1. 認識這個詞(基礎篇)
詞:stepping stone
英英釋義:something that helps you to progress towards achieving something
例句:A good track record is widely considered a stepping stone to promotion.
2. 體會這個詞 (進階篇)
“stepping stone”是可數名詞,字面意思是“墊腳石”,和中文完美對應。和中文中的“墊腳石”一樣,stepping stone 的引申義也很常見。當我們想表達“A 是 B 的敲門磚”就可以說“A is a stepping stone to B”。
比如,我們經常會說想升職需要有良好的業績,就可以說:
A good track record is widely considered a stepping stone to promotion.
最近,奧巴馬夫婦在沉寂許久之后再次回到公眾視野。想表達奧巴馬在伊利諾伊州做參議員為他日后成功當選美國總統做了鋪墊,就可以這樣說:
Barack Obama's stint as a United States Senator of the state of Illinois served as a stepping stone to his presidency.
抖音先是在國內火起來的,產品在得到驗證之后才在其他國家流行起來,就可以說:
TikTok's popularity in China turned out to be a stepping stone to its success overseas.
注意,“a stepping stone to success”很常見,stepping stone 和 success 正好還組成了頭韻,值得掌握。
3. 從認識到會用(作業)
1)翻譯下面的句子:
好習慣是成功的墊腳石。
Good habits are a stepping stone ti success.
(參考翻譯:Good habits are a stepping stone to success. 或 Good habits are stepping stones to success. )
2)結合自己的生活、學習、工作、興趣等,想象在什么語境下會用到這個表達。先簡要描述這個場景,再造句。
例子: The MOM between NHI and PIBT is a crucial stepping stone towards contract signing.
場景 :MOM是簽訂協議重要一步