膝跳反应与直觉反应：当我们无法自控时
📖 逐句对照翻译
And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
现在是VOA学英语的《词汇掌故》节目。
In life, some of our decisions and actions are well thought out.
生活中，我们的一些决定和行动是经过深思熟虑的。
They involve research, examination, and time for thought.
它们涉及研究、审查和思考的时间。
And other decisions and actions are not well thought out.
而其他决定和行动则未经深思熟虑。
We make them quickly, without thinking, almost like a pure physical reaction.
我们迅速做出这些反应，几乎不假思索，就像一种纯粹的生理反应。
We can call these decisions, actions or reactions knee-jerk.
我们可以把这些决定、行动或反应称为膝跳反射式的。
This term comes from a medical process.
这个术语源自一个医学过程。
Meriam Webster defines the noun "knee jerk" as “an involuntary forward kick produced by a light blow on the tendon below the kneecap.”
韦氏词典将名词“膝跳反射”定义为“轻敲膝盖骨下方的肌腱所产生的非自主向前踢腿动作”。
It is an involuntary action.
这是一种无意识的动作。
It's automatic.
这是自动的。
The words “involuntary” and “automatic” are important when understanding the term “knee jerk” and when to use it.
在理解“膝跳反射”这一术语及其使用时机时，“不随意的”和“自动的”这两个词非常重要。
Knee-jerk reactions seem to happen automatically without a decision-making process.
膝跳反射似乎是自动发生的，没有经过决策过程。
We often use “knee jerk” as an adjective.
我们经常把“knee jerk”用作形容词。
Like hitting your kneecap to move your leg, knee-jerk reactions or statements also seem like an involuntary reflex.
就像敲击膝盖骨来移动腿一样，膝跳反应或言论也似乎是一种不自主的反射。
"Knee jerk" also describes predictable behavior.
“膝跳反射”也用来形容可预测的行为。
Again, hit the knee, the leg will kick every time.
再次敲击膝盖，腿每次都会踢动。
So "knee jerk" describes someone who always reacts quickly and without enough thought.
所以“knee jerk”形容的是那些总是迅速做出反应却缺乏深思熟虑的人。
For example, let’s say you are on a team with someone who never faces responsibility for their mistakes in the game.
例如，假设你所在的团队中有人从不为比赛中的错误承担责任。
If brought to account, the player always blames the dropped ball on other teammates.
如果被追究责任，这名球员总是把丢球归咎于其他队友。
You can say that player is having a knee-jerk reaction to criticism.
你可以说那名球员对批评做出了本能反应。
They have a go-to response.
他们有一个固定的回应。
It’s like a reflex they can’t control.
这就像是一种他们无法控制的反射动作。
We often use knee-jerk in a criticizing or negative way.
我们通常以批评或负面的方式使用“膝跳反应”这个词。
Now, a gut reaction also happens without thinking.
现在，直觉反应也是不假思索地发生的。
But it is a bit different than a knee-jerk response.
但这与条件反射式的反应还是有些不同。
A gut reaction is a feeling.
本能反应是一种感觉。
When we have a gut reaction, our instincts are telling us that something may not be right.
当我们有直觉反应时，我们的本能告诉我们有些事情可能不对劲。
Gut reactions are instinctual warnings.
直觉反应是本能的警告。
So, we also use this expression a bit differently than "knee jerk."
所以，我们使用这个表达方式与“膝跳反射”略有不同。
We usually talk about our own gut reactions or impulses, not others.
我们通常谈论的是自己的直觉反应或冲动，而不是别人的。
Here is an example:
这是一个例子：
One day, I was hiking on a mountain in California.
有一天，我在加利福尼亚的一座山上徒步旅行。
I had hiked for about two hours and was near the top.
我已经徒步走了大约两个小时，接近山顶了。
The view, I was told, was truly beautiful.
有人告诉我，那景色真是美不胜收。
I couldn’t wait to see it!
我迫不及待地想看它！
Then, suddenly, I had a strange feeling.
然后，我突然有一种奇怪的感觉。
Something just didn’t feel right.
总觉得有些不对劲。
I can’t explain why, but my gut instinct was to turn around and head back down the mountain.
我说不清为什么，但我的直觉告诉我应该转身下山。
I later found out that a dangerous bear had been sighted in the same area that I had fled.
我后来得知，在我逃离的同一区域，有人发现了一只危险的熊。
I am so thankful I listened to my gut instinct.
我很庆幸自己听从了直觉。
And that’s Words and Their Stories.
以上就是“词汇与他们的故事”。
Until next time, I’m Anna Matteo.
下次见，我是安娜·马特奥。
Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English.
安娜·马特奥为VOA英语学习频道撰写了这篇故事。
