讲解人 · Jamie
原文
At the onset of the year, economists were predicting lost decades for China’s economy akin to what Japan experienced in the 1990s.
Now, the perception could not be any more different.
How did China manage to shake off its malaise and dazzle the world with DeepSeek moments in tech, biotech and even defence?
First, China’s focus on higher education is finally paying off.
These days, roughly 40 per cent of high school graduates go to university, versus 10 per cent in 2000.
As a result, the nation’s talent pool has greatly expanded.
Engineering is by far the most popular major for post-graduate studies.
Between 2000 and 2020, the number of engineers ballooned from 5.2 million to 17.7 million.
What this means is that innovative breakthroughs are bound to happen, and that China still has the cost advantage in advanced manufacturing.
Second, China is pragmatic, and the AI arms race offers a good illustration.
Whereas the US is seeking the holy grail — or artificial general intelligence, in this case — China is pushing the industry to be “strongly oriented towards applications”, locking in any advantages that AI might bring to sharpen the nation’s edge in manufacturing.
Third, Chinese brands capable of charging premium prices at home have hit consumers’ soft spot, giving them a fighting chance in global trade as well.
The prime example is Pop Mart International.
The company’s gross profit margin of 70 per cent is more than twice what a generic toymaker can make, thanks to the wickedly cute and viral Labubu.
One thing is for sure: It would be a huge mistake to write off China, the only other economic superpower that matters.
带着问题听讲解
- 文中 holy grail 一词在上下文中的含义是什么？
- 中国在高等教育领域的发展带来了哪两个具体优势？
- 中国在人工智能竞争中的策略与美国有何不同？
讲解
重点词汇
twists and turns
蜿蜒曲折；跌宕起伏
- 相关词汇：twist（v. 扭转，缠绕）；turn（v. 转弯）例句：The road up the mountain is full of twists and turns.例句：It's hard to follow all the twists and turns of the plot.近义词：ups and downs
onset
/ˈɑːn.set/
n. 开始；开端
- 搭配短语：the onset of winter搭配短语：the onset of a disease搭配短语：at the onset of相关词汇：at the outset of
akin to
类似，相似
- 近义词：similar/comparable to
could not be any more different
完全不同，天壤之别
- 例句：They are twins, but their personalities couldn't be any more different.相关词汇：couldn't be + 比较级例句：It couldn't be better.
malaise
/məˈleɪz/
n. 身心不适；社会顽疾
- 词根词缀：mal-（坏的），-aise（舒适，轻松）搭配短语：a general malaise within society相关词汇：depression（萧条）；recession（衰退）搭配短语：economic malaise
dazzle
/ˈdæz.əl/
v. 使感到刺眼；使倾倒
- 例句：We are dazzled by the strong sunlight.例句：The magician dazzled the audience with his tricks.
talent pool
人才库；人才池
- 搭配短语：fish in the talent pool搭配短语：expand their talent pools搭配短语：drain the talent pool相关词汇：demographic dividend（人口红利）
balloon
/bəˈluːn/
v. 突然增加，激增
- 词性拓展：balloon（n. 气球）例句：The company's profit has ballooned in the past year.近义词：mushroom；skyrocket
be bound to
很有可能，肯定会
- 相关词汇：bind（v. 捆绑）近义词：inevitably will近义词：be destined to例句：With so much hard work, they are bound to succeed.
holy grail
难以实现的梦想；圣杯
- 文化补充：the Holy Grail 即“圣杯”，传统上被认为是耶稣在最后的晚餐中使用的杯子。近义词：the ultimate goal例句：For decades, a cure for cancer has been the holy grail of medical research.
lock in
锁定；锁住
- 搭配短语：lock in profits例句：A certain method of cooking locks in the flavour of the meat.搭配短语：lock sb. in
sharpen one’s edge
磨砺锋芒，增强竞争力
- 相关词汇：edge（n. 刀刃；优势；边缘）搭配短语：a competitive edge例句：Debating is a great way to sharpen your intellectual edge.相关词汇：get an upper hand in（取得优势）
premium
/ˈpriː.mi.əm/
adj. 优质的；价格高的
- 搭配短语：premium prices/products例句：A premium seat is usually right up front, with a great view of the stage.词性拓展：premium（n. 额外支付的费用）
- 例句：Consumers are willing to pay a premium for organically grown vegetables.
搭配短语：at a premium- 例句：Space is at a premium in a one-bedroom apartment.
- 搭配短语：sell/buy at a premium
相关词汇：cost-effectiveness（性价比）
soft spot
弱点；喜爱，柔情
- 搭配短语：have a soft spot for
- 例句：I have a soft spot for puppies.
generic
/dʒəˈner.ɪk/
adj. 一般的，普通的，通用的
- 近义词：general英文释义：relating to a whole group of things rather than to one thing搭配短语：generic term/name for
- 搭配短语：Fine Arts is a generic term for subjects such as painting, music, and sculpture.
wickedly
/ˈwɪk.ɪd.li/
adv. 坏地；顽皮地；非常地
- 相关词汇：wicked（adj. 邪恶的；犀利的；非常好的）
- 搭配短语：the wicked stepmother
- 例句：She has a wicked sense of humor.
- 近义词：excellent
- 口语表达：This song's wicked.
近义词：extremely
write off
认为某人/某事无用；注销
- 英文释义：to decide that sb./sth. is a failure or not worth paying any attention to例句：Don't write him off just yet.近义词：dismiss
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