礼节美语 BE-251 Investing I

Steve找到同事Bob, 向他请教投资的问题。

Steve: Hey, Bob! You're a financial expert, aren't you? I hear you know a lot about investing.

Bob: Well, I don't like to toot my own horn...but I did go to school for a few years to study stuff like that.

S: Excellent. Do you mind if I pick your brain for a second?

B: For you, my friend, anything. What's on your mind?

S: My wife and I recently inherited some money. It's not a huge amount, but it's enough to make us consider investing. The problem is that neither of us has any experience in this field.

原来，Steve夫妇俩继承了一笔财产，想拿去做投资。他知道 Bob 在投资方面比较在行，所以想 pick his brain 跟他咨询一下。to pick someone's brain 意思是咨询某人的意见，跟某人讨主意。Bob 说，I don't like to toot my own horn. 我不想自吹自擂。to toot one's own horn 意思是自吹自擂，类似中文里说的老王卖瓜自卖自夸。Bob 听说 Steve 打算投资后说，

B: I see. Well, that's a nice problem to have, isn't it?

S: Yes, I guess it is. My wife's great uncle passed away last month and we unexpectedly got a call from a lawyer telling us he left us something close to $20,000 in his will.

B: Well, that's the kind of windfall that only comes around every blue moon so I agree that you and your wife really should think about investing. The problem is that there are so many options...Some offer stability but the money grows very slowly. Other options are more risky, but have more earning potential.

原来是Steve妻子从伯祖父那里很意外地继承了将近两万美元。Bob说，That's the kind of windfall that only comes around every blue moon. windfall is spelled w-i-n-d-f-a-l-l, windfall 意外收获，飞来横财。every blue moon 意思是非常罕见。投资有很多选项，有些相对稳固，但是增长速度慢，有些收益潜力大，但是风险也大。

S: The stock market is one choice, but it really seems quite risky to me.

B: Stocks are risky. Most people who invest in the stock market end up losing money. The people who do make money—such as Warren Buffet—are in it for the long haul, and they have enough money to ride out the low points. I'm not sure I'd recommend you put your money into the stock market.

S: Okay...how about property? Lots of people have told us we should buy an apartment. They say land or real estate will always appreciate in value.

Steve 觉得，投资 stock market 股票市场风险大，Bob 表示赞同，说凡是在股市赚钱的人，they are all in it for the long haul. 都是把钱放在股市里走长线，这些人都有足够的财力，能 ride out the low points 挺得过股市的低落点。to ride out something 是经受得住，安然渡过的意思。投资房地产也是选项之一，Bob的意见如何？我们下次继续听。

A: 现在真是个投资房地产的好时机，前两天我还听说又来了个买房团呢！

B: I guess it is. The interest rates and housing prices are still really low. But...why are we even talking about this? It's not as if we actually have that kind of money!

A: 哈哈，也是。那咱们还是接着听听Steve是怎么决定的吧！