AEE 2579：别让英语水平打折扣：今天就开始听！

这是All Ears English播客第2579期。

This is an All Ears English Podcast episode twenty five seventy nine.

不要轻视你的英语。

Don't undermine your English.

今天好好听。

Listen today.

欢迎收听All Ears English播客，下载量已超过两亿次。

Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast downloaded more than 200,000,000 times.

你是否觉得自己的英语进步停滞了？

Are you feeling stuck with your English?

我们将教你如何通过关注交流而非完美，变得自信而流利。

We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection.

由你的美国主持人麦卡洪——这位英语冒险家，和米歇尔·卡普兰——这位纽约电台女孩，从美国科罗拉多和纽约市为你带来。

With your American hosts, McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, USA.

要获取实时字幕并创建你的个性化词汇表，请下载All Ears English的iOS和Android应用。

To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android.

在 allearsenglish.com/app 开始您的七天免费试用。

Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward slash app.

你有没有听过母语者使用过 'undermine' 这个词？

Have you ever heard native speakers use the word undermine?

今天，让我们提升词汇量，看看这个词在最无害和最邪恶的语境中该如何使用。

Today, let's level up our vocabulary and find out how to use this word in the most harmless context and the most villainous.

你还在心里把母语翻译成英语吗？

Are you still translating from your native language into English in your head?

你是不是总对不同的时态感到困惑？

Are you always getting confused between the different grammar tenses?

让我们弄清楚你需要改进的地方。

Let's figure out what you need to work on.

通过我们的五分钟测验，在 allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore 找到你的英语水平。

Find your current English level with our five minute quiz at allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore.

嘿，林赛。

Hey, Lindsay.

你怎么样？

How are you?

挺好的，米歇尔。

Doing good, Michelle.

你怎么样？

How are you?

一切都好吗？

How's everything?

我很好。

I'm doing well.

谢谢。

Thanks.

林赛，这个问题有点私人。

Lindsay, have you this is a kind of a personal question.

不错。

Cool.

你有没有认识过那种总是让你觉得自己渺小的人？

Have you ever known someone who constantly made you feel small?

哇。

Wow.

这是个深刻的问题，米歇尔。

That's a deep question, Michelle.

我知道。

I know.

我知道。

I know.

没有。

No.

我想我小时候有个朋友，总是爱炫耀，这让我很烦。

I guess I had a friend when I was really young who would brag a lot, and that annoyed me.

但我说的是我七岁的时候。

But I'm talking like I was seven years old.

对吧？

Right?

她就是一个爱炫耀的人。

And she was like a bragger.

炫耀到底是什么意思，米歇尔？

What is bragging Michelle,

顺便问一下？

by the way?

哦，我在这方面最厉害了。

Oh, I'm the best at this.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

然后她就会这样，我说我想做些什么，因为我当时就只是个七岁孩子。

Then she would like I would say something I want to do because I was just like a seven year old.

她总是说，我想今晚去看电影，或者想做点什么，比如想去滑雪之类的，但你永远也做不到。

Was like, I want to go to the movies tonight, or I want to do something like, I wanted to go skiing or something, but you'll never be able to do that.

就像会那样做。

Like, would do that.

所以那其实是因为她是个唱反调的人。

So that was actually because she was a naysayer.

这就是‘唱反调的人’这个词的意思。

That's what the word a naysayer.

这真的让我很受刺激，因为我不喜欢别人告诉我做不到某事。

So that really triggered me a lot because I don't like it when someone tells you you can't do something.

对吧？

Right?

所以她经常在很大程度上贬低我，但那时候我们都才七岁。

So that was kind of she was kind of undermining me a lot of times, but she was we were only seven.

所以这都是孩子之间的事。

So this is kids stuff.

对吧？

Right?

但我还是记得这件事。

But I still remember it.

所以

So

是的。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

你还是记得它。

You still remember it.

嗯，没错。

Well, so yeah.

我们要谈谈这个词：削弱。

We are going to talk about this word undermine.

是的。

Yes.

这个词对于林赛所描述的那种情境非常有用。

And this is a really useful word for that type of situation that Lindsay is talking about.

这个词之所以被提到，是因为我们在另一个播客的最新一期商务英语节目中讨论过它。

And this came up because we spoke about it in a recent episode on Business English over on our other podcast.

朋友们，如果你还没听过《商务英语》播客，一定要去听听。

Guys, if you haven't listened to the Business English Podcast, you gotta get on over there.

当然。

Definitely.

你知道，商业就是现实生活，人们都在商业世界中工作。

We we you know, business is real life, you know, and people work in the business world.

这不是机器人。

It's not robots.

我们必须学会如何交流并建立这些关系。

We have to learn how to talk and build these relationship.

嗯，哦，是的。

Well, oh, yeah.

这没错。

That's true.

我简直不敢相信我刚说了这话。

I can't believe I just said that.

所以，各位，这出现在第五百三十集，讲的是如何在工作中不踩到别人的脚。

So, guys but this was on episode five thirty, which was how not to step on toes at work.

这样吧，

That way,

你知道，这个单词，今天一旦我们把它加入你们的词汇库，各位，它能让你的英语水平提升100%。

know, this word, you know, once we add this to your vocabulary today, guys, it's gonna elevate your English 100%.

在B2-C1-C2级别，这是一个非常值得掌握的词。

It's a really good one to know at the B2C1C2 level.

那么，我们开始吧，米歇尔。

So let's get into it, Michelle.

是吗？

Yeah?

好的。

Okay.

是的。

Yes.

所以根据词典的定义，undermine 指的是逐渐削弱某事物，尤其是某人的信心或权威。

So according to the dictionary, we would define undermine as to make something, especially somebody's confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective.

哇。

Wow.

它

It

某种程度上听起来很操纵人心，对吧？

sounds manipulative in a way, doesn't it?

是的。

Yeah.

还不错。

It's not not great.

在那期商务英语节目中，我们讨论了削弱他人权威，这在日常表达中非常常见。

So on that Business English episode, we were talking about undermining someone's authority, which is very common to say that undermining someone's authority.

比如，你的上司、老师之类的人，你就是不听他们的话，或者以某种方式让他们难堪。

It's like, you know, someone's your boss, someone you know, your teacher, it is, and you're just kind of not doing what they say or making them look bad in some way.

是的，完全正确，完全正确。

Yes, exactly, exactly.

所以我们接下来要

So we're going

稍后我们会更深入地探讨这个话题，但我想花一分钟特别感谢我们的热心听众米歇尔，花时间给我们留下评价。

to get deeper into this in just a minute, but I do want to take an important minute to call out our amazing listeners who took the time, Michelle, to go and leave us a review.

这些评价来自苹果播客。

These reviews came from Apple Podcast.

所以各位，当我们看到你们对节目的评分和评论时，我们非常高兴，因为这能告诉我们，我们是否在正确的轨道上。

So guys, we love it when we see your ratings and your reviews of the show because it tells us if we're are we on track with the show?

对吧？

Right?

你想听什么？

What do you wanna hear?

你可以在评论里提出你的问题。

You can ask your question inside your review.

这条评论来自中国的Smile，发布于1月5日。

So this review comes from Smile from China on January 5.

五星级评价。

Five star review.

太棒了。

Amazing.

哦，谢谢你。

Oh, thank you.

还有来自匈牙利的English was speak of you，发布于1月4日，在Apple Podcast上。

And and from Hungary, English was speak of you from January 4 in Apple Podcast.

这个人说你的播客总是充满活力和实用建议。

This person says your podcast is always full of energy and tips.

你为学习者和教师提供了如此宝贵的资源。

You provide such valuable resources for learners and teachers.

这档节目对教师来说也很棒，朋友们。

Is a good show for teachers as well, guys.

所以如果你在教学，就把它带进你的课堂吧。

So if you're teaching, bring it into your classroom.

让你的听众知道下周你将讨论哪一集。

Let your listeners know which episode you're going to talk about next week.

对吧？

Right?

告诉他们去学习这一集。

Tell them to study the episode.

这是一段很棒的内容。

It's a great content piece.

所以关键是，各位，如果你喜欢我们的节目，请在你收听的平台给我们留下评价，并确保在这里关注本节目。

So the point is, guys, if you love our show, go and leave us a review wherever you listen, and be sure to hit follow right here on the show.

明白吗？

Alright?

当然。

Absolutely.

非常感谢大家。

Thank you guys so much.

是的。

Yes.

所以，当你贬低某人时，是否必须非常明显地让别人察觉到有人被贬低？

So, when you undermine someone, it it does it does it have to be super obvious that someone is

需要吗？

being undermined?

不需要。

No.

这很有趣，不是这个概念，而是这个词。

That's the cool thing about this not not the concept, but the word.

灵活。

Flexible.

这可能非常微妙，在成人世界中常常如此。

This could be very subtle, and it often is in the adult world.

在孩子世界里，就像我开头讲的那个故事，非常明显。

In the in the kids world, like the story I opened up with, it was very obvious.

对吧？

Right?

孩子都很直白。

Kids are very obvious.

成年人有时要微妙得多。

Adults are much more subtle at times.

是的。

Mhmm.

但我们能够识别它，并将其标记为削弱行为。

But we can we can recognize it and label it as undermining.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yes.

没错。

Right.

我的意思是，这总是有意的吗？

And I mean, is it always intentional?

如果有人削弱了另一个人，这是否总是意味着他们，你知道的，不是。

If someone undermines someone else, is it always that they are, you know, No.

对。

Right.

最具操纵性的版本是最糟糕的，对吧？

Manipulative is the worst version of it, right?

因为这是经过算计的。

Because it's calculated.

你是在有意为之。

You're trying to do it.

你是在耍心机。

You're scheming.

但有时候我们无意中就会贬低别人，自己却没意识到。

But sometimes we're just undermining someone and not realizing we are.

是的。

Yeah.

对吧？

Right?

比如，如果我们是管理者，总是检查员工的工作，不让他们有自主权，就会削弱他们的自信。

Like, maybe if we're a manager, we are always checking our employees' work and we're undermining their confidence because we're not letting them have the independence.

我们会让他们觉得我们不相信他们。

We're making them feel like we don't believe in them.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

但也许这只是我们自己的控制欲问题。

But we're just it's just our own control issues maybe.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yes.

是的。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

非常有趣。

Very interesting.

所以这种破坏行为，是可以被计算的。

So undermining, it can be calculated.

它可能表现为：我在 undermining 你。

It can be like, I'm undermining you.

但它也可能只是反派角色之类的。

But it can also just be a villain or something.

而且它也可能完全是无心的。

And it can also just be totally innocent.

你并没有意识到，也许需要有人提醒你。

You don't realize it and maybe it needs to be brought to your attention.

是的，大多数时候，可能像米歇尔说的，人们根本没意识到自己在这么做。

Yeah, most of the time, probably, Michelle, it's that, that people don't realize they're doing it.

大多数人都是好人。

Most people are good people.

他们并不想伤害别人，尤其是在工作中。

They don't want hurt people, especially at work.

大概75%的情况下是无心的，但最好还是指出来，并与对方探讨这个话题。

Probably like 75% of the time it's unintentional, but it's good to call it out and approach the topic with someone.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

那我们再举一些例子吧。

So, let's give some more examples.

可能发生在其他情境中。

Could be in other contexts.

林赛，能举个例子吗？

Lindsay, what's an example?

嗯，我们自己也可能在无意中削弱自己。

Well, we can undermine ourselves too.

对吧？

Right?

当我缺乏自信时，我往往会贬低自己。

So, I tend to undermine myself when I don't feel confident.

我会说一些像‘对不起’和‘我不确定’这样的话。

I say things like, I'm sorry and I don't know.

是的，还有一些完整的表达方式。

Yeah, and there are entire phrases.

我们之前做过几期节目，讨论过这个领域中应该避免使用的表达，这些表达会削弱自己。

We've done episodes on, you know, phrases to avoid in this area that will cut us down.

比如，会降低我们的权威性，或者削弱别人对我们所说所做事情的信心。

Like, will degrade kind of our, like, our authority or people's confidence in what we're saying or what we're doing.

对吧？

Right?

没错。

Exactly.

所以，没错，你确实可能会贬低自己。

So, yeah, you can undermine yourself for sure.

或者再举一个例子。

Or here's another example.

她丈夫总是在她朋友面前贬低她。

Her husband was always undermining her in front of her friends.

他会说她做的每一件事都是错的。

He would say everything she was doing wrong.

哦，这太糟糕了。

Oh, that's horrible.

天哪。

Jeez.

好吧。

Okay.

希望没人这么做。

Hopefully, no one's doing that.

我朋友跟我说话的方式严重打击了我的自信。

The way my friend spoke to me really undermined my confidence.

我不知道我是否还想继续和她做朋友。

I don't know that I wanna continue to be friends with her.

是的。

Yeah.

或者她当着全班同学的面指出老师的错误，从而削弱了老师的威信。

Or she undermined the teacher by proving her wrong in front of the whole class.

这可能只是出于无心，比如‘其实呢，你说的是这个，但正确的计算是这个’。

Now this could just be an innocent, oh, actually, you know, you said this, but actually the calculation is this.

对吧？

Right?

老师可能会觉得有点不舒服，但并不是出于恶意，他们可能还是会觉得被削弱了。

And the teacher might feel a little bit funny, but it wasn't it wasn't with ill intent, but they might feel that they were undermined.

对。

Yes.

我们有个标志性的说法是‘可能会觉得不舒服’。

We we have the signature phrase might feel funny.

对吧？

Right?

‘感觉有点怪’是你的口头禅。

Feel funny is your signature phrase.

感觉有点怪？

Feel funny?

那是我的标志。

That's my signature.

是的。

Yep.

我想说这其实很有文化差异。

And I wanna say that's really cultural.

有些文化允许这种对权威的挑战。

So some cultures allow this sort of undermining of authority.

尤其是在学术环境中，某些文化可能比其他文化更能接受这种行为。

Especially so in in an academic context, in some cultures, it's probably more okay than other cultures.

比如，某些机构可能会鼓励学生和老师之间进行双向对话。

Like, certain institutions would probably encourage a dialogue back and forth between students and teachers.

老师会质疑学生，抱歉，是学生会质疑老师。

The teachers would challenge the sorry, the students would challenge the teachers.

但这真的取决于机构文化、国家文化以及你所使用的语言，对吧？

But that really depends on the institutional culture, the country culture, the language you're speaking, right?

这真的非常不同。

It's really different.

是吗？

Yeah?

对。

Yeah.

这真的很有趣。

It's really interesting.

是的，这方面的文化因素。

Yeah, the cultural aspect on this.

然后在这里，我想到了这一点。

And then here, I thought of this one.

专注于完美而非交流，会削弱你学习语言的方式。

Focusing on perfection, not connection, can undermine how you learn a language.

哦，好观点。

Oh, good one.

对。

Right.

我们反转了吗？

Did we flip that?

我们当然想要交流，而不是完美。

We want connection, not perfection, of course.

我们的听众都知道。

As our listeners know.

是的。

Yeah.

米歇尔，对你来说，被轻视是什么感觉？

Michelle, for you, how does it feel to be undermined?

嗯，我的意思是，如果感觉像是——你知道的，比如，假设我被完全微观管理之类的，那感觉肯定不好。

Well, I mean, it it doesn't feel great if it feels like, you know, if it's something that like, yeah, if I were being let like, let's say I were the an example, if I were being, like, totally micromanaged or something like that, that wouldn't feel good.

如果我觉得是因为别人不信任我，那也不会感觉好。

If I feel like it's because somebody doesn't have confidence in me, that's not gonna feel good.

我甚至看过一篇文章说，你和伴侣之间也有这种情况吗？

If I feel like I've even I read somewhere that said, Do you have it with your partner?

比如，当你的伴侣在讲故事时，你知道其中一部分是错的，因为当时你也在场，你会当众纠正他吗？

Like, if your partner is telling a story and you know that part of the story is wrong because you were there, do you correct in front I of

这要看我们周围是什么人。

depends on who we're around.

比如，如果是在家人面前，而且这并不会影响他们对我的伴侣的看法，我可能会纠正。

Like, if we're around like family and it's really not going to make a difference in how they see my partner, I might.

但如果是一些不太了解我们的朋友，我可能会避免这样做。

But if it's different friends that maybe don't know us as well, I might avoid that.

也许我会让我的伴侣自己讲完这个故事。

Might let my partner just tell the story.

对吧？

Right?

对。

Right.

对。

Right.

对。

Right.

是的。

Yeah.

因为确实，我记得看过 somewhere 说，和伴侣在一起时，你不应该纠正他们。

Because yeah, I remember I read somewhere that said that like with your partner, like you shouldn't correct them.

比如当丹讲故事时，他说我们是在2015年去的，但我知道其实是2017年。

Like when they're and like it's hard because sometimes, okay, if Dan's telling a story and he said, oh, we were there back in 2015 or something, I know it was 2017.

就像，别管它，谁在乎呢？

Like, it's like, don't, who cares?

就像，这没什么，没人会在意这点差别。

Like, it doesn't, no one, no one cares about the difference.

但有时候很难控制，你就是想说，不对，其实是这样的，但你知道吗，我有时会提醒自己，如果遇到这种事，就告诉自己这不重要。

And, but sometimes it's hard to, you just wanna be like, oh no, actually, but you know, I try sometimes if there's something like that to just say, okay, this isn't important.

这跟故事本身毫无关系。

This has nothing to do with the story.

这只是个细枝末节，我不需要纠正。

It's a minor detail and I don't need to correct.

所以，像这些事，如果你总是对，这类事情就会越积越多。

So, like those, because those types of things can build up if you're constantly Yeah.

其实就是这样。

It's actually this.

其实根本不是那样。

It's actually that.

没人想要那种反对者，哪怕根本算不上反对者。

No one wants that nay that naysayer or not even a naysayer.

只是简单地说一声‘是的’。

Just a Yeah.

就是有人对每件事都吹毛求疵。

It's someone just nitpicking everything.

对吧？

Right?

我们不想要这种人。

We don't want that.

这种现象在不同领域都会变得非常明显。

And this can really come alive in different spheres.

比如在家里，和伴侣、家人相处时。

You're talking at home with your relationship, with your family.

在学术环境里，比如大学课堂，或者在工作中。

We're talking about in the academic context, maybe a college class, at work.

对吧？

Right?

所以这个词‘ undermine ’可以在这么多不同的情境中使用，米歇尔。

So this undermine this word can be used in so many different contexts, Michelle.

是的。

Yes.

没错。

Exactly.

很好。

Nice.

好的。

Alright.

所以，是的。

So, yeah.

那我们来聊聊一下这个词的其他用法，或者我们可能说的其他东西。

So let's talk a bit about other ways to use this word or other things we might say

如果我们嗯。

if we Mhmm.

不想总是对。

Don't want to always Yeah.

所以，我的意思是，还有其他方式使用“削弱”这个词，但我们今天其实想重点讲这一个主要用法。

So, I mean, there are other ways to use undermine, but we are we wanted to actually focus on this main one today.

我们总可以再做一次跟进。

We can always do a follow-up.

但让我们谈谈你还可以如何表达这个意思。

But let's talk about how else you can express this idea.

林赛，你可以说些什么？

Lindsay, what's something you could say?

让某人感到渺小。

So make someone feel small.

这应该是你一开始问我的问题，我想。

This is what you asked me at the beginning of the show, I think.

对吧？

Right?

让别人感到渺小。

Make someone feel small.

她不断的批评让他感到渺小。

Her constant criticism made him feel small.

这真的很糟糕。

And this is really bad.

对吧？

Right?

当这种概念走向病态的一面时。

When it gets to a very pathological side of this concept.

嗯。

Mhmm.

贬低别人。

Or put someone down.

他本意并不是要贬低朋友，只是想诚实表达。

He didn't mean to put his friend down, but he was just trying to be honest.

嗯。

Mhmm.

有时候，某些性格的人就是有一种强迫性的冲动，非要说出真相，而不太关注情感的细微之处，就是直接说真话。

And sometimes certain personalities might just like have a compulsive need to tell the truth, and there's less of a looking at nuances of feelings, and people just tell the truth.

所以他们非得这么做不可。

So they just have to do that.

结果就削弱了他人，尤其是当那些人不太了解他们的时候。

So they end up undermining people, especially if the people don't understand them very well.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

当然。

Absolutely.

还有就是‘伤害’这个词，也可能很有用。

And then there's just the word hurt, which could be useful as well.

所以当他第三次考试得D时，这真的打击了他的信心。

So the third time he got a D on a test, it really hurt his confidence.

所以你可以这么说，这削弱了他的信心。

So he you could say it undermined his confidence.

是的。

Yeah.

嗯，在工作场所，‘伤害’这个词会显得更情绪化一些。

Well, I would I would say in the workspace, the word hurt becomes a little more emotional.

对吧？

Right?

所以‘削弱’可能更好。

So undermine is probably better.

比如，你会说‘我的经理伤害了我’， versus ‘我的经理削弱了我’。

Like, you say, like, my manager hurt me versus my manager undermined me.

在职场中，最好使用‘削弱’这个词。

It's probably better to go with undermine in the workplace.

你觉得呢，米歇尔？

Would you agree, Michelle?

对我来说，‘伤害’这个词有点太模糊了。

It's just hurt is a little, for me, a little squishy.

太模糊了。

A too much.

有点模糊。

A little squishy.

我不确定。

I don't know.

你不同意吗？

Do you disagree?

你怎么看？

What do you think?

不同意。

No.

不同意。

No.

我觉得，特别是当你这么说的时候，‘这伤害了我’。

I don't I I I think especially if you're saying like, oh, it hurt me.

我觉得这样说有点过头了。

I think that's like a little much.

但如果你说‘这让我感到受伤’，我觉得你并不是那个意思，我的意思是，我们可以做一期

But if you're saying, oh, it hurt like, I don't think that you I mean, we could do a

关于‘伤害’这个词的完整节目。

whole episode on the word hurt.

嗯嗯。

Uh-huh.

我们从来没做过这个。

We've never done that.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

嗯。

Mhmm.

所以想想是的。

So think yeah.

有很多你可以讲的内容，因为有时候这个词可能是最合适的。

There's a lot there's a lot that you could say because sometimes it might be the best word to use.

但没错。

But yeah.

但我明白你在这里的意思。

But I see what you're saying here.

所以如果你说，我的经理打击了我的自信，这大概是可以接受的。

So if you're saying, you know, my manager hurt my confidence, that's probably okay.

对吧？

Right?

因为你并没有说伤害了我的心或者伤害了我这个人。

Because you're not saying like hurt my heart or hurt me as a person.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

没错。

Right.

好的。

Okay.

明白了。

Got it.

挺有意思的。

Got Interesting.

但我们可以在另一个时间再深入讨论这个。

But we can talk about this more on another date.

那我们来角色扮演一下吧。

So let's do a role play.

好的。

Alright.

开始了。

Here we go.

在这个情境中，你向我抱怨我们共同的朋友。

So here in this context, you are complaining to me about our mutual friend.

好的。

Okay.