每日一词-cement

1. 认识这个词(基础篇)

词:cement

英英释义:to make a relationship, idea etc stronger or more certain

例句:Collective goals can help cement solidarity.

2. 体会这个词 (进阶篇)

“cement“作为名词,表示“水泥”,作为动词可以表示“把...粘合”,常常被引申为表示“巩固” “加强”。和同样可以表示“巩固” “加强”的表达来说,比如 “consolidate” “make something stronger”,cement 更富有画面感。

比如***同的目标可以让一个群体更团结:

Collective goals can help cement solidarity.

cement 后常接表示“关系”的名词,比如 relationship, friendship, tie, bond, connection 等词。比如,相似的价值观和阅历可以加强关系:

Shared values and experiences can cement a bond.

cement 的这种用法也是《经济学人》中的常客,比如:

Republicans won statehouses that Democrats had held for decades; in several competitive states they cemented their hold on power through gerrymandering.('they cemented their hold on power through gerrymandering' 表示“他们(民主党)通过改划选区加强了他们对权利的掌控”)。

3. 从认识到会用(作业)

1)翻译下面的句子:

八卦可以让人们迅速增强友谊。

Gossip can help to cement relationship.

(参考翻译:The exchange of gossip can efficiently cement a friendship.)

2)结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等,先想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达,然后再进行造句。

造句:The export exhibition in Shanghai will definitely help to cement the relationship between China and western countries.