Hello! Welcome to the VOA Learning English program Words and Their Stories. Each week, we explain how to use common words and expressions in American English.
欢迎收听美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。我们每周都会讲解如何使用美式英语中的常用词汇和短语。
Today we talk about a seemingly simple four-letter word: will. But do not be fooled. The word will is a strong noun and a powerful verb.
今天我们要谈到一个看似简单的由四个字母组成的单词：will。但是不要被它蒙蔽了，will这个单词是一个坚强的名词以及一个强大的动词。
As a verb, will requires you to do something. If you say you will take action, you have promised to do it with no excuses -- no ifs, ands or buts.
作为动词，will要求你做某事。如果你说你将会采取行动，你就已经答应无条件这样做。
As a noun, will is the determination to do something, demonstrating a strength or firmness of purpose. Someone who has a strong will does not give up.
作为名词，will是指做某事的意志，表现出一种达到目的的力量或坚定决心。拥有坚强意志的人不会放弃。
Americans often say someone who is determined has an iron will. On the opposite side, someone who has lost their will has given up. It is a very serious situation when a person has lost their will to live. These people need lots of love and support.
美国人经常说某人具有钢铁般的意志。相反，某人失去意志已经放弃了。当某人失去求生意志时情况就很严峻，这些人需要很多关爱和支持。
Will can also be a person's choice or desire to do something. For example, do you have the will to learn the English language? If you are listening to this show, I hope your answer would be "yes, I do."
Will还能指个人选择或做某事的意愿。例如，你愿意学英语吗？如果你在收听本期节目，我希望你的答案是肯定的。
But perhaps you are being forced to learn a foreign language. In this case, you can say you are studying against your will. This will make learning much more difficult.
但是也许你正被迫学习一门外语。在这种情况下，你可以说，你学习违背了自己的意愿。这会让学习变得更加困难。
In a perfect world, you would think that all governments represent the will of the people. But sadly, some do not. They may reflect the will of the people with the most money, power or influence.
在一个理想世界里，你会觉得所有政府都代表了人们的意愿。但是可悲的是情况并非如此。政府可能反映的是最具金钱、权力或影响力的人的意愿。
To do something at will means to do what you want, when you want. For example, a woman could say this about a former boyfriend. "He thought he could walk in and out of my life at will. The nerve!"
To do something at will意思是指随心所欲做某事。例如，女人可能会这样说前男友。“他认为他可以在我的生活中随意进出，扯淡！”
As a noun, the word will can mean a legal document. In a will, a person states who should receive their possessions after he or she dies.
作为名词，will还可以指代法律文件遗嘱（will）。人们在遗嘱中声明谁可以在自己去世后接受其遗产。
There is also a document called a living will. This is a written statement. It explains a person's wishes concerning their medical treatment should they not be able to state this information themselves.
还有一种文件被称之为生前意愿（living will），这是一份书面声明。万一人们无法亲自声明这些信息，这份书面声明可以说明他们对自己医疗救治的意愿。
For example, a person may write in a living will that they do not wish to be kept alive with life support machinery. Such equipment can keep a person breathing and their heart beating even when they are unable to communicate.
例如某人可能写下一份生前意愿，表明自己不愿意通过生命支持设备维持生命。这些设备可以让人维持呼吸和心跳，即使他们已经无法与人沟通。
The next word is willpower.
下一个单词就是毅力（willpower）。
Willpower is the personal strength you have that enables you to do something difficult. Willpower is the ability to control oneself. For example, it takes great willpower to give up cigarettes.
毅力是个人拥有的战胜困难的力量，是自我控制的能力。例如，戒烟需要很大毅力。
To have willpower in life is important because life can be difficult.
在生活中拥有毅力非常重要，因为生活可能会很艰难。
But if you do find yourself in a difficult situation, do not give up. As they say, "Where there's a will, there's a way." This saying means that having inner strength will help you overcome any problem life throws at you.
但是如果你发现自己身处困境，不要放弃。正如我们所说的，“有志者事竟成。”这句谚语是指具有内在力量会帮助你克服生活带给你的任何困难。
Even with willpower, life can present you with many difficult situations. For example, being in a battle of wills can be difficult. A battle of wills is when two people or groups are equally determined to get what they want. A battle of wills can get very heated.
即使有毅力，生活也会给你呈现诸多困境。例如，身处一场意志的较量中是很困难的。一场意志的较量是指双方同样坚定地想要获得他们想要的东西。一场意志的较量可能会很激烈。
But if you find yourself in a battle of wills, remember you have the free will to walk away.
但是如果你发现自己陷入一场意志的较量，记得你可以自行选择退出。
Free will is a person's freedom to choose for themselves. It is the power of acting without the help of God or luck. A common word we use for this concept is self-determination.
自由意志是指某人自行选择的自由。这是在没有神或运气帮忙之下采取行动的权利。用于这一概念的一个常用词就是自我决定。
In a popular song, titled "Freewill," the hard-rocking band Rush sings that if you choose not to choose, you still have made a choice.
在一首名为自由意志的流行歌曲中，硬派摇滚乐队Rush唱道，如果你选择不做选择，你还是做出了选择。
"If you chose not to decide, you still have made a choice.
“如果你选择不做决定，你还是做出了选择。