← 返回时间轴

1961 年 1 月 20 日 · 华盛顿国会大厦东门廊

肯尼迪就职演说 Inaugural Address — John F. Kennedy

01
Vice President Johnson, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Chief Justice, President Eisenhower, Vice President Nixon, President Truman, Reverendadj. /ˈrevərənd/ (对神职人员的尊称)可敬的;牧师 Clergyn. /ˈklɜːrdʒi/ 神职人员(总称), fellow citizensn. /ˌfeloʊ ˈsɪtɪznz/ 同胞们,各位公民:
约翰逊副总统、议长先生、首席大法官先生、艾森豪威尔总统、尼克松副总统、杜鲁门总统、诸位神职人员、各位同胞:
02
We observev. /əbˈzɜːrv/ 庆祝;举行(仪式);观察 today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifyingv. /ˈsɪɡnɪfaɪɪŋ/ 表示,意味着 renewaln. /rɪˈnuːəl/ 更新,复兴,重新开始 as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almightyadj. /ɔːlˈmaɪti/ 全能的(Almighty God 即全能的上帝) God the same solemnadj. /ˈsɑːləm/ 庄严的,郑重的 oathn. /oʊθ/ 誓言,誓词 our forbearsn. /ˈfɔːrberz/ 祖先,先辈(同 forebears) prescribedv. /prɪˈskraɪbd/ 规定,订定 nearly a century and three-quarters ago.
我们今天所见证的,不是一次政党的胜利,而是一场自由的庆典;它既象征着一个时代的终结,也象征着一个时代的开端;既意味着更新,也意味着变革。因为我已经在你们和全能的上帝面前,宣誓了我们先辈在大约一百七十五年前所订立的同样庄严的誓言。
03
The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortaladj. /ˈmɔːrtl/ 凡人的,终有一死的 hands the power to abolishv. /əˈbɑːlɪʃ/ 废除,消除 all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionaryadj. /ˌrevəˈluːʃəneri/ 革命的 beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issuephr. /ət ˈɪʃuː/ 处于争论中,悬而未决 around the globe–the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosityn. /ˌdʒenəˈrɑːsəti/ 慷慨,恩赐 of the state but from the hand of God.
如今的世界已大不相同。因为人类手中掌握着一种力量,既能消除一切形式的人类贫困,也能消灭一切形式的人类生命。然而,我们先辈为之奋斗的那些革命信念,在全球各地依然处于争论之中——那就是这样一种信念:人的权利并非来自国家的恩赐,而是来自上帝之手。
04
We dare not forget today that we are the heirsn. /erz/ 继承人,继承者 of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foen. /foʊ/ 敌人,仇敌 alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, temperedv. /ˈtempərd/ 使经受锻炼;使(金属)回火 by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritagen. /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ 遗产,传统, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoingn. /ʌnˈduːɪŋ/ 毁坏,破坏,瓦解 of those human rights to which this nation has always been committedadj. /kəˈmɪtɪd/ 承诺的,坚定献身的, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
今天我们不可忘记,我们是那场最初革命的继承者。让这句话从此时此地传向四方,无论敌友:火炬已经传递给新一代美国人——他们出生在本世纪,受过战火的淬炼,受过艰难而苦涩的和平的约束,为我们古老的传统而自豪,并且不愿目睹或容许那些人权被缓慢地蚕食——这个国家始终致力于捍卫这些人权,今天我们仍在国内和全世界为之奋斗。
05
Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bearv. /ber/ 承担,承受 any burdenn. /ˈbɜːrdn/ 重担,负担, meet any hardshipn. /ˈhɑːrdʃɪp/ 艰难困苦, support any friend, oppose any foe to assurev. /əˈʃʊr/ 确保,保证 the survival and the success of libertyn. /ˈlɪbərti/ 自由.
让每一个国家都知道,无论它对我们心怀善意还是恶意:我们将不惜任何代价,承担任何重担,应对任何艰难,支持任何朋友,反对任何敌人,以确保自由的存续与成功。
06
This much we pledgev. /pledʒ/ 承诺,保证–and more.
这是我们此刻的承诺——而且不止于此。
07
To those old alliesn. /ˈælaɪz/ 盟友,同盟国 whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyaltyn. /ˈlɔɪəlti/ 忠诚,忠贞 of faithful friends. United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative venturesn. /ˈventʃərz/ 事业,冒险事业. Divided there is little we can do; for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at oddsphr. /ət ɑːdz/ 不和,争执,意见相左 and split asunderadv. /əˈsʌndər/ 分开地,四分五裂地.
对于那些与我们共享文化与精神渊源的旧日盟友,我们承诺以忠实朋友的忠诚相待。团结一致时,在众多合作事业中我们几乎无所不能;一旦分裂,我们便几乎无能为力——因为我们绝不能在争吵与分裂之中迎接一场强大的挑战。
08
To those new states whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonialadj. /kəˈloʊniəl/ 殖民的,殖民地的 control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more ironadj. /ˈaɪərn/ 铁的;强硬的,严酷的 tyrannyn. /ˈtɪrəni/ 暴政,专制统治. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom; and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishlyadv. /ˈfuːlɪʃli/ 愚蠢地 sought power by riding the back of the tigerphr. /ˈraɪdɪŋ ðə bæk əv ðə ˈtaɪɡər/ 骑虎(喻借助危险力量谋利) ended up inside.
对于那些我们欢迎加入自由行列的新兴国家,我们郑重承诺:一种殖民统治的消亡,不应仅仅被一种更为严酷的铁腕暴政所取代。我们不会总是指望它们支持我们的立场,但我们将始终希望它们坚定地支持自身的自由;并且记住:过去那些愚蠢地骑在虎背上求取权力的人,最终都落入了虎口。
09
To those people in the hutsn. /hʌts/ 小屋,棚屋 and villages of half the globe struggling to break the bondsn. /bɑːndz/ 束缚,枷锁 of massadj. /mæs/ 大规模的,大众的 miseryn. /ˈmɪzəri/ 苦难,贫困, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required–not because the communistsn. /ˈkɑːmjənɪsts/ 共产党人 may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
对于生活在半个地球的茅屋与村落中、正奋力挣脱大众贫困枷锁的人民,我们承诺竭尽全力帮助他们自救,无论需要多长时间——不是因为共产党人可能这样做,不是因为我们想要他们的选票,而是因为这样做是正确的。如果一个自由社会不能帮助众多的穷人,它也就无法保全少数富人。
10
To our sister republicsn. /rɪˈpʌblɪks/ 共和国 south of our border, we offer a special pledge: to convert our good words into good deeds in a new alliancen. /əˈlaɪəns/ 联盟,同盟 for progress; to assist free men and free governments in casting offphr. /ˈkæstɪŋ ɔːf/ 摆脱,抛弃 the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the preyn. /preɪ/ 猎物,牺牲品 of hostile powers. Let all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggressionn. /əˈɡreʃn/ 侵略,侵犯 or subversionn. /səbˈvɜːrʒn/ 颠覆,破坏 anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemispheren. /ˈhemɪsfɪr/ 半球(此处指西半球) intends to remain the master of its own house.
对于我们边界以南的姐妹共和国,我们提出一项特别的承诺:将美好的言辞化为切实的行动,缔结一个争取进步的新联盟;帮助自由的人民与自由的政府挣脱贫困的锁链。但这场充满希望的和平革命,绝不能被敌对势力所猎取。让我们所有的邻邦都知道,我们将与他们携手,反对美洲任何地方的侵略或颠覆。也让其他一切势力都知道:这个半球决心做自己家园的主人。
11
To that world assembly of sovereignadj. /ˈsɑːvrən/ 主权的,独立自主的 states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpacedv. /ˌaʊtˈpeɪst/ 超过,远远胜过 the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support, to prevent it from becoming merely a forumn. /ˈfɔːrəm/ 论坛,讨论场所 for invectiven. /ɪnˈvektɪv/ 谩骂,抨击, to strengthen its shieldn. /ʃiːld/ 盾牌,保护屏障 of the new and the weak, and to enlarge the area in which its writn. /rɪt/ 法令,书面命令;管辖权限 may run.
对于那个由主权国家组成的世界性集会——联合国,在这个战争工具已远远超过和平工具的时代,它是我们最后的最好的希望——我们重申我们的支持承诺:防止它沦为仅仅相互谩骂的论坛,加强它为新生和弱小国家提供的保护盾,并扩大其法令所能施行的范围。
12
Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversaryn. /ˈædvərseri/ 对手,敌手, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anewadv. /əˈnuː/ 重新,再次 the questn. /kwest/ 探寻,追求 for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashedv. /ʌnˈliːʃt/ 释放,发动 by science engulfv. /ɪnˈɡʌlf/ 吞没,席卷 all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.
最后,对于那些执意与我们为敌的国家,我们提出的不是一项承诺,而是一个请求:让双方重新开始寻求和平——趁科学所释放的黑暗毁灭力量尚未在有意或意外的自我毁灭中吞没全人类。
13
We dare not temptv. /tempt/ 引诱,试探 them with weaknessn. /ˈwiːknəs/ 软弱,虚弱. For only when our arms are sufficientadj. /səˈfɪʃnt/ 充足的,足够的 beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employedv. /ɪmˈplɔɪd/ 使用,动用.
我们不敢以软弱去引诱他们。因为只有当我们的武力无可置疑地充足时,我们才能无可置疑地确信,它们永远不会被动用。
14
But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course–both sides overburdenedadj. /ˌoʊvərˈbɜːrdnd/ 负担过重的 by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmedadj. /əˈlɑːrmd/ 惊恐的,忧虑的 by the steady spread of the deadly atomn. /ˈætəm/ 原子(此处指核武器), yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terrorphr. /ˈbæləns əv ˈterər/ 恐怖平衡(核威慑下的均势) that stays the handphr. /steɪz ðə hænd/ 阻止(某人)动手,使不敢轻举妄动 of mankind's final war.
但是,两大强大的国家集团都无法从我们目前的道路上获得安宁——双方都因现代武器的代价而不堪重负,双方都因致命原子的不断扩散而理所当然地感到惊恐,然而双方又都在竞相改变那不确定的恐怖平衡,而正是这种平衡阻止了人类最后一场战争的爆发。
15
So let us begin anew–remembering on both sides that civilityn. /səˈvɪləti/ 礼貌,文明有礼 is not a sign of weakness, and sincerityn. /sɪnˈserəti/ 真诚,诚意 is always subject to proofphr. /ˈsʌbdʒɪkt tə pruːf/ 有待证明,需经检验. Let us never negotiatev. /nɪˈɡoʊʃieɪt/ 谈判,协商 out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.
那么,让我们重新开始——双方都要记住:礼貌并非软弱的标志,真诚则始终有待证明。我们绝不因恐惧而谈判,但也绝不惧怕谈判。
16
Let both sides explorev. /ɪkˈsplɔːr/ 探索,探究 what problems unite us instead of belaboringv. /bɪˈleɪbərɪŋ/ 反复强调,啰嗦地纠缠 those problems which dividev. /dɪˈvaɪd/ 使分裂,使对立 us.
让双方去探讨那些使我们团结的问题,而不是一味纠缠那些使我们分裂的问题。
17
Let both sides, for the first time, formulatev. /ˈfɔːrmjuleɪt/ 制定,系统提出 serious and preciseadj. /prɪˈsaɪs/ 精确的,明确的 proposals for the inspectionn. /ɪnˈspekʃn/ 核查,检查 and control of arms–and bring the absoluteadj. /ˈæbsəluːt/ 绝对的,完全的 power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.
让双方第一次为武器的核查与管制提出严肃而精确的方案——把毁灭他国的绝对力量,置于所有国家的绝对管控之下。
18
Let both sides seek to invokev. /ɪnˈvoʊk/ 祈求,唤起,召唤 the wonders of science instead of its terrorsn. /ˈterərz/ 恐怖,可怕之物. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicatev. /ɪˈrædɪkeɪt/ 根除,彻底消灭 disease, tapv. /tæp/ 开发,利用(资源) the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commercen. /ˈkɑːmɜːrs/ 商业,贸易.
让双方去召唤科学的奇迹,而不是它的恐怖。让我们一起探索星空,征服沙漠,根除疾病,开发深海,并鼓励艺术与商业。
19
Let both sides unite to heedv. /hiːd/ 听从,注意 in all corners of the Earth the command of Isaiahn. /aɪˈzaɪə/ 《以赛亚书》(《圣经·旧约》先知书) to "undo the heavy burdensphr. /ʌnˈduː ðə ˈhevi ˈbɜːrdnz/ 解下重轭,卸下重担 … (and) let the oppressedadj. /əˈprest/ 受压迫的,被压制的 go free."
让双方联合起来,在地球的所有角落听从以赛亚的训诫:"解下轭上的索……让被压迫的人得自由。"
20
And if a beachheadn. /ˈbiːtʃhed/ 滩头阵地,立足点 of cooperation may push back the junglen. /ˈdʒʌŋɡl/ 丛林,密林 of suspicionn. /səˈspɪʃn/ 猜疑,怀疑, let both sides join in creating a new endeavorn. /ɪnˈdevər/ 努力,事业, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preservedv. /prɪˈzɜːrvd/ 保持,维护.
如果合作的滩头阵地能够逼退猜疑的丛林,那就让双方共同缔造一项新的事业——不是一种新的势力均衡,而是一个法治的新世界:在那里,强者公正,弱者安全,和平得以维系。
21
All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administrationn. /ədˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃn/ 政府,执政当局;任期, nor even perhaps in our lifetimen. /ˈlaɪftaɪm/ 一生,有生之年 on this planet. But let us begin.
这一切不会在一百天内完成,也不会在一千天内完成,不会在本届政府的任期内完成,甚至也许不会在我们这一代人在这个星球上的有生之年完成。但让我们开始吧。
22
In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will restv. /rest/ 取决于,落在(某人身上) the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summonedv. /ˈsʌmənd/ 召唤,传唤 to give testimonyn. /ˈtestɪmoʊni/ 证明,见证 to its national loyalty. The gravesn. /ɡreɪvz/ 坟墓,墓地 of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.
各位同胞,我们事业最终的成功或失败,更多地掌握在你们手中,而不是我的手中。自从这个国家建立以来,每一代美国人都曾被召唤去为他们的国家忠诚作出证明。响应服役号召的美国青年,他们的坟墓遍布全球。
23
Now the trumpetn. /ˈtrʌmpɪt/ 号角,喇叭 summons us again; not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattledadj. /ɪmˈbætld/ 陷入战斗的,四面受敌的 we are; but a call to bear the burden of a long twilightn. /ˈtwaɪlaɪt/ 黄昏,暮色(喻漫长而晦暗的岁月) struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulationphr. /rɪˈdʒɔɪsɪŋ ɪn hoʊp ˈpeɪʃnt ɪn ˌtrɪbjuˈleɪʃn/ 在指望中喜乐,在患难中忍耐"–a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyrannyn. /ˈtɪrəni/ 暴政,专制, poverty, disease and war itself.
现在,号角再次召唤我们——不是号召我们拿起武器,尽管我们需要武器;不是号召我们奔赴战场,尽管我们已身陷重围;而是号召我们承担一场漫长而朦胧的斗争的重负,年复一年,"在指望中喜乐,在患难中忍耐"——一场对抗人类共同敌人的斗争:暴政、贫困、疾病以及战争本身。
24
Can we forgev. /fɔːrdʒ/ 缔造,锻造;奋力建立 against these enemies a grand and globaladj. /ˈɡloʊbl/ 全球的,全世界的 alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitfuladj. /ˈfruːtfl/ 富有成果的,丰硕的 life for all mankind? Will you join in that historicadj. /hɪˈstɔːrɪk/ 历史性的,具有重大历史意义的 effort?
我们能否针对这些敌人,缔结一个南北东西、遍及全球的宏大联盟,为全人类确保更丰硕的生活?你们愿意加入这项历史性的努力吗?
25
In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been grantedv. /ˈɡræntɪd/ 给予,授予 the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrinkv. /ʃrɪŋk/ 退缩,畏缩 from this responsibility; I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotionn. /dɪˈvoʊʃn/ 献身,热诚 which we bring to this endeavor will light our country and all who serve it–and the glown. /ɡloʊ/ 光辉,灼热的光 from that fire can truly light the world.
在世界漫长的历史中,只有少数几代人被赋予了在自由面临最大危险的时刻捍卫自由的重任。我不会在这个责任面前退缩,我欢迎它。我相信我们当中没有人愿意与任何其他民族或任何其他世代交换位置。我们投入这项事业的精力、信念与忠诚,将照亮我们的国家以及所有为国效力的人——而那道火焰的光辉,真能照亮整个世界。
26
And so, my fellow Americansn. /ˌfeloʊ əˈmerɪkənz/ 美国同胞们: ask notphr. /æsk nɑːt/ 不要问(倒装祈使,全句为本演讲最著名的一句) what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.
因此,我的美国同胞们:不要问你的国家能为你做什么——要问你能为你的国家做什么。
27
My fellow citizens of the worldn. /ˌfeloʊ ˈsɪtɪznz əv ðə wɜːrld/ 世界各国的公民们: ask not what America will do for you, but what togetheradv. /təˈɡeðər/ 共同,一起 we can do for the freedom of mann. /ˈfriːdəm əv mæn/ 人类的自由.
我的世界公民们:不要问美国将为你做什么,而要问我们共同能为人类的自由做什么。
28
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrificen. /ˈsækrɪfaɪs/ 牺牲,奉献 which we ask of you. With a good consciencen. /ˈkɑːnʃəns/ 良心,良知 our only sure reward, with history the final judgen. /dʒʌdʒ/ 裁判者,评判者 of our deedsn. /diːdz/ 行为,事迹, let us go forthphr. /ɡoʊ fɔːrθ/ 出发,向前迈进 to lead the land we love, asking His blessingn. /ˈblesɪŋ/ 祝福,保佑 and His help, but knowing that here on Earth God's work must truly be our own.
最后,无论你们是美国的公民还是世界的公民,请以我们要求你们的标准,同样要求我们:力量与牺牲的崇高标准。当我们唯一的可靠回报是问心无愧,当历史是我们行为的最终裁判,就让我们前行,去引领我们所热爱的这片土地,祈求他的祝福与帮助,但要知道:在这片土地上,上帝的工作必须真正由我们自己来完成。

词汇总表

按英文段落出现顺序排列,共 条。

Word词性音标(美式)释义