- 这是什么词？
词：parallel
英英释义：a person or thing that is similar to another
例句：There are many striking parallels between Shanghai and New York City.
场景：上海和广州。
造句：There are Many striking parallels between Shanghai and Guangzhou.
- 为什么选这个词？
“parallel”作形容词讲，本意是“与......平行的（A is parallel to B）”；作名词讲，本意是“平行线（a pair of parallel lines）”。它的名词意思可以引申为“相似处、共性”，由几何中的平行线而来，形象、有画面感。
在口语和写作中，如果想描述两个事物的共同特征，除了用 similarity 外，还常可以用“parallel”替换。
注意“parallel”的拼写：中间是两个 l，最后是一个 l。在托福写作和雅思听力、阅读、写作中要尤其注意，以免拼写错误。
下面通过几个例句体会这个词的用法。
很多年前在《英语沙龙》杂志读到现任北大光华学院金融教授 Michael Pettis 的一个访谈，主题是中美文化差异。他在回答“中国哪个城市最像纽约”的时候，是这样说的：
There are many striking parallels between Shanghai and New York City.
场景：英语和法语。
造句：There are Many striking parallels between English and French.
“striking”的意思是“明显的”，经常用来修饰 difference 和 similarity，也常用来修饰 parallel，这类常见搭配在《牛津英语搭配词典》中就可以查得到。我们可以在上面这句话的基础上，改写造句：
When many New Yorkers visit Shanghai, they can readily sense familiar parallels between Shanghai and the Big Apple.（“The Big Apple”是纽约市的昵称。）
2014 年底我从美国东海岸搬到旧金山，参加了当地两个 Toastmasters Club 公众演讲俱乐部。当时有会员问我喜不喜欢旧金山，我大概是这么说的：
I love San Francisco as much as I love New York City. In terms of cultural diversity and vibrancy, I see a lot of striking parallels between the two cities.
“parallel”最常见的一个用法是“to draw parallels/a parallel between A and B”，意思是“在 A 的身上可以看到 B 的影子”。当我们想表达“A 和 B 有很大的相似之处”时，就可以想到使用“parallel”。比如：
Many foodies try to draw a parallel between Chinese noodles and Italian pasta.
场景：古龙和金庸。
造句：Many fans of martial arts fictions try to draw a parallel between Jin Yong ang Gu Long，both Chinese kungfu story novelists.
Some psychologists have drawn mind-boggling parallels between video gaming and casino gamble.
ming-boggling:
(informal)
very difficult to imagine or to understand; extremely surprising
- 怎样学会使用这个词？
1）使用《牛津英语搭配词典》查“parallel”，了解它的常用搭配。
noun
[搭配]ADJ.
direct, exact
直接的相似处；确切的相似点
clear, close, obvious
明显的相似处；酷似之处
interesting, striking
有趣的相似之处；引人注目的相似之处
[搭配]VERB + PARALLEL
have
存在相似之处:
This weather pattern of the southern hemisphere has no parallel in the north.9
南半球的这种天气类型和北半球的天气没有相似性。
find, see
找到共同点；看出相似之处
draw, make
作比较:
He drew an interesting parallel with religious practices in Japan.
他以日本的宗教修行作了有趣的比较。
provide
提供比较
[搭配]PREP.
without ~
无可相比:
a speed of development without parallel in post-war Europe
战后欧洲无可匹敌的发展速度
~ between
…之间的相似之处:
a parallel between economic and cultural advancement
经济发展和文化进步之间的相似之处
~ in
在…方面的相似之处:
We found a direct parallel in the attitudes of schoolchildren in other countries.
我们发现其它国家的小学生在态度方面有直接的相似之处。
~ to
同…的相似之处:
A close parallel to this behaviour is found in dolphins.
在海豚身上发现了与此极为相似的行为。
~ with
与…的相似之处:
She saw an obvious parallel with her sister’s predicament.
她明显曾经身处与她姐姐相似的困境。
parallel
adj.
[搭配]VERBS
be, run
平行
[搭配]ADV.
exactly
完全平行
nearly
几乎平行
roughly
大致平行
[搭配]PREP.
to
与…平行:
The lane is roughly parallel to the main road.
这条小路大致和主干道平行。
with
与…平行:
The road runs parallel with the sea.
这条道路和海边平行。
2）翻译下面的句子：
这本书主要写的是传统出版业和数字出版业之间有趣的相似性。
（参考翻译：The book draws interesting parallels between traditional publishing and digital publishing. 或者
The book examines interesting parallels between traditional publishing and digital publishing.
场景：上海和广州。
造句：There are Many striking parallels between Shanghai and Guangzhou.
场景：古龙和金庸。
造句：Many fans of martial arts fictions try to draw a parallel between Jin Yong ang Gu Long，both Chinese novelists writing kungfu stories.