又到了一年一度的樱花季,每年这个时候商家都会推出季节限定的樱花味产品。比如,樱花咖啡、樱花奶茶、樱花冰淇淋。前几天,一家英文旅游网站推荐了一些日本东京的樱花味甜点,我们一起来品尝一下吧:
With sakura season just around the corner, we've rounded up some of the best seasonal cherry blossom treats to indulge in while you head out to see the gorgeous pink blooms across Tokyo. These pastel pink cherry blossom-flavoured desserts and drinks also make for the perfect Instagram fodder this spring. 
随着樱花季即将到来,我们为您整理了一些最佳的当季樱花美食,在您前往东京欣赏绚丽绽放的粉色樱花时,不妨尽情享用。这些淡粉色的樱花风味甜点和饮品也是今年春季Instagram的完美素材。
sakura 就是日语中“樱花”的意思。
around the corner 的字面意思是“就在拐弯的地方”,即“很快就到来,就在眼前”。这是一个很实用的写作开头句型,造个句子:
With the rapid advancements in AI, a future where human-like robots assist us in our daily tasks seems just around the corner.
round up 的意思是 to find and gather together people, animals or things “使聚集、使聚拢”,文中可以翻译成“总结、汇总、整理”。再看两个例句:
I rounded up a few friends for a party. 
我找了几个朋友聚了聚。 
The cattle are rounded up in the evenings. 
到了晚上,牛都要圈起来。 
《雷神3:诸神黄昏》中也出现了这个表达:
make for后面加结果,同cause或lead to(前因后果),举个例子:
A happy parent makes for a happy child.
有快乐的父母,才会有快乐的孩子。
fodder 指动物的“饲料”,也可以指“素材”(含贬义),因为素材就是读者的“饲料”。文中 These pastel pink cherry blossom-flavoured desserts and drinks also make for the perfect Instagram fodder this spring 的意思是:这些淡粉色的樱花风味甜点和饮品也是今年春季Instagram的完美素材。
01
Toraya Sakura Mochi
An annual classic, the elegant sakura mochi from wagashi specialist Toraya is always a winner. The traditional Japanese sweet features red bean paste wrapped with a thin layer of pink mochi and then covered with a salted sakura leaf.
虎屋樱花麻薯
作为每年的经典之作,虎屋樱花麻薯精致可口,一直备受推崇。这款传统日式甜点将红豆馅包裹在薄薄的粉色麻薯中,然后再铺上一片咸味的樱花叶,别有一番风味。
winner 在这里泛指“能成功的人(或事物)”,be a winner 就是“能成功、很棒”,总之表达积极肯定的含义。《经济学人》有篇文章讲到中印等发展中国家对世界经济的积极影响,文中有这么一句话:
Stronger growth in emerging economies will make developed countries as a whole better off, but not everybody will be a winner.
得益于新兴经济体的强劲表现,发达国家整体上更为滋润,但不是每个人会笑到最后。  
我们再以“电动汽车”为话题,造一个句子:
The growing demand for electric vehicles in urban areas is a winner for both the environment and consumers' wallets.
feature 是外刊中经常出现的一个动词,它本义是 to include a particular person or thing as a special feature,可以理解成“主要有...,有...(这一主要特色)”,比如:
This restaurant features the most famous chefs in France.(=have the most famous chefs)
这家餐馆有法国最著名的厨师。
所以,在阅读中,我们可以把 feature 理解成 have/include
文中 The traditional Japanese sweet features red bean paste 意思是:这款传统日式甜点主要是红豆馅。
wrapped with a thin layer of pink mochi 是过去分词形式的后置定语,修饰 red bean paste,意思是:包裹在薄薄的粉色麻薯中的红豆馅。(mochi 指“麻薯”)
covered with a salted sakura leaf 也是过去分词形式的后置定语,修饰 a thin layer of pink mochi,意思是:铺上一片咸味樱花叶的薄薄粉色麻薯。
02
Kimuraya Sakura Anpan
This long-standing bakery in Ginza is best known for its anpan (bun filled with sweet red bean paste), and always offers sakura varieties come springtime. The classic sakurazutsumi anpan features a filling of white bean paste mixed with real cherry blossom leaves and flowers for that legit sakura taste.
木村家樱花红豆面包
银座的这家老字号面包店以红豆馅饼闻名,而每逢春季,店内便会推出樱花口味的产品。经典的樱花味红豆馅饼由白豆馅与真正的樱花叶和樱花混合而成,因此樱花味道很正宗。
bun filled with sweet red bean paste 是对 anpan 的解释,bun 指“圆面包”。
come springtime 中,come 并不是动词“来”,而是介词,用在时间前表示“当...到来时”。这里的 come springtime 就相当于 when springtime arrives。
看一个《经济学人》关于美国大选报道里的例句:
Come November, will voters punish Mr Trump for the big decline since February, or reward him for a smaller gain since April?
到了11月,选民是会因为自2月以来的暴跌而惩罚特朗普,还是会因为4月以来的小幅上涨而奖励他?
03
Ginza Cozy Corner Sakura Cake
Ginza Cozy Corner’s lineup of cherry blossom cakes is a classic one. This year's sakura cake features fluffy cherry blossom-flavoured sponge sandwiched between layers of cherry cream, sweet red bean paste and strawberries. You can pick it up at Ginza Cozy Corner stores
银座舒适角樱花蛋糕
银座舒适角的樱花蛋糕系列可谓经典之选。今年的樱花蛋糕采用松软的樱花口味海绵蛋糕作为胚底,中间夹有樱花奶油、甜红豆馅和草莓。您可以在银座舒适角门店购买到。
sandwiched between layers of…这部分,是动词过去分词形式的后置定语,修饰 cherry blossom-flavoured sponge(樱花口味海绵蛋糕)。
sandwich 指“三明治”,三明治就是两片面包夹一片肉、或调料等。当用作动词时,可以形象的理解为像三明治一样被夹在中间。《经济学人》关于“一带一路”的报道中就用到了这个词:
Kazakhstan is at a crossroads, both literally and figuratively. Geographically, it is sandwiched between Russia, China and the Middle East, astride once and future trade routes.
哈萨克斯坦处于中心地带,具有较大的战略意义。地理上,它位于俄罗斯、中国和中东之间,横跨历史和未来的贸易路线。
sandwich在这里用来描述方位,表示“位于...之间”,可以代替sit/lie/stand/ be located between...and...,让语言更有画面感。
再比如,《经济学人》中有篇文章讲到了日本的快餐行业面临国外竞争者的挤压,文章开头就用了sandwich一词:
这里用的是sandwich的过去分词形式,表示一种被挤压状态。
我们也可以用 feel sandwiched, feel a squeeze 来表示自己“面临强大的竞争压力、被压的喘不上气儿来”,清新脱俗。
04
Funabashiya sakura kuzumochi pudding
This sakura kuzumochi pudding is a seasonal twist on Funabashiya’s traditional Japanese dessert. The sweet treat features classic kuzumochi topped with a cherry jelly and a delicate sakura flower.
船桥屋樱花葛饼布丁
船桥屋樱花蒸糯米布丁是对传统日式甜点做出的季节性改变。这款甜点以经典的葛饼为胚底,顶部装饰有樱花果冻和精致樱花。
twist 在这里指“变化、转变”,is a seasonal twist on…意思是:以…为基础的季节性变化。翻译时可灵活调整。
topped with a cherry jelly and a delicate sakura flower 是动词的过去分词形式的后置定语,意思是:上面是樱花果冻和一朵精致樱花的葛饼。
top 作动词,表示“在…顶部”。
05
Mister Donut Sakura Mochitto Doughnut
Mister Donut's signature mochi doughnut has been given a spring twist with four new sakura-inspired renditions. Some of the flavours include a doughnut topped with kinako (roasted soybean flour) and another filled with whipped red bean paste and coated in strawberry-flavoured chocolate.
多拿滋樱花麻吉朵纳甜甜圈
美食巨头Mister Donut以其招牌麻薯甜甜圈为基础,推出了四款全新的春季樱花系列口味。其中一些口味包括撒有黄豆粉的甜甜圈,还有一个填充有红豆酱、外层涂有草莓味巧克力的甜甜圈。
signature 指“招牌之物、标志性的东西”,比如:
Rabbit stew is one of chef Giancarlo Moeri's signature dishes.
炖野兔是厨师詹卡洛·莫里的招牌菜之一。
再比如:
Smith's signature singing style
史密斯的标志性演唱风格
given a spring twist with four new sakura-inspired renditions 的字面意思是:用四款全新的、受樱花启发的版本做了春季调整。翻译时可灵活一点,处理成:推出了四款全新的春季樱花系列口味。
whip 是动词“抽”,也可以指“搅打(奶油鸡蛋等)”,whipped red bean paste 就是“打好的红豆酱”的意思。
coat 名词是“大衣”,动词是“包裹”(想象大衣把人包裹的样子),be coated in 就是“被包裹在…”。总结一下:
be filled with 表示馅
be topped with 表示上面装点
be wrapped with、be covered with、be coated with 表示被包裹
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