本文经授权转载自微信公众号:田间小站
考研 TOEFL
外刊例句
- Even in Silicon Valley, where we are relatively weak, about a tenth of “unicorns”—private startups worth over $1bn—have one of our tribe as a founder.
即使是在我们势力相对较弱的硅谷,大约十分之一的“独角兽”公司(即估值超过十亿美元的私营创业公司)都有一位创始人毕业于我们学院。
——《经济学人》 - Towns and tribes across the country are choosing sides, in places flying the flags of rival factions, sometimes including the black banners of Islamist extremists.
利比亚各大城镇和部落在选边站队,许多地方同时飞扬着敌对派系的旗帜,有时还打着伊斯兰主义极端分子的黑旗。
——《纽约时报》
基本释义
[noun] a social division in a traditional society consisting of families or communities linked by social, economic, religious, or blood ties, with a common culture and dialect, typically having a recognized leader
[名词] 部落
深入解读
Tribe 这个单词的基本含义比较简单,一般对应的就是中文里“部落”二字,主要指发展中国家中生活在特定地区的属于同一种族,并且具有相同习俗、文化、方言、宗教等的一群人,通常由一个公认的酋长领导。比如小站(微信公众号:田间小站)之前在 小词详解 | indigenous 的影视用例中提到的:
Some indigenous tribes and scavengers.
住的一些本土部落和一些外来拾荒的人。
一提起部落,往往给人一种原始、落后的 stereotype ,因而 tribe 这个词用起来有时候会有些冒犯。特别是将其用来喻指具有共同性格、职业、兴趣等的独特的或紧密联系的“一伙、一帮、一类”人时,常作贬义词使用,比如:
- 那位情绪无常的女演员突然对所有的演员非常反感。
The volatile actress had a sudden outburst against the whole tribe of actors.
不过在口语中,对于比较熟的人倒是可以打趣地用 tribe 形容“家里人、大家庭”,即将一大家子人或一大家族人戏谑称之为一个部落,比如:
- 很高兴见到你!家里人都好吗?
Good to see you! How is the tribe? - 我们邀请了汤姆的兄弟姐妹及其配偶、子女——整个史密斯家族。我倒要看看你能不能利用自身的魅力来摆布他人。
We invited Tom's sisters and brothers and their families - the whole Smith tribe. I defy you to use your charm to manipulate people.
此外在口语中,也可以用复数 tribes 表示“一大群、一大帮、一大批”人或动物,比如:
- 一群群才华出众的年轻人被吸引到城里找工作。
Tribes of talented young people gravitate to the cities in search of work.
名著用例
She had had no experience with this class of individuals whatsoever, and did not know the salacity and humour of the theatrical tribe.
她和这一类人从来没有打过交道,并不知道演艺圈里这些人的好色和诙谐。
出自美国现实主义作家西奥多·德莱赛(Theodore Dreiser)创作的长篇小说《嘉莉妹妹》(Sister Carrie)。参见:名著下载 | 嘉莉妹妹(Sister Carrie)
同近义词
- ethnic group: a community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent
- clan: a group of close-knit and interrelated families (especially associated with families in the Scottish Highlands)
- race: a group of people descended from a common ancestor