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This week on Ask a Teacher, we consider expressions, or idioms, and offer some advice for learning them.
本周《名师答疑》，我们来探讨短语，或者说习语，并为学习习语提供一些建议。
An idiom is an expression formed from two or more words.
习语是由两个及以上的单词组成的一种短语。
But an idiom’s meaning often cannot be understood just by knowing each of the words in it.
但是习语的意思往往不是每个单词加起来的意思。
Let’s look at the following sentence as an example:
让我们来看看下面这个例句：
We want our students to think outside the box.
我们希望学生能够打破常规思考。
Here, the words "outside the box" form an idiom.
在这里，"盒子之外"是一个习语。
If you only heard this one sentence, you might not be sure what it means.
如果你只听到这一句话，你可能不确定它是什么意思。
But people use idioms in connection to situations.
但是人们会将习语与情境联系起来使用。
For that reason, they usually say more than one sentence, and this can help you understand the idiom.
因此，他们通常会说不止一句话，这可以帮助你理解习语。
For example: We want our students to think outside the box. That’s why we push them to find creative ways to solve problems.
例如：我们希望学生能打破常规思考，所以我们鼓励他们寻找创新的方法来解决问题。
By looking at these two sentences together, it can be easier to understand the meaning of "outside the box."
通过将这两个句子放在一起看，可以更容易地理解"outside the box"的意思。
It means to think in new or creative ways.
表示要以新的或创造性的方式思考。
In addition to considering the situation to help you understand the meaning of idioms, here is some other advice:
除了通过联系情境来理解习语的意思，还有一些其他建议：
Digital translation tools continue to improve, but you should avoid translating the idioms directly, word-for-word, into your native language.
数字翻译工具在不断改进，但你应该避免将习语直接逐字地翻译成你的母语。
When you hear a short group of words that seem very unrelated to a subject under discussion, those words will often be an idiom.
当你听到几个连在一起的单词似乎与正在讨论的主题非常无关时，这些词通常是一个习语。
Be sure to learn the tone, or feeling, an idiom carries with it.
其次，一定要学习习语所表达的语气或者说感觉。
The best way to learn about the tone of idioms is to ask native speakers about them.
了解习语的语气的最佳方法是向母语人士请教。
Native speakers might also be able to tell you if an idiom is commonly or rarely used.
母语人士也许还能告诉你，这个习语是常用还是不常用。
When learning English, it will likely be easier for you to understand idioms than to use them in speaking.
在学习英语时，理解习语的意思对你来说可能比在口语中使用它们更容易。
However, if you can use idioms correctly, that can help deepen your connection to native speakers.
然而，如果你能正确地使用习语，就可以帮助你加深与母语人士的联系。
With thousands of idioms in English, there is a lot to learn.
英语中有成千上万的习语，有很多东西要学。
But do not throw in the towel, in other words, do not give up.
但是不要认输，换句话说，不要放弃。
Instead, knock yourself out, or try hard, and do your best to learn them.
相反，要全力以赴，或者说加倍努力，尽你最大的努力去学习。
And you will feel proud as a peacock!
然后你会感到非常自豪！
You can learn all about idioms by following our Words and Their Stories program.
你可以通过收听我们的《VOA慢速-词汇掌故》节目来学习关于习语的各种知识。
And that’s Ask a Teacher.
以上就是本期《名师答疑》。
I’m Andrew Smith.
我是安德鲁·史密斯。
