中國最流行的網絡語錄（雙語）
“杯具”還是“洗具”
a drinking cup or a toothbrush cup
在即將揮別過去十年之際，試問中國最流行的網絡語錄是哪一句?相信很多人都會提到“人生就是一個杯子，而它是“杯具”還是“洗具”，全由你自己選擇。”
What are China's Most popular online slang terms as we approach the end of the decade? One popular choice could be “Life is a cup, it's up to you to decide whether it's a drinking cup or a toothbrush cup.
“杯具”是中文中“悲劇”一詞的諧音，而與“喜劇”相對應的則是“洗具”。80後及90後的聊天記錄中也出現了各式各樣的，關於“杯具，洗具”的討論。但在走紅背後，卻蘊含着嚴肅的思考。
Drinking cup (beiju) is a homophone for “tragedy” in Chinese, while toothbrush cup (xiju) is homophone for “comedy”. There's a whole range of beiju vs xiju debates running across the post-80s and post-90s' online talk. In the background, however, lurks something that's far less funny.
過去十年期間，中國發展顯著，也衍生出衆多的機遇。但隨之而來，年輕人們卻要頂着壓力，苦苦奮鬥。
While the remarkable development in China over the past 10 years has brought a range of opportunities, young people are struggling with pressures that came with them.
當他們第一次審視人生時，想必多數人會覺察到教育變革所帶來的影響。
Some of their first observations on life are influenced by changes in education. 與十年之初相比，現在上大學要容易得多。截止2009年，各大專院校在校學生人數由2000年的約500萬人增長到2700多萬人。
Compared with the beginning of the decade, getting into a university now is much easier. The number of college students went from about 5 million in 2000 to over 27 million in 2009.
但他們在畢業後的遭遇則是另一番景象。教育部統計數據顯示，同期內各高校畢業生就業率由2002年的80%跌至2009年的74%。雖然1999實施的高校擴招政策爲許多人鋪設了通向理想的坦途，但就業之路卻成了千軍萬馬要過的獨木橋。
What they do after graduating is another story. The employment rate of college grads has fallen from 80 percent in 2002 to 74 percent in 2009 (Ministry of Education stats) in the same period. The increased enrolment policy that took effect in 1999 opened the path of dreams for many, but the bridge to employment led to a narrower path for more.
讓暴風雨來得更猛烈些吧
More competition
在教育、工作、旅行，娛樂以及信息方面，經濟與社會的發展使它們變得更加多元化，但同時人們得到的機會越多，競爭也就變得越激烈。當一些年輕人目睹這一現狀時，他們也理所當然地將其視爲社會改良的催化劑。
The economic and social development have given people greater variety in education, work, travel, entertainment and information, but the more opportunities people have access to, the fiercer the competition. When some young people look at that, they also see it as catalyst for social improvement.
比如，20歲的徐樂，正就讀於北京外國語大學柬埔寨語專業。同時，她還輔修二外英語並利用業餘時間學習日語課程。
For example, Xu Yue, 20, is majoring in Cambodian at Beijing Foreign Studies University. She's also studying English as a second major and taking Japanese courses in her spare time.
她提筆寫道：10年前，人們也許會輕而易舉地考入大學，接下來他們將會接受分配，在自己的家鄉工作。但現在，迫於壓力，我們必須要學習更多的知識。
Ten years ago, she notes, people might have felt relieved to get admitted to college, and they went on to settle down with a job in their hometown. Now, however, we're pressed to learn more.
“沒有競爭，或許我們更願意安於現狀，心甘情願地做一個普通人，”徐樂說。
“Without the competition, maybe we'd be satisfied with the status quo, and willing to be ordinary,” says Xu.
所以，人生究竟是“杯具”還是“洗具”?有時，這似乎要取決於你怎樣看待它以及如何處理壓力。
So, is life a beiju or xiju? In some cases, it appears to be a matter of choice in how you view it and how you deal with the pressure.
無論如何，在接下來的十年裏，更多的進步即將發生。難道我們只是坐在那兒，抱怨並嘆息?或者，我們也可以充分利用更豐富的資源和更先進的科技，來享受一個更多彩的人生?這都將取決於你。
In any case, there's more progress in store for the next decade. Do we just sit there, sighing and complaining about it? Or, do we make full use of the richer resources and advanced technology to enjoy a more colorful life? It's still up to you.
網絡，至少還有你
Looking to the Internet
個人收入增加了——這是“洗具”;但我們的房子卻變小了——這是“杯具”。
Individual incomes are growing – that's the xiju; but our houses are getting smaller – that's the beiju.
在近十年初，我們告訴父母，“不要操心我的學習，我會取得好成績，努力賺大錢，以後給你們買大大的別墅!”現在，我們即將揮別十年，我們對父母說的話也變成了，“對不起，爸媽，如果沒人幫忙，我甚至連一個衛生間都買不起。”
At the beginning of the decade, we told our parents, “Don't worry about my scores, I'll be good and make a fortune and buy you a big villa!”. Now, at the end, it's, “Sorry, Mom and Dad, I can't even get a bathroom without some help.”
根據MyCOS 的調查顯示，2008北京高校畢業生的平均月收入達到2700元，差不多是10年前的兩倍。同時，北京住房每平米均價達到13100元，差不多是10年的三倍。這就好比你騎着一輛自行車去追趕一輛法拉利。
The average monthly income of Beijing college grads in 2008, according to MyCOS, has 2,700 yuan, or about double what it was 10 years ago. A square meter of Beijing housing now costs 13,100 yuan on average, or about triple the cost a decade ago. It's like trying to ride a motorbike to catch a Ferrari.
爲了避開人山人海的就業市場以及小得可憐的居住環境，我們將目光投向了網絡——一個更廣闊的虛幻世界。那也就意味着一個充滿電影與遊戲的世界就在那，在我們面前。所以，“杯具”又變成了“洗具”。
To get a break from the overcrowded job market and the shoe-box housing, we look to the Internet and the much bigger virtual world. That means a world of movies and games just lying there, out in front of us. So, a beiju becomes a xiju.
