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Is Trade for You? 你适合贸易这行业吗？

课文朗读

课文讲解

繁體中文譯本

Imagine you’re shopping in New Delhi, India. You discover some statues that sell for big money in upscale Taipei boutique, and the solicitous Delhi merchant offers you wholesale prices. Should you jump at this opportunity, or is there more to consider when starting an import-export business?

想象你在印度新德里购物。你发现一些可以在台北的上流精品店大卖的雕像，而热心想讨好你的印商开给你的是大盘价。如果你想开始做进出口生意的话，你应该马上就掌握住这个机会，或是还有些什么事情该考虑的？

The foremost consideration is: Do you have customers? Because the toughest part – selling – is done on home turf, many import-export tyros first try their hand at importing. However, importers must almost always buy in order to sell and pay before getting paid. The alternatives, starting as an export agent or broker, are safer and require less investment, but are, of course, less profitable. However, neither importing, nor exporting can be undertaken without a modicum of start-up funds.

最先必须考虑的是：你有客源吗？因为最困难的一部份──销售──是在自己国内的地盘上进行。很多做进出口生意的新手，开始时都先做进口。不过，进口商几乎总是必须先买才能卖，所以货款还没收到前就必须先付款了。权宜之计是，开始时先当出口商或是中间人，这样比较安全而且所需资金较少，不过当然获利也比较少。但是无论进口或出口，刚开始时如果没有一小笔资金，切不可轻举妄动。

In international trade, buyers will only pay if they receive exactly what was ordered. For example, if a buyer orders 100 units in 10 boxes, and is inadvertently sent 100 units in 20 boxes, such a technicality may delay payment. Orders must also pass through linguistic and cultural barriers, so importer-exporters with an understanding of foreign cultures and an eye for detail will fare better.

在国际贸易中，买方只在收到了与订单完全相符的货品后才会付钱。譬如，如果一位买家订的是100组东西要分装成10箱，却因疏忽而将这100组货品分装成20箱送出去。这种程序上的疏忽，是会导致延迟付款的。订单也必须通得过语言及文化障碍，如此一来，了解外国文化并且注意细节的进出口商，才能顺利拓展业务。

In this business, the more money, skills, and contacts you have, the greater your chance of success.

在这一行，你有愈多的钱、技术和人脉的话，你的成功机会就愈大。

Vocabulary

单词发音

statue [ˋstætʃʊ] n. 雕像，塑像

upscale [ˋʌp͵skel] adj.【美】适合高消费阶层的﹐高档的

boutique [buˋtik] n. 出售流行服饰的小商店﹐精品店

solicitous [səˋlɪsɪtəs] adj. 热心的; 热切期望的

foremost [ˋfor͵most] adj. 最先的; 最重要的

home turf 本土市场

turf [tɝf] n.【美】【俚】地盘；势力范围

tyro [ˋtaɪro] n. 初学者；生手；新手

modicum [ˋmɑdɪkəm] n.【正式】〔尤指好的方面〕少量﹐一点点

start-up  adj. 创办时的〔成本〕; 起始（阶段）的 n. 新运作的公司 a business or an undertaking that has recently begun operation

inadvertently [͵ɪnədˋvɝtntlɪ] adv. 不慎地; 非故意地

technicality [͵tɛknɪˋkælətɪ] n. 技术细节

linguistic [lɪŋˋgwɪstɪk] adj. 语言的; 语言学的

fare [fɛr] v. 进展

Sentence of the Day

You must ask yourself some serious questions before seeking your fortune in the import-export business.

在你想做进出品生意赚大钱之前，你必须先问自己一些严肃的问题。

课文讲解

Kim, manager of a small hotel, is discussing a business with her neighbor Steve:  金是一家小旅馆的经理，她和邻居史提夫正在讨论一个生意点子：

S: I hear you’re getting into the import-export business.

我听说妳要做进出口贸易了。

K: That’s right. I’ve found a manufacturer of straw matsin southern China. With some refinements, I think I can sell them to hotels and resorts as beach mats.

是的。我在中国南方找到一家制造草席的工厂。我想只要把产品再加以美化一下，就能卖给旅馆和渡假村做为海滩垫来用。

S: Sounds like a great idea. You’ve been in the hospitality industry for a long time, so you probably know exactly what your potential customers need.

听起来是个好主意。妳已经从事餐旅业好长一段时间了，所以大约已经摸清楚潜在客户真正需要什么东西了。

K: Yes. I’ve also built an excellent network all around the world, so I know precisely who to call on.

是的，我也已经在世界各地建立起很棒的业务网，所以确实晓得什么事该找谁。

S: Are you going to quit your job?

妳要辞职了吗？

K: That’s what I’m not so sure about. Do you think I can do this part-time?

就是这一点我不确定，你认为我用兼职的方式就能搞定了吗？

S: It’s not easy to make a quick buck in this business. Most firms lose money for at least a year. My advice is to have enough money to survive without income for up to two years.

在这一行不容易很快赚到钱。大多数公司都至少赔一年。我建议要有足够的钱，能让妳即使两年没收入也能撑下去。

K: Well, money is a major issue, which is why I’m hoping to find a partner. It’s hard for one person to possess all the assets and qualities to run a business.

钱的确是个大问题，正因为如此所以我希望能找一位合伙人。很难光靠一个人就拥有做生意所需的资金和适合的特质。

S: So you need someone with money and trading experience. Like myself, perhaps?

所以妳需要一位有钱又有贸易经验的伙伴。或许，就像我？

K: Exactly. So … what do you say?

正是如些。所以…你认为呢？

－by Howie Phung

Vocabulary

单词发音

get into 开始从事(某职业)

straw [strɔ] n. 稻草

refinement [rɪˋfaɪnmənt] n. 细微的改良; 修正; 改进

hospitality industry 酒店业；服务业; 餐旅服务业

hospitality [͵hɑspɪˋtælətɪ] n. 好客；殷勤招待

precisely [prɪˋsaɪslɪ] adv. 清晰地，明确地

call on 拜访 to order or request to undertake a particular activity

quit [kwɪt] v.【非正式﹐尤美】〔尤因烦恼或愉快而〕辞去〔工作〕

asset [ˋæsɛt] n. 资产﹐财产

Sentence of the Day

To make her business work, Kim will have to keep her nose to the grindstone.

金为了经营她的生意，必须竭尽所能努力工作。

keep one’s nose to the grindstone【口】使某人努力工作