Clarity Begins at Home

仁爱自家始‍

one should take care of one’s own family, friends, or fellow citizens

before helping other people

一个人在帮助其他人之前应先照顾好自己的家庭、朋友或同胞

A: You’re home late again. What have you been up to?

B: I’ve been playing Santa Claus. Last night I was at the children’s ward of the hospital, and tonight I stopped off at the orphanage to help wrap gifts and put up the Christmas tree.

A: That’s very nice of you, but charity begins at home. Your own children haven’t seen you at all lately. Don’t you think you should pay some attention to them, too?

B: You have a point, but we have so much and others have so little. I was just trying to spread some Christmas cheer.

A: I’m sure your efforts are immensely appreciated, but we need your attention, too. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask you to take care of your own family before going out to help others.

甲：你又回家这么晚。最近在忙什么？

乙：最近一直在扮圣诞老人。昨晚我去了医院儿科病房，今晚去了儿童福利院帮忙包装礼物，装扮圣诞树。

甲：你真是太暖心了，但关爱应自家始。你自己的孩子们最近都看不到你。难道你不应该对他们也关心一下吗？

乙：你说得有道理，但我们拥有了这么多而其他人却一无所有。我只是想传递些圣诞节的温暖。

甲：我相信人们会非常感谢你的努力，但我们也需要你的关心。我想你先照顾好家里人，再去帮其他人是合情合理的。‍

1. take care of

to do the things that are needed to help or protect (someone) or to keep (something) in good condition.

照顾；照料；爱护

He is home taking care of a sick child.

他在家照顾生病的孩子。

They took care of a ten-room house without help.

他们没请任何人帮忙，自己打理一栋十居室的房子。

2. fellow citizen

(一国的)同胞

Nicolas advocated justice, stood up for his fellow citizens.

尼古拉斯倡导正义，拥护他的同胞。

3. What have you been up to?

你最近在忙什么？

What have you been up to?

Not much.

你最近在忙什么？

没什么。

4. Santa Claus

an imaginary fat man with a white beard and a red suit who gives toys to children at Christmas.

圣诞老人

5. orphanage

a public institute for the care of children without parents.

孤儿院

After the death of his parents, he was raised in an orphanage.

父母去世后，他就在孤儿院生活。

6. wrap

to cover (something) by winding or folding a piece of material around it

包；裹；包装

They were busy wrapping presents late on Christmas eve.

在平安夜深夜，他们忙着包装礼物。

7. put up

装饰；挂上

8. pay attention to

to watch, listen to, or think about someone or something carefully

（对某人/某事）注意

I’m sorry, I wasn’t paying attention to what you were saying.

对不起，我没有仔细听你的话。

9. You have a point.

你说得有道理。

Maybe you have a point. How about having a party on Friday afternoon？

也许你有道理，要不我们周五下午聚会吧？

END