wind down漸漸走向終結

一句把滿嘴刻薄的人說軟了，恨意底下原來是憐憫，最見角色底色。

I don't think they're bad, I think they're just ...

看穿某人的刻薄後替他解釋時用；正式辯論裡這樣說會顯得太感性。

They're not evil, just frightened. ／ People aren't cruel so much as scared.

中性

even the 連讀，inchworms and cretins 並列重讀，just scared 放輕收尾。

She isn't rude, she's just shy. 她不是沒禮貌，她只是害羞。

把分手解釋成對方承受不了自己的偉大，自戀到讓人哭笑不得。

X isn't easy to live with.

半自嘲地解釋關係破裂時用；認真這麼說會被當成自戀。

Living with me takes patience. ／ I'm not the easiest person to be around.

正式

Greatness 重讀，isn't easy 連讀，normal intelligence 平穩收尾。

Ambition isn't easy to live with either. 野心也不是那麼好相處的。

拿宇宙熱寂給個人垮掉找理由，宏大和頹喪撞出冷幽默。

The universe is ... Why shouldn't we?

半開玩笑地給放任找藉口時用；真拿它當論據會被笑話。

Everything falls apart eventually. ／ If the stars can quit, so can I.

literary

universe 重讀，winding down 連讀，Why shouldn't we 尾音上揚。

The whole project is sinking. Why shouldn't we quit? 整個專案都要垮了，我們憑什麼不能撂挑子？

一句話把性別之分抹平在傷害面前，歪理裡透著真淒涼。

They all ... in the end, whether ... or ...

感慨感情傷人時用；認真拿它評價某個具體的人會顯得偏見。

Love hurts the same whoever you are. ／ Gender doesn't change the ending.

口語

in the end 稍頓，every woman 重讀，whether 後兩句平衡收尾。

They all disappoint you in the end, friends or lovers. 到頭來他們都會讓你失望，朋友也好，戀人也好。

順著上帝創造之美一路推，最後落在一個職業玩笑上，機靈又冒犯。

He's a ... (naming what someone really is)

把崇高話題突然降格成職業玩笑時用；在信徒面前說會冒犯人。

So really, He's an artist. ／ Call Him what He is.

口語

That's right 輕快，decorator 重音在前，句尾乾脆收住。

The man cooks like an artist, so really, he's a painter. 這人做飯像藝術，說白了就是個畫家。