女，如同自己親生的兒女。）

Although her ugly divorce was drawn-out and expensive, she wants to move on with her life.

（雖然她的醜陋離婚拖得很久，很貴，但她還要面對生活，繼續前進。）

If you know when to climb out of the water, you'll not have to worry about sinking or swimming in marriage.

（在婚姻中，假如知道什麼時候爬出水面，你就不會擔心是否在水裡載浮載沉。）

Whatever your divorce turns out to be, you must face it and let bygones be bygones.

（不論你的離婚結果如何，你必須面對現實，既往不咎。）

（let bygones be bygones 是捐棄前嫌或既往不咎）（全文完,By 懷中）