Lu Posted December 1, 2020 at 04:42 PM Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 at 04:42 PM I'm not understanding a short phrase in the book I'm translating, and hopefully someone here can help. Beijing, 2010 or so. Young woman, temporarily homeless after her relationship ended, moves in with her cousin. She has very little luggage. “这就是你全部的东西吗？”[cousin]抱着肩膀，看着立在门口的两只旅行箱。 “有一只箱子还没有装满。” “你过的是吉普赛人的生活吗？”她问。 “差不多吧，除了不给人算命。” 我早就习惯了这种移动的生活。对于怎么在最短的时间里让自己的痕迹从某个地方消失颇为在行。平日购买生活用品，除去价格，还有一个重要的衡量参数，就是体积。在具有同种功能的同类物品中，我一定会选择最小的那个。吹风机、直发夹板、电熨斗、扬声器，所有这些都是最迷你的，我甚至可以容忍它们简陋的功能和专为讨好做芭比梦的少女而漆成的粉红色。香水都是五毫升的小试管。此外，尽量选择兼具多种功能的物品，折叠的开瓶器能开红酒、啤酒和罐头，便携充电器可以给手机、电脑以及相机充电，一罐乳液既能搽脸又能涂身体。 I get stuck on that 简陋的功能. 'their ugly function'? What would that mean? Or am I thinking too difficult and it just means 'the fact that they are ugly'? Or am I missing something else? Thanks in advance to anyone who can help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted December 1, 2020 at 06:44 PM Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 at 06:44 PM Crude / basic, rather than ugly. She can overlook the basic functionality if something's small. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lu Posted December 1, 2020 at 08:42 PM Author Report Share Posted December 1, 2020 at 08:42 PM Ahaa, that makes sense. You mean 'basic functionality' as in 'the functionality is very bare-bones', right? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted December 2, 2020 at 06:47 AM Report Share Posted December 2, 2020 at 06:47 AM Yes, so maybe her iron doesn't have a steam function, her speakers sound a bit rubbish, etc. But it's worth it if they are small. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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