作者：小雅和英美友人

◆ 如何用英文解释轿车和SUV的区别？

◆ 如何描述后座、车顶、后备箱等车的部件？

◆ 英文里有两厢车和三厢车的概念吗？

Identifying Cars 认汽车

(Driving on the interstate)

（行驶在州际公路上）

Mom: Did you know Daddy wants to buy a new car?

妈妈：你知道爸爸想买辆新车吗？

Our little sedan is getting old and worn out.

我们的小轿车太老、太破了。

Child: Awww ... but I like this car.

宝宝：噢……但是我喜欢这辆车。

Mom: Well, we won't like it if it doesn't go,

妈妈：嗯，要是它动不了了，咱们就不喜欢它了，

so it's time to upgrade!

所以该升级了！

Child: Well, what are we getting?

宝宝：嗯，咱们要买什么样的呢？

Mom: He's looking at crossovers.

妈妈：他在看跨界车。

They are a nice size with some extra storage space.

它们大小适中，还有额外的置物空间。

Child: What's a crossover?

宝宝：跨界车是什么？

Mom: It's like a small SUV.

妈妈：它就像小型SUV。

It is still a sport utility vehicle,

它还是运动型多功能车，

but it has a smaller frame.

但是它的框架更小。

Sometimes they are boxy

有的方方正正的，

and others have more of a sedan shape,

有的和轿车外形更像，

but are still bigger than the sedan.

但还是比轿车大。

Let's make a list of different cars you can find:

咱们列个单子，看看你能找到哪些不同的汽车：

sedan, SUV, crossover.

轿车、SUV、跨界车。

By the way, a sedan is a two or four door car with full rear seats.

另外，轿车是有后座的双门或四门车。

Rear读作 [riə]。

It's the most commonly used car for daily transportation and usually cheaper.

它是最常用于日常交通的汽车，通常比较便宜。

An SUV is a sport utility vehicle

SUV是运动型多功能车，

and you can spot it

你能认出它，

because it sits higher, is taller than a sedan,

因为它底盘较高，比轿车高，

and can sometimes have three rows of seats.

有时会有三排座位。

It has plenty of extra space.

它有充足的额外空间。

The roof extends all the way to the back of the vehicle,

车顶一直延伸到汽车的后部，

which is also true for the station wagon and the crossover.

旅行车和跨界车也是这样的。

I had a station wagon in my college days.

我上大学的时候有一辆旅行车。

It's a lot like the sedan except that the roof extends all the way to the back of the car.

它很像轿车，除了车顶一直延伸到汽车后部这点不一样。

Let's see ... that car speeding by is an SUV.

咱们看看……超过去那辆车是SUV。

Child: What's this one? (points to the sports car)

宝宝：这辆呢？（指着一辆跑车）

Mom: A sport car.

妈妈：是跑车。

A sports car is a two-seat car with less frills and little trunk space

跑车有两个座位，零碎儿较少，后备箱空间小。

with more than average power in the engine,

发动机动力水平高于平均值，

and is less comfortable, and lighter weight overall.

不那么舒适，总重量较轻。

That one's a Mazda Miata.

那辆是马自达米亚达。

See how the roof is fabric.

看，车顶是布的。

It's also a convertible -- the roof can come off.

它还是敞篷车——车顶可以打开。

It's great to drive on pleasant sunny days.

在晴朗的日子驾驶它是很愉悦的事。

Child: That's the one I want!

宝宝：这是我想要的车！

I would go so fast.

我会开得很快。

That's definitely not a sports car behind the Mazda.

马自达后面那辆肯定不是跑车。

That's a van, I know that.

那是辆面包车，我知道。

It's for moving lots of people or stuff.

它用来运输较多人或货物。

Mom: Yes, it has 7 to 8 seats

妈妈：嗯，它有7到8个座位，

and sliding doors in the back.

后边有滑动门。

A minivan is just a smaller van

厢式旅行车就是较小的面包车，

Minivan是一种美国的汽车分类类型，GL8等车型在国内被称为商务车或MPV。

and is popular with large families.

比较受大家庭的欢迎。

Child: Well, what does Grandpa use?

宝宝：嗯，爷爷开的什么？

Mom: He has a pickup truck.

妈妈：他有一辆皮卡。

It has a closed cab and an open cargo area called the bed,

它有封闭驾驶室，还有开放的载货区叫货箱，

which has a tailgate.

带有后挡板。

Child: Whoa, look at that tiny car!

宝宝：哇，看那辆小车！

What are those called?

它叫什么车呢？

Mom: That's a microcar.

妈妈：那是微型车。

It's a very small car made for 1 or 2 people.

它是很小的车，只能乘坐1到2人。

That one's a Smart Car.

那辆是Smart。

There is also a compact car,

还有紧凑型车，

but that is more like a small sedan.

但是它就像小轿车。

More basic and cheaper than the sedan,

比轿车更基础、更便宜，

but definitely bigger than a microcar.

但是肯定比微型车大。

Take a look at that one.

看一下那辆。

It's a hatchback, which means that the back opens upwards.

它是掀背车，意思是后备箱盖可以向上打开。

英文里没有两厢车和三厢车的概念，而是用车型表达，比如hatchback就是一种典型的两厢车。

更多汽车相关英文，可以点击下方链接，查看第23章 坐汽车（（入选小雅与英美友人编写的《你和宝宝说英语》一书，并配有15节学习课程。））

你和宝宝说英语：日常生活（卷） 童书 小雅和英美友人 东方出版社 9787520705738 ￥51.94 购买