Setting Sun 第三部分笔记（6-7段）

Setting sun

配图标题：日本垂暮

setting sun：when the sun sets, it goes below the horizon.

    the red glow of the setting sun 落日余辉

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第六段：安倍鼓励日本政府和公司延迟退休和返聘退休员工。

1. take to (doing) sth.:

    ①to begin to like sb./sth.       

        I took to Venom immediately.

    ②to start doing sth as a habit. 

        I have taken to listening to audio books before sleep.

2. rehire retired workers 返聘

3. on a part-time basis 中间填入形容词变成副词用法，几乎没有“基础”的意思了

    on a temporary basis暂时地；on a regular/rota basis定期/轮流地；on an exclusive basis独家地；on a first-come, first-served basis先到先办的方式；on an urgent basis以加急速度；on a competitive basis通过竞争

但这种用法有时比较啰嗦, 如：

They want all groups to be treated on an equal basis... 

直接用 treated equally更简洁

    (联想到下一段的on a firmer footing 基础，立足点: on a sound/secure/firm/strong footing)

4. bolster this trend by doing...: boost; strengthen; support

~confidence/morale/economy/career/image/an argument

5. entitled to (do) sth.: empower(上一段末出现), give the right t, allow, authorize 赋予权利

6. ease the labour shortage

~pain/pressure/problems/burden/anxiety/embarrassment/guilt/loneliness...

也可用做vi. Tensions had eased. 

The heavily falling snow had eased...

漫天大雪变小了……

注意点：

Fully 23% of over-65s work; they constitute a much bigger share of the workforce than in other rich countries (see chart).

fully：to emphasize how great an amount is. (用于强调数量)整整，足足

Fully 30% of the participants did not appear.

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第七段：延迟退休的好处和养老压力。

1. government finances/social-welfare costs 注意两处都要用复数形式表示 （尤政府/公司的）财源/经营维持必须支出

2. tweak: fine-tune 微调 （指前文针对老龄化的一些措施）

3. play catch-up：

    ①fall behind continually with work or financial matters

      I’m always playing catch up with my homework.

    ②(AmE) try to equal a competitor in a sport or game after you have fallen behind