中英對照讀新聞／Pair of Japanese mangoes fetches 2,000 dollars 2顆日本芒果售得2000美元

◎魏國金

A pair of Japanese mangoes known as "Eggs of the Sun" for their fiery colour and juicy flesh hatched a sweet deal for their owner, fetching a record 2,000 dollars at auction.

2顆因火紅顏色與多汁果肉而以「日之卵」聞名的日本芒果，為主人帶來甜美的交易，它們在拍賣會上賣得創紀錄的2000美元。

The mangoes, produced in Miyazaki Prefecture, were sold for 200,000 yen in the season’s first auction here, an official at fruit wholesaler Tokyo Seika said. The buyer’s identity was not disclosed.

水果批發商「東京青果貿易株式會社」的一名高級職員說，這兩個產自宮崎縣的芒果，在此地的當季水果首次拍賣上以20萬日圓賣出。買主的身分未公開。

The price far surpassed the previous Japanese record of 38,000 yen bid last year for a similar pair.

這個價格遠遠超過去年2個相似的芒果，以3萬8000日圓標價創下的紀錄。

Products from the Miyazaki region have become popular following frequent appearances on television by comedian turned local governor Hideo Higashikokubaru, who has actively promoted local specialities.

宮崎地區的產品在諧星變為該縣知事的東國原英夫頻頻在電視露臉、積極推銷當地名產後，成了搶手貨。

Visitors to Japan are frequently surprised by the high price of fruit. Last year, a pair of melons fetched a record two million yen at auction.

到日本的觀光客常被高昂的水果價格嚇一跳。去年，一盒2顆的甜瓜在拍賣會上以創紀錄的200萬日圓賣出（約台幣60萬餘元）。

新聞辭典

fetch︰取得，售得。例句︰These old books won’t fetch much.（這些舊書賣不了多少錢。）It’ll fetch a good price.（它會賣得好價錢。）

hatch︰孵化，如 hatch out chickens（孵出小雞）；也有策劃、圖謀之意。例︰What is she hatching up？（她在搞什麼鬼？）

surpass︰超越…界線，如 riches surpassing belief（令人難以置信的龐大財富）。例句︰You surpass yourself.（你今天特別行。）

來源：自由時報

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