- Published on
胖东来超市的火爆反映了中国经济新情况
- Authors
在一个普通的周二早上，一大群人已经聚集在许昌的一家超市门外。
双语精读
Talking shop
说到商店
What a wildly successful provincial grocer says about China's economy.
一个火爆成功的地方超市反映了中国经济的什么情况。
On a regular Tuesday morning, a large crowd has gathered outside a grocery store in Xuchang, a city of 4m people. Visit Pangdonglai at the weekend and things are even busier.
在一个普通的周二早上，一大群人已经聚集在许昌的一家超市门外，许昌是一座有400万人口的城市。如果在周末去胖东来，店里的生意会更繁忙。
Thousands, some having travelled hundreds of kilometres, arrive before dawn to take their place in a queue that snakes back and forth in front of the store's entrance.
数以千计的人，其中一些人从数百公里之外赶来，在黎明前就来到超市入口处蜿蜒迂回的队伍里排队。
Customers have a variety of explanations as to why they have traveled to what appears to be a nice but unspectacular store. Many acclaim the service.
为什么人们会去一家看起来不错但不太起眼的商店，顾客们有各种各样的解释。许多人对这里的服务表示赞赏。
Superior produce also helps: unsold fruit and vegetables are discarded after a day on shelves, shoppers say. Prices are not low but are considered fair.
优质生鲜产品也有帮助：买东西的人们说，水果和蔬菜在上架一天还未售出后就会被扔掉。价格不算低，但被认为是公道的。
Several customers report being impressed by Pangdonglai's employment policies. The firm is said to pay more than three times the local average among industry peers and give staff at least 40 days off a year, an exceptional amount for China.
几位顾客表示，胖东来的雇佣政策给他们留下了深刻的印象。据说，该公司的薪酬是当地同行平均水平的三倍多，员工每年至少有40天的假期，这在中国来说是特别长的假期了。
Some may just appreciate the atmosphere. Amid squeaky-clean aisles, the words "Freedom & Love" are printed in bold lettering throughout.
有些人可能只是欣赏这里的氛围。在一尘不染的过道里，到处用粗体字印着“自由与爱”的字样。
Firms across China have been sending managers in "study groups" to Pangdonglai. One finding ought to be that Chinese consumers want more and more for their money.
中国各地的公司一直在以“学习小组”的形式派遣管理人员前往胖东来。其中一个发现应该是，中国消费者希望钱买到的东西能越来越多。
Analysts have been tracking growing discernment for years, and many have found low levels of trust as a result of years of food-safety scandals.
分析人士多年来一直在跟踪研究消费者不断进步的商品鉴别力，许多人发现，由于多年来的食品安全丑闻，人们对商品的信任度很低。
Pangdonglai goes to great lengths to address concerns. It prints the margins it makes on some price tags and provides the names and phone numbers of the suppliers of many products. It also tests the level of pesticides on fruit and publishes the results.
胖东来不遗余力地解决人们的担忧。它将赚取的利润打印在一些价格标签上，并提供许多产品供应商的名称和电话号码。它还测试水果上的杀虫剂残留水平，并公布结果。
Investors note that publicising low margins on some products, while earning higher margins on others, is a wise strategy. These quirks have helped Pangdonglai become an internet sensation.
投资者指出，在一些产品上发布低利润率，同时在其他产品上赚取更高的利润，这是一种明智的策略。这些别出心裁的做法帮助胖东来成为了网红超市。
Perhaps the most profound aspect of the chain's rise is its part in a nascent consumer revival outside China's big cities. Although their economies lag behind coastal cities, inland towns are home to growing cohorts of young, affluent shoppers.
或许，这家连锁超市蒸蒸日上的最深刻的一个方面，在于它参与了中国大城市以外的新兴消费复兴。虽然内陆城镇的经济落后于沿海城市，但内陆城镇有越来越多的年轻、富裕的购物者。
Zhou Yangmin of Zhengzhou University recently noted that Pangdonglai's success reflects its decision to target affluent shoppers in a place with few other options.
郑州大学的周阳敏最近指出，胖东来的成功反映了其商业决策，即在其他选择很少的地方把富裕的购物者作为目标客户。
Spending on cosmetics, dining and sports-wear seems to have fallen in China's largest cities in the final quarter of last year, according to a survey by UBS, a bank, whereas similar spending in smaller cities was either flat or growing.
根据瑞银银行的一项调查，去年第四季度，中国大城市在化妆品、餐饮和运动服饰上的支出似乎有所下降，而小城市的类似支出要么持平，要么在增长。
词汇预习
economy [高考]
美[ɪˈkɑːnəmi] | 英[ɪˈkɒnəmi]
n. 经济；节约 adj. 经济的；廉价的
employment [高考]
美[ɪmˈplɔɪmənt] | 英[ɪmˈplɔɪmənt]
n. 职业；雇用；使用
coastal [高考]
美[ˈkoʊstl] | 英[ˈkəʊstl]
adj. 沿海的；海岸的；沿岸的
inland [高考]
美[ˌɪnˈlænd , ˈɪnlænd] | 英[ˌɪnˈlænd , ˈɪnlænd]
adj. 内陆的；国内的 adv. 内陆地 n. 内陆
whereas [高考]
美[ˌwerˈæz] | 英[ˌweərˈæz]
conj. 然而；鉴于
exceptional [高考]
美[ɪkˈsepʃənl] | 英[ɪkˈsepʃənl]
adj. 异常的；例外的；特别的；杰出的
profound [高考]
美[prəˈfaʊnd] | 英[prəˈfaʊnd]
adj. 深奥的；渊博的；极度的；意义深远的
appreciate [高考]
美[əˈpriːʃieɪt] | 英[əˈpriːʃieɪt]
vt. 欣赏；赏识；感激；领会；意识到 vi. 增值
variety [高考]
美[vəˈraɪəti] | 英[vəˈraɪəti]
n. 多样；种类；多样化 n. 杂耍
aspect [高考]
美[ˈæspekt] | 英[ˈæspekt]
n. 方面；方位；外观；外貌
target [高考]
美[ˈtɑːrɡɪt] | 英[ˈtɑːɡɪt]
n. 目标；对象；靶 vt. 把 ... 作为目标；瞄准
atmosphere [高考]
美[ˈætməsfɪr] | 英[ˈætməsfɪə(r)]
n. 大气；空气；气氛；气压
grocery [高考]
美[ˈɡroʊsəri] | 英[ˈɡrəʊsəri]
n. 杂货店 adj. 杂货的
ought [高考]
美[ˈɔːt] | 英[ˈɔːt]
aux. 应该；应当；本该 vi. 应该，应当；大概
dawn [高考]
美[dɔːn] | 英[dɔːn]
n. 黎明；曙光；开端；破晓 vi. 开始出现；破晓；逐渐明白
grocer [高考]
美[ˈɡroʊsər] | 英[ˈɡrəʊsə(r)]
n. 食品杂货商；杂货店
as a result of [高考]
美[æz ə rɪˈzʌlt əv] | 英[æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ɒv]
作为 ... 的结果； 由于
a variety of [高考]
美[e vəˈraɪɪti ʌv] | 英[ə vəˈraiəti ɔv]
种种； 多种多样
back and forth [高考]
美[bæk ənd fɔːrθ] | 英[bæk ənd fɔːθ]
来回地； 反复地
finding [高考]
美[ˈfaɪndɪŋ] | 英[ˈfaɪndɪŋ]
n. 调查(或研究)的结果；[律] 裁决
ought to [高考]
美[ˈɔːt tə] | 英[ˈɔːt tə]
应该；应当
bold [高考]
美[boʊld] | 英[bəʊld]
adj. 大胆的；陡峭的；醒目的；粗体的；无礼的
forth [四级]
美[fɔːrθ] | 英[fɔːθ]
adv. 向前；向外；露出
lag [四级]
美[læɡ] | 英[læɡ]
v. 落后；减退；缓慢进行 n. 落后；时间间隔
provincial [四级]
美[prəˈvɪnʃəl] | 英[prəˈvɪnʃl]
adj. 省的；地方的；偏狭的 n. 乡下人；地方人民
as to [四级]
美[æz tu] | 英[æz tu]
prep. 关于
affluent [六级]
美[ˈæfluənt] | 英[ˈæfluənt]
adj. 富裕的 n. 支流
unsold [六级]
美[ˌʌnˈsoʊld] | 英[ˌʌnˈsəʊld]
adj. 未销售的
sensation [六级]
美[senˈseɪʃn] | 英[senˈseɪʃn]
n. 感觉；轰动；激动；知觉
acclaim [六级]
美[əˈkleɪm] | 英[əˈkleɪm]
n. 喝采；欢呼；赞同 v. 欢呼；喝采；称赞
revival [专四]
美[rɪˈvaɪvl] | 英[rɪˈvaɪvl]
n. 复兴；复活；恢复精神
economies [专四]
美[ɪ'kɒnəmɪz] | 英[iˈkɔnəmiz]
节约；经济（名词economy的复数形式）
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
nascent [托福]
美[ˈnæsənt, ˈnesənt] | 英[ˈnæsnt]
adj. 新生的；尚不成熟的；尚不发达的
noted [托福]
美[ˈnoʊtɪd] | 英[ˈnəʊtɪd]
adj. 著名的；有声望的
cosmetics [雅思]
美[kɑzˈmɛtɪks] | 英[kɒzˈmɛtɪks]
n. 化妆品
重点讲解
Talking shop
说到商店
provincial adj. 外省的；地方的；土气的
【例】provincial economy 地方经济
the provincial attitude 小地方偏狭的态度
【拓展】province n. 省份
What a wildly successful provincial grocer says about China's economy.
一个火爆成功的地方超市反映了中国经济的什么情况。
provincial adj. 外省的；地方的；土气的
【例】provincial economy 地方经济
the provincial attitude 小地方偏狭的态度
【拓展】province n. 省份
On a regular Tuesday morning, a large crowd has gathered outside a grocery store in Xuchang, a city of 4m people. Visit Pangdonglai at the weekend and things are even busier.
在一个普通的周二早上，一大群人已经聚集在许昌的一家超市门外，许昌是一座有400万人口的城市。如果在周末去胖东来，店里的生意会更繁忙。
provincial adj. 外省的；地方的；土气的
【例】provincial economy 地方经济
the provincial attitude 小地方偏狭的态度
【拓展】province n. 省份
Thousands, some having travelled hundreds of kilometres, arrive before dawn to take their place in a queue that snakes back and forth in front of the store's entrance.
数以千计的人，其中一些人从数百公里之外赶来，在黎明前就来到超市入口处蜿蜒迂回的队伍里排队。
snake v. 蜿蜒；曲折前行
【例】The path snaked through the forest.
小径蜿蜒穿过森林。
【近义词】wind/meander/zigzag v. 蜿蜒而行
acclaim v. 公开赞扬
【例】She was widely acclaimed for her contribution to the field of science.
她因在科学领域的贡献而受到了广泛赞扬。
【近义词】praise/applaud v. 称赞
【辨析】claim v. 宣称；声称
Customers have a variety of explanations as to why they have traveled to what appears to be a nice but unspectacular store. Many acclaim the service.
为什么人们会去一家看起来不错但不太起眼的商店，顾客们有各种各样的解释。许多人对这里的服务表示赞赏。
snake v. 蜿蜒；曲折前行
【例】The path snaked through the forest.
小径蜿蜒穿过森林。
【近义词】wind/meander/zigzag v. 蜿蜒而行
acclaim v. 公开赞扬
【例】She was widely acclaimed for her contribution to the field of science.
她因在科学领域的贡献而受到了广泛赞扬。
【近义词】praise/applaud v. 称赞
【辨析】claim v. 宣称；声称
Superior produce also helps: unsold fruit and vegetables are discarded after a day on shelves, shoppers say. Prices are not low but are considered fair.
优质生鲜产品也有帮助：买东西的人们说，水果和蔬菜在上架一天还未售出后就会被扔掉。价格不算低，但被认为是公道的。
discard v. 丢弃；抛弃
【例】After moving, they discarded the old furniture.
搬家后，他们把旧家具丢掉了。
【近义词】dump/ditch/get rid of 丢弃；扔掉
【辨析】abandon v. 抛弃；不得已地放弃
exceptional adj. 特殊的；罕见的
【例】There have been an exceptional number of rainy days this year.
今年的雨天特别多。
【拓展】exception n. 例外
Several customers report being impressed by Pangdonglai's employment policies. The firm is said to pay more than three times the local average among industry peers and give staff at least 40 days off a year, an exceptional amount for China.
几位顾客表示，胖东来的雇佣政策给他们留下了深刻的印象。据说，该公司的薪酬是当地同行平均水平的三倍多，员工每年至少有40天的假期，这在中国来说是特别长的假期了。
discard v. 丢弃；抛弃
【例】After moving, they discarded the old furniture.
搬家后，他们把旧家具丢掉了。
【近义词】dump/ditch/get rid of 丢弃；扔掉
【辨析】abandon v. 抛弃；不得已地放弃
exceptional adj. 特殊的；罕见的
【例】There have been an exceptional number of rainy days this year.
今年的雨天特别多。
【拓展】exception n. 例外
Some may just appreciate the atmosphere. Amid squeaky-clean aisles, the words "Freedom & Love" are printed in bold lettering throughout.
有些人可能只是欣赏这里的氛围。在一尘不染的过道里，到处用粗体字印着“自由与爱”的字样。
discard v. 丢弃；抛弃
【例】After moving, they discarded the old furniture.
搬家后，他们把旧家具丢掉了。
【近义词】dump/ditch/get rid of 丢弃；扔掉
【辨析】abandon v. 抛弃；不得已地放弃
exceptional adj. 特殊的；罕见的
【例】There have been an exceptional number of rainy days this year.
今年的雨天特别多。
【拓展】exception n. 例外
Firms across China have been sending managers in "study groups" to Pangdonglai. One finding ought to be that Chinese consumers want more and more for their money.
中国各地的公司一直在以“学习小组”的形式派遣管理人员前往胖东来。其中一个发现应该是，中国消费者希望钱买到的东西能越来越多。
discernment n. 鉴别力；识别力
【例】He shows great discernment in his choice of team members.
他选择队员的时候很有眼光。
【拓展】discern v. 觉察；识别
【近义词】discrimination n. 鉴别力
go to great lengths to do sth 竭尽全力做某事
【例】She went to great lengths to ensure her daughter had the best education possible.
她不遗余力地确保她的女儿能接受到最好的教育。
【近义词】try one's best/spare no effort/bend over backwards
尽全力做某事
【拓展】go the extra mile for sth 为某事付出额外努力
Analysts have been tracking growing discernment for years, and many have found low levels of trust as a result of years of food-safety scandals.
分析人士多年来一直在跟踪研究消费者不断进步的商品鉴别力，许多人发现，由于多年来的食品安全丑闻，人们对商品的信任度很低。
discernment n. 鉴别力；识别力
【例】He shows great discernment in his choice of team members.
他选择队员的时候很有眼光。
【拓展】discern v. 觉察；识别
【近义词】discrimination n. 鉴别力
go to great lengths to do sth 竭尽全力做某事
【例】She went to great lengths to ensure her daughter had the best education possible.
她不遗余力地确保她的女儿能接受到最好的教育。
【近义词】try one's best/spare no effort/bend over backwards
尽全力做某事
【拓展】go the extra mile for sth 为某事付出额外努力
Pangdonglai goes to great lengths to address concerns. It prints the margins it makes on some price tags and provides the names and phone numbers of the suppliers of many products. It also tests the level of pesticides on fruit and publishes the results.
胖东来不遗余力地解决人们的担忧。它将赚取的利润打印在一些价格标签上，并提供许多产品供应商的名称和电话号码。它还测试水果上的杀虫剂残留水平，并公布结果。
discernment n. 鉴别力；识别力
【例】He shows great discernment in his choice of team members.
他选择队员的时候很有眼光。
【拓展】discern v. 觉察；识别
【近义词】discrimination n. 鉴别力
go to great lengths to do sth 竭尽全力做某事
【例】She went to great lengths to ensure her daughter had the best education possible.
她不遗余力地确保她的女儿能接受到最好的教育。
【近义词】try one's best/spare no effort/bend over backwards
尽全力做某事
【拓展】go the extra mile for sth 为某事付出额外努力
Investors note that publicising low margins on some products, while earning higher margins on others, is a wise strategy. These quirks have helped Pangdonglai become an internet sensation.
投资者指出，在一些产品上发布低利润率，同时在其他产品上赚取更高的利润，这是一种明智的策略。这些别出心裁的做法帮助胖东来成为了网红超市。
sensation n. 引起轰动的人或事
【例】The young singer became an overnight sensation.
这位年轻歌手一夜之间成为了轰动一时的人物。
to cause a media sensation 在媒体上引起轰动
【近义词】buzz/craze/frenzy n. 热议；狂热
nascent adj. 新生的；新诞生的
【例】the nascent technology 新兴技术
【近义词】new/emerging/budding/recent adj. 新兴的；最近的
lag behind 落后于
【例】to lag behind the competitors/schedule
落后于竞争对手/进度落后
【近义词】trail v. 落后；滞后
Perhaps the most profound aspect of the chain's rise is its part in a nascent consumer revival outside China's big cities. Although their economies lag behind coastal cities, inland towns are home to growing cohorts of young, affluent shoppers.
或许，这家连锁超市蒸蒸日上的最深刻的一个方面，在于它参与了中国大城市以外的新兴消费复兴。虽然内陆城镇的经济落后于沿海城市，但内陆城镇有越来越多的年轻、富裕的购物者。
sensation n. 引起轰动的人或事
【例】The young singer became an overnight sensation.
这位年轻歌手一夜之间成为了轰动一时的人物。
to cause a media sensation 在媒体上引起轰动
【近义词】buzz/craze/frenzy n. 热议；狂热
nascent adj. 新生的；新诞生的
【例】the nascent technology 新兴技术
【近义词】new/emerging/budding/recent adj. 新兴的；最近的
lag behind 落后于
【例】to lag behind the competitors/schedule
落后于竞争对手/进度落后
【近义词】trail v. 落后；滞后
Zhou Yangmin of Zhengzhou University recently noted that Pangdonglai's success reflects its decision to target affluent shoppers in a place with few other options.
郑州大学的周阳敏最近指出，胖东来的成功反映了其商业决策，即在其他选择很少的地方把富裕的购物者作为目标客户。
target v. 瞄准；面向某一群体
【例】a new magazine that targets single men
以单身男士为读者对象的新杂志
【近义词】be oriented to 面向；针对
Spending on cosmetics, dining and sports-wear seems to have fallen in China's largest cities in the final quarter of last year, according to a survey by UBS, a bank, whereas similar spending in smaller cities was either flat or growing.
根据瑞银银行的一项调查，去年第四季度，中国大城市在化妆品、餐饮和运动服饰上的支出似乎有所下降，而小城市的类似支出要么持平，要么在增长。
target v. 瞄准；面向某一群体
【例】a new magazine that targets single men
以单身男士为读者对象的新杂志
【近义词】be oriented to 面向；针对
课后练习
What can be learned about the grocery store Pangdonglai in Xuchang?
A. It is not well-known and only visited by locals.
B. It is a high-end supermarket located in a big city.
C. It opens at a late hour and customers have to wait.
D. It is a popular destination and draws many visitors.
Why do customers travel to Pangdonglai?
A. Because it is the cheapest store in the area.
B. Because it offers quality goods and service.
C. Because it often provides discounts.
D. Because it has advertised itself.
What is the author's opinion on Pangdonglai's unique business practices?
A. The author is skeptical of their actual effectiveness.
B. The author believes that they could lead to more costs.
C. The author thinks that they are designed to attract attention.
D. The author suggests that they have contributed to its success.
What significant trend does Pangdonglai's success illustrate?
A. A decline in consumer spending in China’s big cities.
B. The emergence of a consumer revival in smaller cities.
C. A migration of young and rich shoppers to inland towns.
D. The intense competition faced by grocery stores nationwide.