每日英語 #081: Taking a Staycation 宅度假

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Taking a Staycation

Beginning in the late 2000’s when the American “economy” (the wealth of a country) began to “decline” (go down), people in the United States began to save its money. Rather than “booking” (reserving) expensive vacations, many people decided to spend their vacations “close to home” (near where they live).

在2000年代後期，當美國“經濟”（國家的財富）開始“衰退”（下降）時，美國人開始節省金錢。許多人選擇在“家附近”（靠近他們居住的地方）度假，而不是“預訂”（保留）昂貴的假期。

This is when a new word began being used: “staycation.” “Staycation” is used to describe a vacation very close to your own home, or simply staying at home during your vacation. It is a combination of the words “stay” and “vacation.”

這時，一個新詞開始被使用：“宅度假”。“宅度假”用來描述靠近自己家或僅僅在家度假的假期。這個詞是“stay”（待）和“vacation”（假期）的結合。

According to many news reports during this time, these staycations were very popular among American families. Why? The high price of gasoline for cars and airplanes made it very expensive for Americans to travel compared to past years. When you combine this with the “weak American dollar” (an unfavorable exchange rate for the American dollar), it all “adds up to” (leads to the conclusion that) people deciding to stay close to home during their traditional summer vacations.

根據這段時間的許多新聞報導，這些宅度假在美國家庭中非常流行。為什麼？汽車和飛機的高油價使得美國人的旅行成本比以往年份高很多。加上“美元疲弱”（美元匯率不利），這一切“總結為”（導致）人們在傳統的暑假期間選擇靠近家。

The “travel industry” (businesses related to travel, such as hotels, rental car companies, and airlines) began “catering to” (trying to satisfy) individuals and families that chose a staycation. Many offered special “discounts” (lower prices) for people living in the same “region” (area) or state, and developed “advertising campaigns” (announcements in newspapers and magazines, on television and the Internet, to attract customers) “targeting” (aimed at) people who lived nearby.

“旅遊業”（與旅遊相關的企業，如酒店、租車公司和航空公司）開始“迎合”（試圖滿足）選擇宅度假的個人和家庭。許多公司為住在同一“地區”（區域）或州的居民提供特別“折扣”（降價），並開發了“廣告活動”（在報紙、雜誌、電視和互聯網上吸引顧客的公告）“針對”（目標是）附近的居民。

重點單字

• Economy 經濟 /ɪˈkɒnəmi/
• Decline 衰退 /dɪˈklaɪn/
• Booking 預訂 /ˈbʊkɪŋ/
• Close to home 家附近 /kləʊs tə həʊm/
• Staycation 宅度假 /steɪˈkeɪʃn/
• Travel industry 旅遊業 /ˈtrævəl ˈɪndəstri/
• Catering to 迎合 /ˈkeɪtərɪŋ tuː/
• Discounts 折扣 /ˈdɪskaʊnts/
• Region 地區 /ˈriːdʒən/
• Advertising campaigns 廣告活動 /ˈædvətaɪzɪŋ kæmˈpeɪnz/
• Targeting 針對 /ˈtɑːɡɪtɪŋ/
• Weak American dollar 美元疲弱 /wiːk əˈmerɪkən ˈdɒlə/
• Adds up to 總結為 /ædz ʌp tuː/