face something head-on正面迎上

一句反问把认命的生活方式整个掀翻，也逼出了全章的转折。

You're supposed to just ... for the rest of your life?

质疑某种认命的安排时用；对长辈或客户质问会显得冒犯。

Are you meant to hide forever? ／ So you just give up for the rest of your life?

口语

supposed to 弱读，the rest of 连读，句尾上扬。

You're supposed to just give up for the rest of your life? 难道你下半辈子就这么认输了？

把孩子的顿悟说得克制又郑重，一句话概括了整段成长。

It's difficult to imagine that ...

回顾一件看似不可能却真发生的事时用；写正式总结尤其合适。

It is hard to believe that I found a belief to live by so young. ／ Who would have thought a twelve-year-old could find a creed?

literary

difficult to 连读，at the age of 12 放慢，philosophy 重读。

It's difficult to imagine that a summer job would shape my career. 很难想象，一份暑期工竟然定下了我的职业方向。

不抱怨不辩解，一句平白的话就把命运的方向拧了过来。

I didn't want to be like them.

表明自己不肯随波逐流时用；对当事人当面说会伤人。

I refused to end up like them. ／ That was not the life I wanted.

中性

didn't want 连读，like them 轻收，语气要平。

I didn't want to be like them, so I started studying. 我不想变成他们那样，所以开始用功了。

把纸面上的权利和现实里的敌意并排一放，落差本身就是控诉。

... doesn't mean anything when ...

指出规定与现实的差距、替弱势者发声时用；正式报告里更适合换成中性说法。

That right means nothing when no one respects it. ／ A law is worthless if people ignore it.

中性

doesn't 轻读，mean anything 连读，yelling at you 加重。

The rule doesn't mean anything when nobody enforces it. 没人执行的话，这条规定等于零。