A leopard can't change its spots 江山易改，本性難移

內容簡介

Rob 和 Feifei 去參加瞭一場同事的婚禮。Feifei 說她希望新郎結婚後能改變他的壞習慣，不過 Rob 說新郎 Tim 是隻“豹子”，所以改不瞭壞習慣 “a leopard can’t change its spots” – 這是什麼意思？一聽節目你就明白瞭。

文字稿

（關於臺詞的備註: 請註意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）

Feifei
大傢好，我是馮菲菲。歡迎收聽AYYBLOG英語教學節目《地道英語》。我的搭檔是Rob。

Rob
Hello everyone.

Feifei
Hey Rob, did you enjoy Jane and Tim’s wedding yesterday?

Rob
Yes, it was good wasn’t it – especially the party afterwards – all that dancing and drinking.

Feifei
I did notice! I’m really happy for them but I do hope that Jane will help Tim change his bad habits – Tim是個雜亂無章、健忘而且總是遲到的人！

Rob
I don’t think he’ll change – a leopard doesn’t change its spots.

Feifei
豹子不會改變它身上的斑點？I think I know that Rob, but what has a leopard got to do with Tim?

Rob
Quite a lot, Feifei. The phrase – a leopard doesn’t change its spots OR a leopard can’t change its spots – means he won’t change. He will always be the same person and his bad habits are here to stay.

Feifei
Oh I see. 短語 ‘a leopard doesn’t change its spots’ 用來比喻一個人難以改變其固有的壞習慣。這相當於漢語裡的“江山易改，本性難移”。So Rob, you are comparing a leopard who can never change its spotty appearance with someone who will never change the way they behave?

Rob
You’ve got it, Feifei. Let’s hear some examples of how people use the phrase.

Examples
I told Karen she had to study more if she wants to pass her exams but a leopard can’t change its spots – she won’t do it.

Freddie promised he wouldn’t get into trouble at school but I don’t believe him – a leopard can’t change its spots.

Feifei
A leopard can’t change its spots – 江山易改，本性難移。So Rob, you don’t think Jane will be able to change Tim?

Rob
No – he’s stubborn – maybe he’s going to have to change Jane – she is very neat and tidy and always turns up on time – maybe he could teach her to relax more – chill out.

Feifei
Hmmm – 讓 Tim 教 Jane 學得更放松一些？我覺得不太可能。Rob, could we say a tiger never changes its stripes – 可不可以說老虎身上的條紋不會改變呢？

Rob
Ha, very good Feifei, yes we could say that – and it would mean the same thing – she won’t change. Oh dear, I’m not sure if their marriage is going to last!

Feifei
No…or maybe it will. You know what they say? Opposites attract! 這叫異樣相吸，不同性格互補。

Rob
Yes Feifei, you’re right. Bye for now.

Feifei
Bye.