Jessica在北京学中文,她的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词,就会来请教她。今天是方方要问的:保质期。
FF:Jessica, 你过来帮我看看,这个牛奶是不是过期了呀?
Jessica:Let me see...Hmm, I'm not sure. When did you get this?
FF:两周前吧! 那时候牛奶大减价,我就一口气买了4瓶! 贪便宜, 可是忘了看保质期...
Jessica:Milk normally has a shelf life of a week. Shelf is spelled s-h-e-l-f, 是货架的意思。shelf life 能够放在货架上的日子,也就是保质期!
FF:原来是这样! 那我都买两个礼拜了,我看这牛奶肯定过期了....
Jessica:I bet you're right. I think this milk is past-date. You'd better throw it away!
FF:Past-date, 这里的date就是盒子上标识的生产日期。past-date 也就是过期了的意思! 真可惜,这可是最好的牛奶,这些牛都是只吃鲜草,听古典音乐长大的!
Jessica:That sounds like a top shelf product to me! 高档商品!
FF:Top shelf, 在货架上最高的地方,就是指高档货! 那相对来说,价格便宜的产品又要怎么说呢?
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, 高档货,bottom shelf product, 便宜货! 我记住了。
Jessica:好!那你说说看,What have you learned today?
FF:今天我们学到的内容包括:
第一,保质期是shelf life;
第二,过了保质期可以用 past-date;
第三,高级货叫做top shelf product, 便宜货叫做bottom shelf product!