resilience n.
释义:the ability to become strong, happy, or successful again after a difficult situation or event
“resilience”是不可数名词,英汉字典中一般给出的释义是“还原能力、适应能力”,但理解成“坚强”就好。从英英释义可以看出,这个词强调的是能够经受考验,可以指个人、机构,也可以指制度和国家。这个词比 toughness 更加准确,用在口语和写作中可以体现相当的词汇水平。
例① 911 事件后,纽约市民展示出了惊人的团结和坚强。
New Yorkers demonstrated extraordinary unity and resilience in the wake of 9/11.
例② 援救工作和其他的工作不一样,它需要从业者心理非常坚强。
Rescue work differs from other types of work in that it requires a tremendous level of mental resilience.
例③《经济学人》一篇关于以色列政治的文章中有这么一句:
Yet precisely because of these pressures, Israel offers an important test of the resilience of democracy.
这句中 resilience 的对象就是民主制度,我们也可以翻译为“对民主生命力的考验”。
例④《经济学人》一篇关于澳大利亚环境的文章中也用到了 resilience:
Like the farmers of Western Australia, it is running out of resilience.
根据语境,这句的“it is running out of resilience”可以理解为“已经快撑不住了”。
翻译:当地居民在地震中展示出了无比的坚强。
Local residents demonstrated remarkable resilience facing the earthquake.
(参考翻译:Local residents showed remarkable resilience during the earthquake. 或 Local inhabitants demonstrated amazing resilience in the face of the earthquake.)