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Another week, and yet another Asian business leader finds himself in bear-like embrace of the US President-elect Donald Trump.
This time it is China's Jack Ma - the founder of Alibaba.
On the face of it they're an unlikely pairing.
One's been raised in the lap of luxury, the other had humble beginnings. One has taken advantage of the free market capitalism of the West, the other grew up in the Chinese Communist system.
But there are a few things they have in common.
They both think huge
It is possibly Donald Trump's favourite word: Huge. And whatever you might think of him, the President-elect certainly has had grand plans. Taking over his father's real estate business and turning it an empire. Expanding it into an entertainment business. Running for, and winning, the highest office in the land. There's no lack of ambition. He's now thought to be worth almost $4bn (although consistently claims he's worth more than double that).
When it comes to wealth, China's Jack Ma isn't far behind. He is China's third richest man and Forbes names him amongst the most powerful people on the planet. But he started his professional life teaching English to students in a university in a small Chinese town, reportedly making about US$12 a month. To get better at English, he would court foreign tourists, charming them into having conversations at local hotels. He started the e-commerce giant Alibaba in his flat, and hasn't looked back.
Mr Ma also has a grand vision which has driven the company from the start: to create ten million profitable businesses and 100 million jobs in the next 20 years.
They aren't afraid to take risks
Both men are known risk-takers, or as some would say, gamblers.
And perhaps Mr Trump's biggest gamble was running for president. He was initially seen as the weakest contender during the campaign for the Republican nomination. But a decision to take a risk and be outrageous helped him, in part at least, to get his name on the ballot paper and ultimately to win the presidency.
Jack Ma is similarly unafraid to take risks. One of his early internet ventures, China Pages, ended badly when he ended up having to form a joint venture with China Telecom and lost control of the company. He also burned through a lot of cash in his early days, and at one point had to lay off all of his international staff. But Mr Ma, who was once rejected from a managerial role at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Hangzhou, says he wouldn't be where he is today without having to learn to deal with failure.
They embrace their inner crazy
Mr Trump is known as one of America's most colourful and famous billionaires. He rose to fame as the boss in the hit television show "The Apprentice" and his trademark "You're Fired" became a catchphrase. But eccentric, and many would say outrageous, comments on the campaign trail have also led to him being called crazy by his critics, for all the wrong reasons. Remember when he said he would impose a total "shutdown" of Muslims entering the United States? Or how about the the pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico, and get the US's neighbour to pay for it? The list goes on.
Mr Ma is often called "Crazy Jack" (though that craziness isn't seen as offensive.).
His trademark speeches captivate and inspire employees. He is a showman who regularly entertains Alibaba staff with performances that would make Justin Timberlake proud. He's a familiar smiling face on the televised galas launching Alibaba's Singles Day sales, and is also known to preside over mass marriages at the firm.
The Buddy economy
Almost every time a billionaire goes through the doors of Trump Towers, the President-elect comes out with a pledge to create jobs in the US. It is starting to be seen as a fast-pass route to getting business done - as I wrote about when Japan's Masayoshi Son met with Mr Trump late last year.
His meeting with Jack Ma was no different.
And while the practice of business leaders visiting publicly-elected officials might have many scratching their heads in Western nations, the relationship between business and politics is much closer in many parts of Asia - including China. So this is a way of doing business that Mr Ma will know and understand well.
China-US relations may well deteriorate after January 20, when Mr Trump has promised to call China out as a currency manipulator, Mr Ma is making sure that his personal relationship with the new president isn't affected - which can only be good for his business
Alibaba's 1 million American jobs promise isn't realistic
Alibaba founder Jack Ma met with Donald Trump Monday and pledged to create one million jobs in the U.S. over the next five years through the company's e-commerce platform.
That is a vague and misleading promise.
Ma is not going to build factories. He is not planning to set up Alibaba operations centers that would employ tech savvy Americans. And he is not touting a big investment in the U.S.
In other words, Ma isn't promising what most experts and economists would define as job creation. He's talking about stimulating trade by helping one million small businesses sell American goods to consumers in China and Asia.
To create one million jobs would require each of those businesses to hire one new worker. So far so good. But U.S. trade on Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall shopping sites is relatively small at the moment. More than 7,000 U.S. brands sold $15 billion worth of goods to Chinese consumers last year, according to Alibaba spokesperson Rico Ngai. (Alibaba did $17.8 billion in sales in 24 hours during its online shopping bonanza in November.)
Ma has been pushing since 2015 to increase U.S. sales to China on Alibaba. But getting one million American brands onto its platforms would require a 142-fold increase in business.
单词
- embrace [ɛmˈbres] vt.& vi.拥抱vt.接受;包括; n.拥抱，怀抱
- president-elect已当选而尚未就职的总统
- pairing [ˈperɪŋ] n.配对;v.（使…）成对，（使…）成双
- lap [læp] vt.折叠;包裹vi.折叠;部分;包围n.膝;下摆;一圈跑道;范围
- luxury [ˈlʌɡʒəri] n.奢侈，豪华;奢侈品adj.奢华的，豪华的
- humble [ˈhʌmbəl] adj.谦逊的;简陋的;vt.使谦恭;低声下气
- capitalism [ˈkæpɪtlˌɪzəm] n.资本主义;资本
- grand [ɡrænd] adj宏大的;豪华的n.一千美元;大钢琴
- estate [ɪˈstet] n.财产，遗产，房地产;;不动产权;adj.（汽车）连箱的
- entertainment [ˌentərˈteɪnmənt] n.娱乐节目;娱乐，消遣;招待，款待
- ambition [æmˈbɪʃən] n.抱负;渴望得到的东西; vt.追求;有…野心
- consistently [kənˈsɪstəntlɪ] adv.一贯地，坚持地，固守地;总
- court [kɔ:rt] n.宫廷;法院，院子vt 招致;追求vi.求婚;寻求
- conversation [ˌkɑ:nvərˈseɪʃn] n.交谈，会话;交往，
- glat [flæt] adj.平的;单调的adv.平直地;水平地;直接地n.平面;公寓;vt.使变平vi.逐渐变平;
- gambler [ˈɡæmbəl] n.赌徒;投机商人
- initially [ɪˈnɪʃəli] adv.最初;开始
- contender [kənˈtɛndɚ] n.（冠军）争夺者，竞争者;
- campaign [kæmˈpen] n.运动;战役;竞选运动;vi.作战;参加[发起]运动，
- republican [rɪˈpʌblɪkən] adj.共和国的; <美>共和党员n.共和主义者;<美>共和党的
- nomination [ˌnɑ:mɪˈneɪʃn] n.提名;任命;被提名
- outrageous [aʊtˈredʒəs] adj.粗暴的;无法容忍的;反常的;令人惊讶的
- ballot [ˈbælət] n.投票;投票权;vi.投票表决;抽签决定vt.抽签;使投票表决;
- ultimately [ˈʌltəmɪtli] adv.根本;最后，最终;基本上;郅
- venture [ˈvɛntʃɚ] n.冒险;vt.拿…冒险;用…进行投机;vi.冒险前进，冒险行事;
- lay off [lei ɔf] v.暂时解雇，裁员;
- failure ['feɪljər] n.失败，不及格;缺乏，不足;
- fame [feɪm] n.名声;名望;传闻;传说vt.使闻名;使出名;
- apprentice [əˈprɛntɪs] n.学徒，徒弟;新手vt.使…做学徒
- trademark [ˈtreɪdmɑ:rk] n.（注册）商标;（人的行为或衣着的）特征，标记
- catchphrase [ˈkætʃfreɪz] n.醒目的广告用语
- eccentric [ɪkˈsɛntrɪk, ɛk-] adj.古怪的，异常的;离心的n.古怪的人;
- impose [ɪmˈpoʊz] vt.强加;征税;以…欺骗vi.利用;欺骗;施加影响
- shutdown [ˈʃʌtˌdaʊn] n.关机;关闭，倒闭;
- Muslims穆斯林，伊斯兰教信徒
- pledge [plɛdʒ] n.保证，誓言;vt.& vi.使发誓，保证;
- offensive [əˈfɛnsɪv] adj.无礼的，冒犯的，攻击的，攻势的n.进攻，攻势
- gala [ˈgeɪlə] n.庆祝;节日adj.节日的;欢乐的
- preside [prɪˈzaɪd] vi.主持，指挥;担任会议主席
- buddy [ˈbʌdi] n.密友，好友;同伴;[名]巴迪vi.交朋友;做朋友
- deteriorate [dɪˈtɪriəreɪt] vt.使恶化vi.恶化，变坏
- manipulator [məˈnɪpjuleɪtər] n.操作者，操纵者，操纵器;
- vague [veɡ] adj.模糊的;含糊的;暧昧的n.模糊不定状态
- savvy [ˈsævi] v.知道;了解n.悟性;机智;理解adj.有见识的，通情达理的
- tout [taʊt] vt.& vi.兜售;招徕;刺探赛马情报n.侦查者;招揽员
- stimulating [ˈstɪmjəˌletɪŋ] adj.刺激的，有刺激性的v.激励;刺激
- bonanza [bəˈnænzə] n.（突然的）财源;意想不到的幸运;
长难句
Eccentric
,
and many would say outrageous
,
comments
on the campaign trail
have also led to him being called crazy
by his critics
,
for all the wrong reasons
.
句子架构拆解：
comments
have also led to him being called crazy
这里红色标示的部分属于句子的主干部分。
Eccentric
,
and
many would say
outrageous
这个结构的本质属于两个形容词的并列
eccentric and outrageous
。
其中
many would say
是修饰
outrageous
的。
on the campaign trail
是介词短语修饰名词
comments
。
by his critics
是
being called crazy
的动作发出者。
for all the wrong reasons
介词短语依然是修饰语，表明疯狂的评价是负面的。
这句话主干其实就说了一件事，comments have also led to him being called crazy by his critics。关键的是要搞清楚形容词修饰的是什么？在看修饰的时候，一般就是找其距离最近的对象，那也就是comments，而comments也正是这句话的主语，因此这句话应该这样理解，他在竞选过程中eccentric 和outrageous的评论使得critics认为他很疯狂，但是这点奇怪了，for all the wrong reasons，这个是什么意思？难道其实川普不疯狂，并不是，有时候我们说一个人疯狂，可能是褒义，比如这个人他不拘泥于框架，但这里评论川普疯狂是说疯的不对，狂的有错，不是正向的评价；随后列举了一些他的政治思想以进行佐证。比如禁止Muslims也就是穆斯林进入美国领土，或者在与墨西哥的交界处建造一个高高的围墙，而且还要人家付钱等等等等。
本句大意：他在竞选过程中的言论，可以说古怪，或是更多人认为的无耻，使得很多评论家认为他很疯狂，疯的不对，狂的有错。
---
While
the practice
of business leaders visiting
publicly elected officials
might have many
scratching their heads
in Western nations
,
the relationship
between business and politics
is much closer
in many parts of Asia - including China
.
句子架构拆解：
While
引导的让步状语从句
while从句主干：
the practice
might have many scratching their heads
of business leaders visiting publicly elected officials
这个短语修饰名词practice。
in Western nations,
地点状语
主句主干：
the relationship
is much closer
between business and politics
修饰the relationship
in many parts of Asia - including China.
地点状语
这句话暴长有没有，不慌，我们来精简一下。前面是while引导的从句对吧，我们首先看主句，the relationship between business and politics is much closer in many parts of Asia - including China.主干就说这么个事，到底是谁的关系更近了呢，美国与亚洲包括中国的政商关系，主句就讲了这么个事情。接着我们看从句，while表示让步对吧，从句说这种商界领导会见政府官员的行为会使得很多西方国家scratching their heads，头痒痒，也就是不舒服喽，但是其实政商关系是更亲近了对不对。
本句大意：虽然商界领袖公开与当选政府班子会面会让很多西方国家感到不舒服，但美国（缺失对象，翻译需补上）与亚洲包括中国在内的政商关系，的确更加亲近了。
---
He
is
a showman
who regularly entertains Alibaba staff with performances
that would make Justin Timberlake proud.
句子架构拆解：
He
is
a showman
是句子的主干部分。
who regularly entertains Alibaba staff with performances 是一个定语从句修饰名词showman。
that would make Justin Timberlake proud 是一个定语从句修饰名词performances。
这句话并不难，主干是啥，He is a showman，对吧，后面紧跟who引导定语从句，有的同学分不清楚定语从句和同位语从句，其实很简单，在定语从句中引导词是充当句子成分的，而同位语则不充当，有的同学又说了，哎呀我判断不出来到底是不是充当成分，很简单，直接把引导词抹掉，看从句是否完整，regularly entertains Alibaba staff with performances，很明显缺少主语，后面又出现了that引导的定语从句，注意其修饰对象，是performances。
本句大意：他是一个表演家，经常用演出活跃阿里巴巴员工，演出水准能让贾老板称赞。
---
Almost
every time
a billionaire goes through the doors of Trump Towers
,
the President-elect comes out with a pledge
to create jobs in the US
.
句子架构拆解：
Almost 副词，修饰语
every time 时间状语
a billionaire goes through the doors of Trump Towers 定语从句修饰every time。
the President-elect comes out with a pledge 句子主干部分
to create jobs in the US 修饰名词pledge。
这个句子出现了我们提到很多次的英语静态用法，多用名词，哪里体现出来的，with a pledge，人家没有说asked，而是使用介词短语加名词,with a pledge，指出每一个进入川普大楼的商人，川普都会带着自己的请求也就是为美国创造就业机会，与他们见面。
---
China-US relations
may well deteriorate
after January 20
,
when
Mr Trump
has promised to call China out
as a currency manipulator
,
Mr Ma is making sure that
his personal relationship
with the new president
isn't affected
- which can only be good for his business.
句子架构拆解：
第一个单句
China-US relations may well deteriorate 是主干
after January 20 是时间状语
when Mr Trump has promised to call China out 是第一个单句的条件状语从句（when＝if）
as a currency manipulator 介词短语修饰call China out中的China。
第二个单句：
Mr Ma is making sure that 主干，that后面为宾语从句
his personal relationship isn't affected 为宾语从句的主干部分
with the new president 介词短语修饰名词personal relationship。
- which can only be good for his business 定语从句修饰personal relationship。
这个句子是一个合句，由两个单句构成，每个单句另带有从句，看起来复杂，其实很简单，我们分开来分析。首先第一个单句，SVO为China-US relations may well deteriorate，后面after是介词短语，介词短语时什么？表修饰的对不对，其后跟了when引导的时间状语从句，从句中很简单，不过多分析；我们继续看后面的一个单句，单句中出现了that对吧，that引导的是宾语从句，主干其实就是Mr. Ma is making sure sth。Sth用一个句子阐述，后面出现了破折号，破折号表示什么，补充说明对吧，这里是一个which引导的定语从句修饰前面马云确定的那一件事情，补充说明其效用。
本句大意：1月20日，川普先生承诺宣称中国为货币操控者之后，中美关系有所下降，马先生在确保他与新总统的私人关系不受影响，这对他的生意只会好处多多。
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Another week, and yet another Asian business leader finds himself in bear-like embrace of the US President-elect Donald Trump.
This time it is China's Jack Ma - the founder of Alibaba.
On the face of it they're an unlikely pairing.
One's been raised in the lap of luxury, the other had humble beginnings. One has taken advantage of the free market capitalism of the West, the other grew up in the Chinese Communist system.
But there are a few things they have in common.
They both think huge
It is possibly Donald Trump's favourite word: Huge. And whatever you might think of him, the President-elect certainly has had grand plans. Taking over his father's real estate business and turning it an empire. Expanding it into an entertainment business. Running for, and winning, the highest office in the land. There's no lack of ambition. He's now thought to be worth almost $4bn (although consistently claims he's worth more than double that).
When it comes to wealth, China's Jack Ma isn't far behind. He is China's third richest man and Forbes names him amongst the most powerful people on the planet. But he started his professional life teaching English to students in a university in a small Chinese town, reportedly making about US$12 a month. To get better at English, he would court foreign tourists, charming them into having conversations at local hotels. He started the e-commerce giant Alibaba in his flat, and hasn't looked back.
Mr Ma also has a grand vision which has driven the company from the start: to create ten million profitable businesses and 100 million jobs in the next 20 years.
They aren't afraid to take risks
Both men are known risk-takers, or as some would say, gamblers.
And perhaps Mr Trump's biggest gamble was running for president. He was initially seen as the weakest contender during the campaign for the Republican nomination. But a decision to take a risk and be outrageous helped him, in part at least, to get his name on the ballot paper and ultimately to win the presidency.
Jack Ma is similarly unafraid to take risks. One of his early internet ventures, China Pages, ended badly when he ended up having to form a joint venture with China Telecom and lost control of the company. He also burned through a lot of cash in his early days, and at one point had to lay off all of his international staff. But Mr Ma, who was once rejected from a managerial role at a Kentucky Fried Chicken in Hangzhou, says he wouldn't be where he is today without having to learn to deal with failure.
They embrace their inner crazy
Mr Trump is known as one of America's most colourful and famous billionaires. He rose to fame as the boss in the hit television show "The Apprentice" and his trademark "You're Fired" became a catchphrase. But eccentric, and many would say outrageous, comments on the campaign trail have also led to him being called crazy by his critics, for all the wrong reasons. Remember when he said he would impose a total "shutdown" of Muslims entering the United States? Or how about the the pledge to build a wall on the border with Mexico, and get the US's neighbour to pay for it? The list goes on.
Mr Ma is often called "Crazy Jack" (though that craziness isn't seen as offensive.).
His trademark speeches captivate and inspire employees. He is a showman who regularly entertains Alibaba staff with performances that would make Justin Timberlake proud. He's a familiar smiling face on the televised galas launching Alibaba's Singles Day sales, and is also known to preside over mass marriages at the firm.
The Buddy economy
Almost every time a billionaire goes through the doors of Trump Towers, the President-elect comes out with a pledge to create jobs in the US. It is starting to be seen as a fast-pass route to getting business done - as I wrote about when Japan's Masayoshi Son met with Mr Trump late last year.
His meeting with Jack Ma was no different.
And while the practice of business leaders visiting publicly-elected officials might have many scratching their heads in Western nations, the relationship between business and politics is much closer in many parts of Asia - including China. So this is a way of doing business that Mr Ma will know and understand well.
China-US relations may well deteriorate after January 20, when Mr Trump has promised to call China out as a currency manipulator, Mr Ma is making sure that his personal relationship with the new president isn't affected - which can only be good for his business
Alibaba's 1 million American jobs promise isn't realistic
Alibaba founder Jack Ma met with Donald Trump Monday and pledged to create one million jobs in the U.S. over the next five years through the company's e-commerce platform.
That is a vague and misleading promise.
Ma is not going to build factories. He is not planning to set up Alibaba operations centers that would employ tech savvy Americans. And he is not touting a big investment in the U.S.
In other words, Ma isn't promising what most experts and economists would define as job creation. He's talking about stimulating trade by helping one million small businesses sell American goods to consumers in China and Asia.
To create one million jobs would require each of those businesses to hire one new worker. So far so good. But U.S. trade on Alibaba's Taobao and Tmall shopping sites is relatively small at the moment. More than 7,000 U.S. brands sold $15 billion worth of goods to Chinese consumers last year, according to Alibaba spokesperson Rico Ngai. (Alibaba did $17.8 billion in sales in 24 hours during its online shopping bonanza in November.)
Ma has been pushing since 2015 to increase U.S. sales to China on Alibaba. But getting one million American brands onto its platforms would require a 142-fold increase in business.
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