代沟 The Generation Gap

“代沟dàigōu”指zhǐ的de是shì两代人liǎng dài rén之间zhījiān在zài想法xiǎngfǎ和hé生活shēnghuó方式fāngshì上shàng的de差别chābié。

The "generation gap" refers to the differences between two generations in their ways of thinking and ways of life.

父母fùmǔ那nà一代yí dài人rén生活shēnghuó节约jiéyuē，喜欢xǐhuan把bǎ钱qián存cún起来qǐlái，年轻人niánqīngrén却què愿意yuànyì花钱huā qián享受xiǎngshòu生活shēnghuó。

The parents' generation lives frugally and likes to save money, yet young people are willing to spend money to enjoy life.

在zài找zhǎo工作gōngzuò的de问题wèntí上shàng，父母fùmǔ希望xīwàng孩子háizi找zhǎo一份yí fèn稳定wěndìng的de工作gōngzuò，孩子háizi却què更gèng重视zhòngshì兴趣xìngqù和hé自由zìyóu。

When it comes to finding a job, parents hope their children will find stable work, yet the children value interest and freedom more.

恋爱liàn'ài和hé结婚jiéhūn也yě是shì常见chángjiàn的de矛盾máodùn：很多hěn duō父母fùmǔ很hěn着急zháojí，年轻人niánqīngrén却què觉得juéde结婚jiéhūn不必búbì太tài早zǎo。

Dating and marriage are also a common source of conflict: many parents are anxious, yet young people feel there is no need to marry too early.

有些yǒuxiē孩子háizi觉得juéde父母fùmǔ不bù理解lǐjiě自己zìjǐ，慢慢mànmàn地de就jiù不bú愿意yuànyì跟gēn父母fùmǔ说shuō心里话xīnlǐhuà了le。

Some children feel their parents don't understand them, and gradually become unwilling to share their true feelings with them.

其实qíshí，代沟dàigōu的de产生chǎnshēng很hěn正常zhèngcháng，因为yīnwèi两代人liǎng dài rén成长chéngzhǎng的de时代shídài不同bùtóng。

Actually, it is quite normal for a generation gap to arise, because the two generations grew up in different times.

要yào减少jiǎnshǎo代沟dàigōu，关键guānjiàn在于zàiyú交流jiāoliú：父母fùmǔ应该yīnggāi认真rènzhēn听tīng孩子háizi的de想法xiǎngfǎ，孩子háizi也yě应该yīnggāi多duō一些yìxiē耐心nàixīn。

To reduce the generation gap, the key lies in communication: parents should listen carefully to their children's ideas, and children should have a bit more patience.

只要zhǐyào双方shuāngfāng互相hùxiāng尊重zūnzhòng，两代人liǎng dài rén就jiù一定yídìng能néng成为chéngwéi好hǎo朋友péngyou。

As long as both sides respect each other, the two generations can surely become good friends.

🔊 Audio uses your device's Chinese voice for now — teacher recordings are coming. Tap any word to see its meaning.

Key words 生词

代沟dàigōugeneration gap

差别chābiédifference

稳定wěndìngstable

矛盾máodùnconflict; contradiction

在于zàiyúto lie in

双方shuāngfāngboth sides

Grammar note 语法点

……指的是……

'... refers to ...' — used to define a term or expression.

“代沟”指的是两代人之间在想法和生活方式上的差别。

却

'yet; however' — an adverb marking contrast; it comes after the subject, not before it.

年轻人却愿意花钱享受生活。

关键在于……

'The key lies in...' — points out the decisive factor for solving a problem.

要减少代沟,关键在于交流。

Check yourself 小测验

1. “代沟”指的是什么?

2. 在找工作的问题上,父母希望孩子怎么样?

3. 作者认为减少代沟的关键是什么?

代沟DàigōuThe Generation Gap

Key words 生词

Grammar note 语法点

Check yourself 小测验

More HSK 5 reading practice