VIP Class Notes (Mike)

The Meaning of Work

In the previous “Double 12” shopping festival, I saw a very nice looking vacuum cup. It was not too expensive, but I was still hesitant to buy it because I already had several vacuum cups. I don’t want to make myself a complete consumerist, but it is really attractive to me, so I put it in my “shopping cart” and waited until the next day to decide whether to buy it or not.

In the previous “Double 12” shopping festival, a gorgeous/nice-looking vacuum cup caught my eye/attention when I was shopping online. Although it was not too expensive, I was still hesitant to buy it because I already had several vacuum cups. I didn’t want to make myself a complete consumerist, but it was really attractive to me, so I added it to my “shopping cart” and waited until the next day to decide whether to buy it or not.

December is also approaching the new year, and I have already made some New Year’s resolutions, including a certain amount of deposit. However, impulsive consumption will prevent me from achieving these small goals, so I must be rational when spending money.

With the new year approaching and a few New Year’s resolutions already made, I am determined to save XXXXXXX by the end of 2022. However, I shouldn’t let impulsive consumption get the better of me/I shouldn’t let impulsive consumption take over my rationality. So I must be rational when it comes to money.

Vocabulary

thermos (n) 保温杯，保温瓶
thermometer (n) 温度计
thermo:  greek word for “heat/temperature”

hypothermia 体温过低
hyperthermia 体温过高

deposit (n) 押金

to be: linking verb 系动词

take over 接管(政权)，占据，掌管
The Taliban took over the country in the summer of 2021.

derogatory (adj.) 贬义的
The phrase “take over” has a derogatory meaning.

get better of someone/somebody = to have control over sb/win  占据上风，赢得主动
She knew she shouldn’t open the package, but her curiosity finally got the better of her and she opened it.
I know we could have beaten them in last week’s game, but they just got the better of us from the start.

dominate (v) 占据，主导 – dominant (adj.) 占主导地位的
Wechat is the dominant social media platform in China.
Apple dominates the high-end smart phone market.

A.D. 公元 Anno Domini： The year of our Lord. 吾主之年
B.C. 公元前： Before Christ

anno: Latin word for “year” : annual , anniversary

church (n) 教堂，教会
cathedral (n)（天主教）大教堂

insane 不理智的，疯了的
sane – rational 理智的

neutral (adj.) 中立的

audio (n) 音轨，音频

audio set 音响

Journey to the West – 西游记

Water Margin – 水浒传

Romance of the Three Kingdoms – 三国演义

Story of the Stone – 石头记

Dream of the red chamber – 红楼梦

American Chamber of Commerce

You should have a say in our negotiation. 有话语权，有发言权
Why don’t you let me have a say in this?

take the initiative: 采取主动；倡导；积极主动

We should take the initiative in marketing. 我们在市场营销上应该主动出击。

take charge of 掌管，（含主动意味）
Mary’s going to take charge of the desk for the evening.

Now I am relieved!
Now I am more at ease. 放松

Note the difference:

His parents didn’t allow him to read Chinese books.
His parents didn’t allow him to read books in Chinese.
His parents didn’t allow him to watch cartoons in Chinese.