VOA慢速英语:Words and Their Stories: Heart to Heart

Each week, this program explains the many meanings of English expressions. Today’s expressions include a very important word – heart.
每个星期我们都会在这个节目里解释许多英语表达的多重含义。今天要介绍的词句中包括了一个非常重要的单词--heart。

We will try to get to the heart of the matter to better understand the most important things about words and their stories. So take heart. Have no fear about learning new expressions. Besides, popular English words can be fun. There is no need for a heavy heart. Such feelings of sadness would only break my heart, or make me feel unhappy and hopeless.
我们将尽量触及本质来更好地理解词汇典故中这个最重要的东西。因此，请鼓起勇气，不要害怕学习新的词句。此外，这些流行英语词汇会非常有趣，没必要心情沉重。那种悲伤的情感只会让我心碎，或者说让我不开心和失望。

Now, let us suppose you and I were speaking freely about something private. We would be having a heart to heart discussion. I might speak from the bottom of my heart, or say things honestly and truthfully. I might even open up my heart to you and tell a secret. I would speak with all my heart, or with great feeling.
现在，让我们假设你和我在自由谈论一些私事。我们将进行一次坦率的交流。我可能会说出心底的话，甚至会敞开心扉，告诉你一个秘密。我会真心诚意地与你交流。

When a person shares her feelings freely and openly like this, you might say she wears her heart on her sleeve, or on her clothing. Her emotions are not protected.
当一个人如此坦率、毫无隐瞒地和你分享她的感受，你可能会说她十分坦率，她的情感毫不设防。

If we had an honest discussion, both of us would know that the other person’s heart is in the right place. For example, I would know that you are a kind-hearted and well-meaning person. And, if you are a very good person, I would even say that you have a heart of gold. However, you might have a change of heart based on what I tell you. Our discussion might cause you to change the way you feel about something.
如果我们有一次坦诚的交谈，我们都会知道，对方心地不坏。例如，我就会知道你是个善良、好心的人。而且，如果你是一个非常好的人，我甚至会说，你有一颗金子般的心。但是，你可能会因为听了我的话而改变心意。我们的谈话可能会导致你对某些事物看法的改变。

But, let us suppose you get angry over what I tell you. Or worse, you feel no sympathy or understanding for me or my situation. If this happens, I might think that you have a heart of stone. And, if you say something to make me frightened or worried, my heart might stand still or skip a beat.
但是，让我们假设，你对我告诉你的事情非常生气，或者更糟，你根本不同情或不理解我的情况。如果发生这种情况，我可能会认为你是铁石心肠。而且，如果你说了一些让我害怕或担心的事，我的心跳可能会停止，或心跳加速。

Yet, even though you may be angry, I would know that at heart, you are a kind person. In reality, you do care. And any argument between us would not cause me to lose heart or feel a sense of loss.
然而，即便你可能会生气，我也知道在内心里，你是一个善良的人。在现实中，你会在乎。我们之间的任何争论都不会让我感到失落。

My heart goes out to anyone who loses a friend over an argument. It really is a sad situation, and I feel sympathy for the people involved.
我与任何因为一次争论失去朋友的人感同身受。这真的是一种可悲的情况。我对所有涉及此事的人表示同情。

I promise that what I have told you today is true – cross my heart.
我保证，我今天告诉你的都是事实，我发誓。

I really wanted to play some music at the end of this feature. In fact, I had my heart set on it. So here it is, “Don’t Go Breaking my Heart” by Elton John.
我真的很想在节目最后放点音乐。事实上，我已有所决定。所以这里是Elton John演唱的“Don't Go Breaking my Heart”。

(MUSIC)