核心畫面

Put the thing on a pair of old scales and watch the needle. Nothing has to be the same size for the needle to sit in the middle; each part only has to be the size it should be. Take one part away, or let one part grow too heavy, and the whole thing tips. That needle sitting still is what well-balanced describes — in a knife, in a plate of food, and in a person on a bad day.

可以想成把東西放上一台老式天平,然後看著指針。要讓指針停在中間,各部分不必一樣大,只要各自是該有的份量就好。少掉一塊更多收起可以想成把東西放上一台老式天平,然後看著指針。要讓指針停在中間,各部分不必一樣大,只要各自是該有的份量就好。少掉一塊,或是某一塊太重,整個就會往一邊倒。well-balanced 描述的就是指針停住的那個狀態:一把刀是這樣,一盤菜是這樣,一個人在很糟的日子裡也是這樣。

Two branches

各部分的份量剛剛好

這一支最貼近天平本身:可以是重量,也可以是內容的比例。

adjective · B2

Made or put together so that all the parts are the right size, weight or amount, and no part is too strong. It is used about things like a knife, a team, a report or a piece of music.

平衡的;配置得當的

人心裡的那台天平

同一台天平放進一個人裡面。情緒往一邊加重,人卻沒有被推倒,指針還停在中間。

adjective · B2

A well-balanced person thinks clearly and stays steady. Strong feelings do not take over and decide what they do.

情緒穩定的;沉穩的