Minimalist Lifestyle
極簡(jiǎn)生活

Dialogue 1

Mark: Jingjing, that's a nice jacket you're wearing. It's perfect for this spring weather.
馬克：京晶，你穿的這件夾克真不錯(cuò)。春天穿這個(gè)真是太合適了。
Jingjing: Thanks for noticing. It's not really new, though. I've just not had the chance to wear it yet.
京晶：謝謝你留意到。也不是新衣了，一直沒機(jī)會(huì)穿上。
Mark: Yeah, spring is such a short season in Beijing. I'm glad your jacket can finally make its debut.
馬克：是啊，北京的春天太短了。真好你的夾克終于有機(jī)會(huì)閃亮登場(chǎng)了。
Jingjing: Haha. Actually, I don't buy new clothes that often.
京晶：哈哈，事實(shí)上，我不是那么經(jīng)常買新衣服的。
Mark: Me neither. I used to be a total clothes horse. I think I told you before. Now I don't spend much of my salary each month.
馬克：我也不是。我過去簡(jiǎn)直就是一個(gè)購(gòu)衣控（活衣架），我想我之前告訴過你吧，現(xiàn)在我每個(gè)月都花得很少。
Jingjing: That's good. You gotta think about the future.
京晶：那很好啊。你得為未來打算。
Mark: Yeah, I used to run through a pay check in one or two weeks, and have nothing left at the end of the month.
馬克：是的，我過去一兩周就把錢亂花光了，月底什么也沒有（吃土）了。
Jingjing: Now I remember, we did talk about saving money before. But you never told me what the turning point was for you.
京晶：現(xiàn)在我想起來了，我們以前談過攢錢的事，但是你從沒跟我說過是什么讓你轉(zhuǎn)變的。
Mark: Well, every time I moved, I had the option of paying for several months of rent in advance. Then it got to where I could pay a year up front and get a big break.
馬克：每次我搬家，我都可以選擇提前支付幾個(gè)月的房租，直到后來我可以提前付完一年房租，然后可以獲得一個(gè)大折扣。
Jingjing: Did anything else change?
京晶：有什么別的變化嗎？
Mark: Yeah, that caused a chain reaction. I went several months without spending much money, and I learned to enjoy life in simple ways.
馬克：這帶來了連鎖反應(yīng)。我過了好幾個(gè)月不怎么花錢的生活，然后我學(xué)會(huì)了享受簡(jiǎn)單的生活。
Jingjing: It sounds like you've grown into a minimalist lifestyle. I'm the same way.
京晶：聽上去你已經(jīng)開始過上了極簡(jiǎn)生活。我也一樣。
Mark: Yup. You get to a point where you've had the newest stuff, and when it gets used up or outdated, you wish you still had the money.
馬克：是的。你會(huì)有這樣一種感覺：當(dāng)你擁有了什么最新款的東西，當(dāng)它用完了或者過時(shí)了以后，你真后悔花了這個(gè)錢。
Jingjing: That's exactly how I feel.
京晶：我也完全有同感

New words: 習(xí)語短語

debut 首次亮相，首秀
when someone or something is introduced (usually a noteworthy song from a new artist)
clothes horse 活衣架，形容愛買衣服的人
someone who has lots of clothes (also refers to a free-standing rack that holds clothes)
run through 隨意花費(fèi)
spend carelessly
turning point 轉(zhuǎn)折點(diǎn)
a time when something changed
break 折扣
discount
chain reaction 連鎖反應(yīng)
a set of events, each one causing the next
minimalist 極簡(jiǎn)生活的人
a person who has a simple life, and not too much stuff

Dialogue 2

Mark: Jingjing, you asked me how I turned over a new leaf. I'm still curious about your story.
馬克：京晶，你問過了我是怎么過上這種新生活的，我很想知道，那你呢？
Jingjing: Well, I never was a spendthrift. You know, until finishing university, I didn't have much of my own money.
京晶：嗯，我從來不會(huì)是花錢大手大腳的人，你知道，直到大學(xué)畢業(yè)，我都沒有多少自己的錢。
Mark: That's good, I guess. But didn't that all change when you graduated and started earning a salary?
馬克：我想這是好事。那當(dāng)你畢業(yè)了開始掙薪水后這一切不都改變了嗎？
Jingjing: It was pretty low at first, and I knew I couldn't do much with it. Besides, I was proud to give most of it to my parents.
京晶：一開始工資也不高，我知道我也沒什么別的辦法。再說，我很自豪我把大部分都給了父母。
Mark: So, what do you do to enjoy life, if not spend money?
馬克：那么，如果不花錢。你怎么享受生活呢？
Jingjing: There are lots of ways. Just like you, I enjoy a good book. I take care of animals also.
京晶：有很多方式啊，就像你一樣，我享受讀一本好書，照顧小動(dòng)物。
Mark: Yeah, I know you do those two things. I guess you don't have to shell out much cash for either.
馬克：是的，我知道你做這兩件事。我猜你也不會(huì)為此花太多錢吧。
Jingjing: Nope. If there's anything fun that ends up costing me, it's travel.
京晶：是的，如果有有趣的事需要花錢的話，那就是旅行了。
Mark: Do you travel in style?
馬克：你的旅行很奢侈嗎？
Jingjing: No. That's not me. Each trip costs me a fair bit, but it's something to look forward to every few months.
京晶：不，那不是我。每次旅行都會(huì)小花一筆錢，但是也是每幾個(gè)月值得期待的事。
Mark: That sounds pretty good. I'm proud of you. And I bet your parents are also.
馬克：聽上去真不錯(cuò)。為你感到驕傲。相信你父母也有同感。
Jingjing: They taught me to be responsible. But I learned to enjoy a simple lifestyle in my own way.
京晶：他們教會(huì)了我人要有責(zé)任感，我學(xué)會(huì)了用自己的方式享受簡(jiǎn)單的生活。
Mark: Well, take it easy, Jingjing. Until next time.
馬克：那么，好好放松玩吧，直到下一次到來。
Jingjing: OK, Mark. See ya!
京晶：好的，馬克，回見！

New words: 習(xí)語短語

turn over a new leaf 改變舊的生活習(xí)慣，開始新的，更健康的生活方式
change, stop a bad habit, become more healthy and responsible
spendthrift 揮霍的人
a person who spends lots of money carelessly
shell out （不停地）付，花費(fèi)
pay, continue to give more money
travel in style昂貴奢侈的旅行
take a luxurious trip
a fair bit 貴的
expensive