雙語閱讀:你是拒絕長大的「彼得·潘一代嗎」?

教育 • 留學

(澳洲生活網)

If you’re pushing your 30th birthday, then relax – because you’re only just an adult.

如果你快過30歲生日了,那也別緊張 —— 因為你才剛剛成為成年人。

Britain’s Peter Pan generation is refusing to grow up, which is making 29 the ‘new 21’.

英國的彼得•潘(Peter Pan)一代人拒絕長大,將29歲活成另一個21歲(在英國,滿21歲才正式成年)。

According to research, the nation’s 20-somethings are leaving adult responsibilities like moving out of the family home and getting married until their early 30s, later than any previous generation.

調查表明,英國二十幾歲的年輕人將搬出父母家、結婚等成年人的責任,拖到30歲出頭再承擔,比以前的任何一代人都要晚。

Just 40 years ago teenagers grew up much quicker – and in the Seventies were habitually hitched by 23, had their first child at 26 and got the keys to their own pad by 27.

40年前的青少年,成長速度可快得多了——上世紀70年代的英國人,通常在23歲時結婚,26歲時有了第一個孩子,27歲時就買下自己的房子了。

But a study has found today’s college and university leavers will be unlikely to have their own property until they reach 36.

不過一項研究表明,現在的大學畢業生們,36歲以前基本不可能擁有自己的住處。

And the average age of having a child is 30, while the sound of wedding bells will not be heard until they are 31.

並且,他們的平均生育年齡是30歲,結婚的年齡也在31歲以後。

While 21 is traditionally seen as a coming of age, the survey for insurance firm Beagle Street found the average 20-something does not feel like a grown-up until 29.

依照傳統觀點,21歲是成年的標誌,但是英國保險公司比爾格街(Beagle Street)的調查發現,二十幾歲的年輕人們直到29歲,才會覺得自己是個成年人了。

Its study found signs of delayed adulthood include living at home and relying on parents to do the household chores, not having a nine-to-five job, playing computer games and watching kids movies like Inside Out and Frozen.

這項調查發現,成人期滯後的跡象包括:住在父母家中並讓父母幹家務、沒有一份朝九晚五的工作、玩電腦遊戲、看《頭腦特工隊(Inside Out)》和《冰雪奇緣(Frozen)》等兒童電影。

A fear of responsibility was also a reason for wanting to stay young, along with not learning to drive or setting up a bank account.

對責任的恐懼,也是年輕人不想長大、不想學開車、不想擁有自己的銀行賬戶的原因之一。

But true signs of becoming a fully fledged adult were buying a property, doing DIY, paying into a pension scheme and looking forward to a night in.

而成為一個真正成年人的標誌包括:自己買房、自己動手、向養老金計劃存錢、以及期待晚上宅在家裡度過。

Ten Signs of Not Growing Up

沒長大的十個標誌

1.Relying on parents to do household chores

依賴父母做家務

2.Living at home longer

在父母家裡住得更久

3.Playing computer games

玩電腦遊戲

4.Watching kids movies

看兒童電影

5.Watching cartoons

看卡通片

6.Not having any responsibilities

不承擔任何責任

7.Not wanting a real or a nine to five job

不想干一份真正的、或朝九晚五的工作

8.Desire to travel and see the world

想去旅行,想去看看這世界

9.Idolising juvenile adults on TV like Smithy in Gavin and Stacey

把電視劇《加文和斯泰西(Gavin and Stacey)》中,不願承擔責任的老小孩史密西(Smithy)視為偶像

10.A lack of real life education like learning to drive or setting up a bank account

缺乏對學習開車、開通銀行賬戶等真實生活技能的學習

Ten Signs You Are a Fully Fledged Adult

真正成年的十個標誌

1.Buying your first home

購買自己的第一處房產

2.Becoming a parent

為人父母

3.Getting married

結婚

4.Paying into a pension scheme

向養老金計劃存錢

5.Becoming house proud

熱衷於布置家庭

6.Taking out life insurance

買人壽保險

7.Looking forward to a night in

期待夜晚在家度過

8.Doing DIY

自己動手

9.Hosting dinner parties

舉辦晚餐聚會

10.Having a joint bank account

擁有共同的銀行賬戶

 

Vocabulary

  • hitch:結婚
  • pad:住所,房間,公寓
  • coming of age:成年
  • life insurance:人壽保險

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