2022年12月11日 VOA慢速英语：'一成不变的'

And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
现在，来自美国之音慢速英语的单词及其故事。
 
On this program, we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples and notes on usage.
在这个节目中，我们探索英语中的单词和表达。我们提供示例和用法说明。
 
Some things in life change easily and often. They are fluid. They change and move as fluids do -- easily. When we are planning events or establishing rules and policies, sometimes it is good to keep things fluid or changeable.
生活中的某些事情很容易且经常发生变化。它们是流动的。它们像流体一样变化和移动——很容易。当我们计划活动或制定规则和政策时，有时让事情保持流动或多变是件好事。
 
 
But some things are not easily moved or changed. They are fixed or inflexible.
但有些东西是不容易移动或改变的。它们是固定的或不灵活的。
 
To describe these inflexible things, we can say they are set in stone. Things that are set in stone are very difficult or impossible to change.
要描述这些不灵活的东西，我们可以说它们是一成不变的。一成不变的事情很难或不可能改变。
 
We can say that permanent rules, laws, and policies are set in stone. It often takes several difficult actions to change them.
我们可以说，永久的规则、法律和政策是一成不变的。改变它们通常需要几个艰难的行动。
 
The dates of some events are also set in stone.
一些事件的日期也是一成不变的。
 
For example, weddings take a lot of planning. Some people even start planning for their wedding a year or more ahead of time.
例如，婚礼需要大量的计划。有些人甚至提前一年或更长时间开始筹划他们的婚礼。
 
You simply cannot tell friends and family that your wedding will happen sometime in June. You must find a space for the ceremony. You need to invite people and find out how many are coming. You need to decide on food, music, and flowers. And you must have money to pay workers to do different things.
您根本无法告诉朋友和家人您的婚礼将在六月的某个时间举行。你必须为仪式找一个地方。你需要邀请人，看看有多少人来。你需要决定食物、音乐和鲜花。而且你必须有钱支付工人去做不同的事情。
 
So, setting a wedding date in stone is the best way to make sure the wedding happens smoothly. Setting the date in stone means it cannot change. Or at least, changes would cause problems for people and possibly cost you a lot of money.
所以，一成不变的婚礼日期是确保婚礼顺利进行的最好方法。将日期固定在石头上意味着它不能更改。或者至少，改变会给人们带来麻烦，并且可能会花费你很多钱。
 
We also use this expression with two other verbs: carve and write. So, you can say something is carved in stone or something is written in stone. The meaning stays the same.
我们还将此表达式与其他两个动词一起使用：carve 和 write。所以，你可以说 something is carved in stone 或 something is written in stone。含义保持不变。
 
On the other hand, if a rule, date, or event could be changed easily, we can say it is penciled in.
另一方面，如果可以轻松更改规则、日期或事件，我们可以说它是用铅笔写的。
 
If you pencil something in, you are admitting that it is not set in stone. It may change and may be erased. When using this expression, however, you do not need to really use a pencil.
如果您用铅笔写东西，你承认它不是一成不变的。它可能会改变，也可能会被删除。然而，当使用这个表达方式时，你并不需要真正使用铅笔。
 
So, when we say something is not carved, set, or written in stone, we mean it can be changed.
因此，当我们说某事不是雕刻、设置或写在石头上时，我们的意思是它可以改变。< br/>
 
For example, many workers were upset by some new office rules. So, the supervisor said, "If they don't work, we can always change them." In other words, the rules are not carved in stone.
例如，许多员工对一些新的办公规则感到不满。所以，主管说，“如果它们不起作用，我们可以随时更换它们。”换句话说，规则不是一成不变的。
 
Before we end the program, here is one more example for set in stone. The editor used it when he sent back my edited story. He gave some changes but added, "These are just suggestions. They are not set in stone."
在我们结束程序之前，这里还有一个一成不变的例子。编辑在发回我编辑好的故事时使用了它。他做了一些修改，但补充说：“这些只是建议。它们并非一成不变。”
 
It's good to have an editor with a sense of humor!
有一个有幽默感的编辑真好！