外刊逐句精读｜《金融时报》：外卖软件和打车软件路在何方？｜CATTI一级译...
红色：主句主干 蓝色：从句主干 黄色：从句连词、关系代词 灰色：插入语、例句 粉色：同位语 绿色：长难句分析 紫色：词根词缀 （）：修饰成分，包括定语、状语等 下划线：词汇词组 高亮：连词
A golden age of consumer convenience is passing
消费者便利的黄金年代正在过去
Growth strategy of on-demand services has become harder to sustain
按需服务的增长战略变得难以持续
- golden age (of sth.) n. 鼎盛时期
- on-demand a. 按需提供的
Fwwd the baby on demand.
宝宝需要时再喂食。
on-demand service 按需服务
- sustain vt. 使....维持、持续下去
For viewers, one of the joys of Netflix has been the ability to gorge on hours (of top-class TV) (without ever encountering an ad).
对于观众来说，Netflix的乐趣之一就是能够在看不到广告的情况下享受数小时的顶级电视节目。
- viewer n. 电视观众
- Netflix 网飞
net + flicks (flix) = 网上影院
- gorge n. 峡谷
gorge on sth. 贪婪地吃某物
=guzzle
- top-class a. 顶级的
second-class a. 次等的
Now, the streaming giant is introducing a new subscription tier that runs adverts (alongside its shows) — albeit at a lower price point.
现在，这家流媒体巨头正在推出一个新的订阅等级，在其节目旁边投放广告——尽管订阅价格更低。
- streaming n. 流媒体
streaming service/app 流媒体服务/流媒体app
- subscription n. 订阅
subscription-based service 订阅制服务
ad-based service 基于广告的服务
- tier n. 级别，等级
- albeit conj. 尽管，虽然
- price point n. 价格点
The U-turn on something that had been anathema is the latest sign that the economics of the on-demand app industry are becoming stretched.
曾经令人憎恶的事情发生的180度大转弯是按需服务应用行业的经济情况不好的最新迹象。
that引导的定语从句修饰something，that引导的同位语从句解释说明sigh。
- U-turn n. 180度大转弯
= about-face
- anathema n. 令人憎恶的事物
- economics n. 经济情况
- stretch vt. 消耗
We're stretched at the moment, otherwise we'd go.
我们目前手头紧，否则会去的。
The instant gratification (once dished out by streaming, ride-sharing and delivery services) may become not only less instant, but also less gratifying.
曾经由流媒体、拼车和外服服务提供的即时满足可能不仅变得不那么即时，而且不那么令人满意。
- gratification n. 满足
gratify vt. 使...满足
gratifying a. 令人满足的
satisfaction/satisfy/satisfying
- dish out sth. 大量分发
- ride-sharing n. 拼车
ride-hailing/ ride-sharing service 网约车服务
段落大意：
引子：
对比网飞的前后转变来引入整个行业的变化。
In recent years, Netflix, Uber, Deliveroo and the like have spoiled customers.
近年来，Netflix、Uber、Deliveroo和其他类似的公司都宠坏了客户。
- like n. 类似的人、物
- spoil vt. 溺爱，娇惯
From original, binge-worthy (and ad-free) dramas at a click, to rapid taxi shuttles and a buffet of global cuisines (delivered right to the doorstep) — all at minimal expense.
从点击即可观看的原创的、值得短期放纵（且无广告）的电视剧，到快速的出租车和直接送到家门口的全球美食自助餐——所有这些都以最低的费用提供。
- original a. 首创的、独创的
- binge n. （短时间的）放纵
binge eating 胡吃海喝
binge watching 刷剧
- X-worthy a. 值得X的
trustworthy a. 值得信任的
newsworthy a. 值得报道的
binge-worthy
- click n./v. 鼠标点击
- shuttle n. 往来两地的火车等
- buffet n. 自助餐；火车餐车
- cuisine n. 烹饪、风味、料理
- doorstep n. 门阶
on sb's doorstep 在某人家门口
- minimal a. 极少的，最少的
maximal a. 最大的，最高的
In a period in which real wage growth stagnated, low-cost apps made us all feel better off.
在实际工资增长停滞不前的时期，低价应用程序让我们感觉更好。
- real a. 实际的，按购买力折算过的
nominal a. 名义的
- stagnate vi. 停滞，不发展
- be/feel better off 更满意、幸福
段落大意：
各式各样的按需服务宠坏了消费者，通胀率居高不下的背景下，低价的app让大家感觉更好。
A decade of cheap cash also stoked an investor boom (in the on-demand economy), which subsidised content, rides, and deliveries (at below cost prices) (to drum up demand).
过去十年的低息贷款也助长了按需服务经济的投资热潮，它以低于成本的价格资助内容、网约车和外卖领域，以刺激消费者需求。
which引导定语从句修饰boom。
- cheap cash 指低息贷款
- stoke vt. 助长，加剧
- boom n. 贸易/ 经济繁荣
a property boom 地产市场迅速发展
- subsidise vt. 给...发津贴、资助
- cost price n. 成本价
- drum up sth. 兜揽生意
Investors betted the strategy would eventually garner large market shares, far outweighing the early losses.
投资者押注该策略最终将获得大量市场份额，远大于早期的损失。
- garner vt. [正式] 获得，得到
- market share n. 市场份额
- outweigh vt. 重于，大于
- growth first, profits later 先增长，后盈利
段落大意：
过去十年的投资热潮大大激发了市场需求。
With interest rates rising, investor cash and optimism are dwindling.
随着利率上升，投资者的现金和乐观情绪正在减少。
- interest rate n. 利率
- dwindle vi. 减少，变小
Providing slick services (at unbeatable prices) is much harder.
以无可匹敌的价格提供吸引人的服务要困难得多。
- slick a. 吸引人的
The brands are backed by slick advertising.
这些品牌有华美的广告做后盾
- unbeatable a. 无可匹敌的
Prices need to go up, costs need to fall, and new revenue streams need to be found to keep investors engaged.
价格需要上涨，成本需要下降，并且需要找到新的收入来源以保持投资者的参与。
- revenue stream n. 收益流
Hence the quest for advertising revenues (by Netflix, Disney Plus and other streamers).
因此，Netflix、Disney Plus和其他流媒体寻求广告收入。
- hence ad. 因此，由此
He was a tiny, sight figure, hence his nickname, 'the Little Wonder'.
他身材瘦小，“小奇人”的绰号由此得来。
hence = which leads to
在上面的例句中，hence约等于定语从句结构which leads to，这也是其最常见的用法，连接原因与结果。文中的hence直接引导了一个句子，且这个句子中成分并不完整（只有名词，没有动词），在规范的英语写作中是很少出现的（《金融时报》的风格指南可能允许这种写法），我们自己写的时候（尤其是正式的论文写作）要尽量避免
- quest n. 探索，追求
quest for sth. 对某事的追求
- streamer n. 直播主播
Uber’s road to profit (after over a decade of losses) has (in part) been paved (by rides becoming more expensive).
在经历了十多年的亏损之后，Uber的盈利之路在一定程度上是由更加昂贵打车费用铺就。
- the road to sth. 通往某物的路
It was this deal that set him on the road to his first million.
正是从这笔生意开始，他挣到了第一笔100万。
- in part 部分地
= partly
- ride n. 短途旅程
段落大意：
利率上升的背景下，想赚钱就得提高价格、降低成本、寻找新的收入来源。
Higher living costs also make the on-demand business harder. Consumer appetite is under strain, putting pressure on subscriptions.
更高的生活成本也使按需业务变得更加困难。 消费者的欲望萎缩，给订阅带来压力。
- strain n. 压力，重负
be under strain/ pressure 处于压力之下
The boost (provided by the pandemic), when people were locked down and barred from restaurants and cinemas, has passed.
封城并被禁止人们进入餐馆和电影院的疫情促进的增长已经过去。
- boost n. 增长，激励
- lockdown n. 封城
Netflix amassed over 36mn subscribers in 2020, but holding on to them, and attracting more, is harder.
Netflix在2020年积累了超过 3600 万用户，但要留住这些用户并吸引更多用户要更加艰难。
- amass vt. 积累，积聚
- subscriber n. 订阅者，消费者
- hold on to sth. 保住，守住
The soldiers held on to the bridge for three more days.
士兵们又把这座桥守了三天。
A cache of TV shows and fast takeaways seem more like a luxury as inflation erodes real spending power, as reflected by Deliveroo’s widening losses (in the first half of 2022).
随着通货膨胀侵蚀实际购买力，大量电视节目和快捷外卖似乎更像是一种奢侈品，正如Deliveroo在 2022 年上半年不断扩大的亏损所反映的那样。
- cache n. 隐藏物，藏匿物
- erode vt. 蚕食，侵蚀
- spending power 消费力
purchasing power 购买力
段落大意：
生活成本的增加也是目前按需服务面临危机的原因。
The money (thrown into the convenience economy) has also created a crowded marketplace.
投入便利经济（指按需服务行业）的资金也创造了一个饱和的市场。
- crowded a. 拥挤的
saturated a. 饱和的
Couch potatoes can choose (between Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus and others, and a glut of ultrafast delivery and takeout services); ride-seekers can switch (between Uber, Lyft and Bolt).
电视迷可以在Netflix、Amazon Prime、Disney Plus 等平台以及大量的外卖服务之间进行选择； 拼车者可以在Uber、Lyft 和 Bolt之间切换。
- couch potato n. 电视迷
- glut n. 供过于求
= oversupply
- ultra-X a. 超越X的
ultrafast a. 极快的
ultra-cautious a. 超谨慎的
ultraman n. 奥特曼
Streamers are starting to drip-feed episodes, to prevent consumers from devouring entire series then quickly cancelling direct debits.
流媒体开始一点一点地播放剧集，以防止消费者一口气看完整个系列然后迅速取消扣款。
- drip-feed vt. 一点一点给与
= drip（一滴）+ feed（喂养）
- episode n. （电视节目的）集
- devour vt. 狼吞虎咽；如饥似渴地看/ 读
- direct debit n. 直接借记、扣款
Switch to paying your mortgage by direct debit.
改成用直接借记方式偿还抵押贷款吧。
Competition would generally be expected to boost quality (across the industry), but it also means more user time (wasted screening various apps), and potentially multiple subscription bills.
竞争通常会提高整个行业的质量，但这也意味着更多的用户时间浪费在筛选各种应用程序上，并可能会产生多份订阅账单。
- screen vt. 筛选，筛查
- bill n. 账单
段落大意：
行业内卷也导致了消费者体验大幅下降。
Regulation is kicking in, too. A UK Supreme Court ruling (last year) means Uber’s drivers are now considered workers, with the added costs of minimum wage, pensions, and holiday pay.
监管也在启动。去年英国最高法院的一项裁决意味着优步的司机现在被视为工人，并增加了最低工资、养老金和假期工资的成本。
- kick in 开始生效
= take effect
- UK Supreme Court n. 英国最高法院
- ruling n. 裁决，判决
- pension n. 养老金，退休金
- holiday pay n. 休假工资
Similar rulings elsewhere are increasing pressure (on gig-economy companies) (to raise pay and benefits for workers).
其他地方的类似裁决正在增加零工经济公司提高工人工资和福利的压力。
- gig economy 零工经济
- benefit n. 补助金，津贴
housing benefit 住房补贴
unemployment benefit 失业金
Competition (for drivers (between ride-sharing apps) also portends higher wage, and ultimately price, pressures — not to mention longer waiting times.
打车软件之间对司机的竞争也预示着更高的工资、最终的价格和压力——更不用说更长的等待时间了。
- portend vt. 预示，预兆
- not to mention 更不用说
段落大意：
行业监管也会导致消费者便利度大大下降。
When cost of living pressures finally ease, consumers may (once again) be willing to pay higher prices and reopen closed subscriptions.
当生活成本压力最终缓解时，消费者可能再次愿意支付更高的价格并重新开放已关闭的订阅。
Meanwhile, consolidation, casualties, and bundling could yet change dynamics (in the industry).
与此同时，合并、破产和捆绑销售未来迟早会改变行业动态。
- consolidation n. 合并，结成一体
- casualty n. 伤亡人数
- bundle vi. 捆绑
- could/might yet do 未来迟早会
- dynamics n. 动态，互动方式
He did research on group dynamics and leadership styles.
他研究群体互动和领导风格。
Either way, the multiyear summer (of cheap and easy consumer convenience) looks (for now) to be a thing of the past. It was good while it lasted.
无论哪种变化，多年的便宜又方便的消费者便利的夏天现在看起来已经成为过去。当它还在的时候是很好的。
- a thing of the past 明日黄花
段落大意：
作结：
无论如何，已经持续多年的消费者便利时代可能一去不复返了。
看到这里的姐妹给自己点个赞吧，不用给笔记投币~~
