【原版杂志阅读】28期 Day 1：Yu Hua on why young Chinese no longer want to work for private firms part 1

By Invitation | Chinese aspirations (aspire —spirit—呼吸)

Yu Hua on why young Chinese no longer want to work for private firms (对应public companies)

In today’s China stability trumps enterprise, argues the novelist (stable adj. 稳定的-st-stand-able) 

What lies at the far reaches of the universe? This is a question that science has yet to answer, but most young people in China today already have an answer. According to them, at the end of the universe is not the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy or the Canes Venatici Constellation, but a government job.

Observing changing attitudes about government jobs among young people in China over the course of the past four decades of the reform era can reveal the deep-seated changes that have taken place in the structure of Chinese society.

During the early days of the reform era in the 1980s, there were three categories of government jobs for urban residents: the collective positions (jiti bianzhi), the general positions (quanmin bianzhi) and the cadre positions (ganbu bianzhi). The cadre positions were equivalent to the civil-service system of today. At the time, all young people craved an opportunity to enter that system. But by the 1990s that was no longer something they desired.

一、词汇部分

1. equivalent  /ɪˈkwɪvələnt/ adj. 等同的，等效的

词根: equ-相同(equal-equation)

词根: val- 强大(价值 value)

后缀: -ent 形容词后缀(different)

2. bureaucratic /ˌbjʊrəˈkrætɪk/  adj. 官僚的，官僚政治的

词汇: bureau 局(bu 不+real 真实 +u)

词根: crat- 管理, 统治(cry+at)

后缀: -ic 形容词后缀 

3. incentive  /ɪnˈsentɪv/ n. 激励，刺激

前缀: in- 向内

词根: cent- 唱(accent) —cent 美分

后缀: -ive 名词后缀

4. resign /rɪˈzaɪn/ v. 辞职

前缀: re- 再一次

词汇: sign 签字(signature n. 签名)

5.   fervent  /ˈfɜːrvənt/ adj . 热情的; 热诚的

词根：ferv- 热(fever)

后缀：-ent 形容词后缀

二、文章讲解(词汇/搭配、语法长难句、篇章段落结构）

1. What lies at the far reaches of the universe? This is a question that science has yet to answer, but most young people in China today already have an answer. According to them, at the end of the universe is not the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy or the Canes Venatici Constellation, but a government job.

1) have/has yet to do something 还没有做某事

2) That 引导的定语从句: (名词+that, that在后面从句中作主语或宾语)

3) Constellation —con-stell-星星stellar--ation

4) Civil servent 公务员

2. Observing changing attitudes about government jobs among young people in China over the course of the past four decades of the reform era can reveal the deep-seated changes that have taken place in the structure of Chinese society.

1) 主语: Observing changing attitudes about government jobs among young people in China over the course of the past four decades of the reform era ===Doing sth 作主语

通过观察改革开放30年以来中国年轻人对待政府工作态度的变化—可以揭示—中国社会结构的变化.

2) Deep-seated changes 根深蒂固的变化

e.g. The civil rights movement brought about deep-seated changes in American society, transforming attitudes toward racial equality and justice.

e.g. The advent of artificial intelligence is driving deep-seated changes in multiple industries, from healthcare and finance to transportation and manufacturing.

Problems / Issues：

Deep-seated problems in the healthcare system require systemic reforms.

Tensions / Conflicts：

Deep-seated tensions between ethnic groups have simmered for decades.

Beliefs / Attitudes：

Deep-seated beliefs about gender roles can hinder progress toward equality.

Prejudices / Bias:

Overcoming deep-seated prejudices is crucial for building inclusive societies.

Fears / Anxieties:

Many people harbor deep-seated fears of public speaking.

Resistance / Opposition:

Implementing innovative policies often faces deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.

Roots / Origins:

The deep-seated roots of the conflict lie in historical grievances and territorial disputes.

Injuries / Conditions:

Some athletes suffer from deep-seated injuries that require extended rehabilitation.

3. During the early days of the reform era in the 1980s, there were three categories of government jobs for urban residents: the collective positions (jiti bianzhi), the general positions (quanmin bianzhi) and the cadre positions (ganbu bianzhi). The cadre positions were equivalent to the civil-service system of today. At the time, all young people craved an opportunity to enter that system. But by the 1990s that was no longer something they desired.

1) crave 替换词: hunger(渴望知识、成就等), yearn (情感满足,对失去事物的怀念), long for (长就以来一直渴望)

Hunger:

He hungers for knowledge, constantly reading and attending lectures.

Yearn:

She yearns for the simplicity of her childhood days spent by the river.

Long for:

After years apart, she still longs for the companionship of her childhood friend.

Many young professionals long for a better work-life balance, seeking jobs that offer flexibility and autonomy.

三、段落翻译

宇宙的尽头是什么？这是科学尚未回答的一个问题，但如今中国的大多数年轻人已经有了答案。据他们说，宇宙的尽头不是银河系、仙女座星系或猎犬座，而是一份政府工作。

观察中国年轻人对政府工作的态度在改革开放四十年来的变化，可以揭示中国社会结构发生的深刻变化。

在改革开放初期，即20世纪80年代，城市居民有三种政府工作类别：集体编制、全民编制和干部编制。干部编制相当于今天的公务员制度。当时，所有年轻人都在渴望获得进入该制度的机会。但到了20世纪90年代，他们不再渴望这个了。

如果说20世纪80年代的经济发展速度是走路，那么到了20世纪90年代就已经是策马奔腾了。尤其是大学毕业生，他们背离官僚体系，转而寻求在外国公司或合资企业就业，或自己创业。动机很明显：在私营部门，他们可以赚更多钱，甚至更多。