NYT The Morning Summary – September 20, 2025 中文解析

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🧠 Key Vocabulary

1. oust /aʊst/
   verb to remove someone from a position or office, often forcefully
   中文：罢免，赶下台

2. liable /ˈlaɪəbəl/
   adj. legally responsible
   中文：（在法律上）有责任的

3. ritual /ˈrɪtʃuəl/
   noun a repeated or traditional activity, often with symbolic meaning
   中文：仪式，惯例，例行公事

4. commune/communion /kəˈmjuːn/ or /kəˈmjuːnjən/
   noun deep emotional or spiritual connection with others
   中文：亲密交流；精神共鸣

5. friction /ˈfrɪkʃən/
   noun resistance, or conflict that makes something harder to do
   中文：摩擦；阻力；矛盾冲突

6. prioritization /praɪˌɔːrətaɪˈzeɪʃən/
   noun the act of deciding what is most important and focusing on that
   中文：优先顺序的安排；优先考虑

7. impasse /ˈæmpæs/
   noun a situation where no progress is possible
   中文：僵局；死路

8. defamation /ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/
   noun damaging someone’s reputation through false statements
   中文：诽谤；中伤

9. brazen /ˈbreɪzən/
   adj. bold and without shame
   中文：厚颜无耻的；公然的

10. decimate /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/
    verb to destroy a large part of something
    中文：大量毁灭；严重削弱

11. cloying /ˈklɔɪɪŋ/
    adj. overly sweet or sentimental to the point of being unpleasant
    中文：过甜的；令人腻烦的

12. mainstay /ˈmeɪnsteɪ/
    noun a central or most important part of something
    中文：支柱；主要依靠

🧩 Sentence Breakdown

1. Late yesterday, the top federal prosecutor in Eastern Virginia quit after President Trump called for his ouster.

• Structure:

  • "Late yesterday" = 时间副词短语
  • "the top federal prosecutor in Eastern Virginia" = 主语
  • "quit" = 动词（辞职）
  • "after President Trump called for his ouster" = 时间状语从句，解释原因

• 中文解释：昨天傍晚，在特朗普总统要求罢免他之后，东弗吉尼亚的最高联邦检察官辞职。

2. He said he hadn’t found enough evidence to bring charges against Letitia James...

• Grammar Point:

  • "hadn’t found" = 过去完成时，强调在“说话”之前的调查过程
  • "bring charges against" = 起诉某人（法律表达）

• 中文解释：他说他没有找到足够的证据来起诉Letitia James。

3. Inspired by dinner parties she attended... she created her own ritual.

• Structure:

  • "Inspired by..." = 过去分词短语作原因状语（受...启发）
  • "she created her own ritual" = 主句（她建立了自己的例行聚会）

• 中文解释：受曾参加过的晚宴启发，她建立了自己的晚餐仪式。

4. How could one not feel a pang, reading of such easy communion!

• Explanation:

  • "pangs" here means a sudden sharp emotional feeling (如嫉妒、羡慕)
  • “reading of such easy communion” = 指读到朋友间如此自然的交流后产生的感受

• 中文解释：读到这种轻松自然的亲密感，怎能不感到一丝羡慕？

5. Our dinner ritual has yet to manifest.

• Key Phrase:

  • "has yet to" = 还没有（发生）
  • "manifest" = 显现、实现

• 中文解释：我们的晚餐惯例还没有真正实现。

6. The secret, I think, is prioritization.

• Grammar Note:

  • 强调句式 "The secret is..." + 名词
  • “prioritization” 说明建立惯例的关键在于“设定优先级”

• 中文解释：我认为秘诀在于优先排序。

7. Senate Democrats and Republicans blocked each other’s plans... A shutdown will begin on Oct. 1.

• Structure:

  • “blocked each other’s plans” = 相互否决提案
  • “a shutdown will begin...” = 条件状语从句（如果不能达成协议，就会停摆）

• 中文解释：民主党和共和党互相否决了对方的提案。如果不能达成一致，政府将于10月1日开始关门。

🌎 Cultural Notes

📌 Standing Dinner Rituals: More Than a Meal

The article discusses how weekly dinners like the one Samin Nosrat hosts provide not just food but emotional sustenance. It compares her ritual to Shabbat dinner, a traditional Jewish meal held every Friday night, emphasizing community, reflection, and togetherness.

中文说明：Samin的“固定晚餐”不仅提供社交和饮食体验，也满足了情感层面的需求。类似于犹太教中的安息日晚餐，这种例行聚会强调人与人之间的精神联系。

📌 The Role of Devices in Social Isolation

Melissa Kirsch reflects on how our phones now offer infinite distractions, making in-person gatherings feel less necessary, even though emotionally we still crave them. This highlights a cultural tension: we want connection, but our habits make it harder.

中文说明：作者指出，我们的电子设备让宅家也能无限“丰富”，因此面对面聚会反而更难安排。虽然我们内心渴望真实连接，但生活方式却在拉远彼此的距离。

📌 Political Impasse and Shutdowns

In U.S. politics, when Congress can't agree on a funding bill, it can lead to a government shutdown, where non-essential federal services pause. This is a recurring theme in American governance.

中文说明：若国会无法通过预算案，联邦政府将部分关门。这种“政府停摆”常出现在两党僵持不下的情况下，是美国政治的一种现象。

📌 Robert Redford’s Legacy

Robert Redford, a legendary American actor and director, was known not just for his film roles but also for founding the Sundance Film Festival and for his advocacy in environmental conservation.

中文说明：Robert Redford 不只是影星，也是日舞电影节创始人，长期关注环境保护。他的去世代表一个时代的落幕。

📝 Summary

This edition of NYT The Morning intertwines hard political news (like a looming government shutdown and legal conflicts) with soft cultural commentary, especially the emotionally resonant essay on ritual, connection, and modern loneliness.

Whether it’s Redford’s passing, dinner-table dreams, or geopolitical tensions, today’s news captures a world navigating both isolation and longing — for justice, connection, and meaning.