關於 still i rise分析 ，我們在網路上蒐集到這些相關的討論、資訊與評價

📘【Ken的高頻單字筆記 I】
購買辦法：https://is.gd/H8W7Qj

📰 今天我們來讀讀【華爾街日報】
🖐🏽 五分鐘來關心國際時事 — 墨西哥治安 🇲🇽

📰 Mexico Reports Slight Decline in 2019 Homicides
Nation’s murder rate remained at highest level in decades despite fall in number of killings

MEXICO CITY—Mexico registered 209 fewer homicides in 2019 than a year earlier, the first decline in five years, though the murder rate remained at its highest level in decades, the National Statistics Institute said Wednesday.

📌 這篇文章討論墨西哥 (Mexico) 的殺人罪 (homicide) 數字的微小下降(slight decline)。nation是國家的意思，在這裡是指墨西哥，這是常用修辭方法之一。作者也用同義詞提高文章的可讀性： homicide vs murder vs killing。

The country registered 36,476 homicides last year, down from 36,685 in 2018, according to preliminary data based on death certificates. The homicide rate was unchanged from 2018 at 29 per 100,000 inhabitants, the highest level on records stretching back 30 years.

📌 這段交代有關數據，register (登記)、down from (從...下降)、according to preliminary data (根據初步資料) 和 unchanged (不變的)是常見用語。

“The important thing is that the government doesn’t rest on its laurels by saying we’ve slowed the rise in homicides,” said Cassius Wilkinson, a security analyst at political-risk consultancy Empra. “A plateau at historic highs still isn’t good for Mexico’s public security.”

📌 這段引述一位保安分析員 (security analyst) 的意見。rest on one’s laurels (不求進步) 是道地用語。plateau的原意是高原，在這裡引申指有關數字維持於高位不降。

Monthly police reports for 2020 show that homicides were up 1.5% in the first eight months of this year from a year earlier, although the numbers have been overshadowed by more than 74,000 deaths of people infected with the coronavirus.

The drop in the preliminary number of homicides for 2019 will likely become a small increase when final data are released at the end of October, said security analyst Alejandro Hope. “The good news is that it’s not growing, the bad news is that it’s not falling,” he added.

📌 這兩段繼續分析有關數字的走勢。overshadowed by (因為...失色的) 是生動的用語。preliminary 跟 final 是異義詞，the good news is that…the bad news is that… 是平行結構，也是很好的修辭方式。

Lowering the level of violence, much of it by organized-crime groups, is among the main concerns of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador whose strategy has been to reduce direct confrontation between security forces and heavily armed criminal gangs.

Since taking office at the end of 2018, Mr. López Obrador has disbanded the Federal Police and replaced it with a National Guard drawn mostly from the ranks of army and naval police. The National Guard has close to 100,000 members, and is expected to increase to 140,000.

📌 這兩段介紹墨西哥總統其中一項主要關注 (main concern) 就是降低暴力的水平 (lower the level of violence)。他的策略 (strategy) 是減少保安部隊 (security forces) 和犯罪集團 (criminal gang) 之間的直接對抗 (direct confrontation)。

Homicide rates last year fell in 15 of the country’s 32 states, including Baja California Sur and Quintana Roo—home to tourism hubs Los Cabos and Cancún—and Mexico City.

Among the most violent states was Guanajuato in central Mexico, which has been the site of fighting between the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and a gang of fuel thieves called the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel. Authorities arrested José Antonio Yépez, the alleged head of the fuel theft gang, in early August.

While violence increased in Guanajuato, the homicide rate fell last year in neighboring Jalisco state. The number of murders could be masked by an increase in forced disappearances in the state as the Jalisco cartel consolidates its control of the area, said Mr. Wilkinson.

“A lot of the states that lead the rankings are leading for different reasons,” he added, noting increased killings in northern states such as Sonora and Chihuahua. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the 2020 numbers are much higher.”

📌 這四段詳細分析墨西哥不同州的殺人罪率 (homicide rate)去年的情況。the rankings的意思就是排名。在旅游樞紐 (tourism hub)的州殺人罪率下降，個別州份因爲幫派的打鬥變得最暴力的。

未完待續...
📰 全文請至
https://reurl.cc/Md4Ra3
📰 作者
Anthony Harrup
📰 訂閱請至
https://bit.ly/3j82Q3W

利迷之間瘋傳嘅超長文，感謝呢位師兄譯得咁傳神！睇到好激動！睇完更加覺得利迷可以有高普帶領球隊係全世界最幸福嘅球迷。

記得因為古仔單嘢，有好多對球會批評嘅聲音同不利嘅傳聞，令到球會上下都好大壓力。報導入面有句咁講：「高普其中一樣天賦就係對人嘅信任」，作為球迷，我會學習高普，選擇相信，無論係邊一個崗位，大家都要團結一致，支持利物浦再創新高峰。

https://www.facebook.com/groups/OLSCHKSAR/permalink/10156466140299828/

最近有篇超長文講高普，唔想睇英文又唔想Google Translate?冇問題，今次有母語翻譯！每句英粵對照，唔想睇英文嘅就Skip嚟睇啦

警告：內含粗口，對粗口過敏者請按"上一頁"

[母語翻譯]
From Hong Kong to Kiev:
At the end of the storm,
there's a golden sky...
由香港到基輔：
暴雨過後 總有晴天

The inside story of how Jurgen Klopp
weathered the worst to lead Liverpool
into the Champions League final
究竟高普點樣帶住利物浦捱過風浪殺入歐聯決賽

By Melissa Reddy

"And now, we will go to Kiev. It sounds crazy, but it's true."
“我哋嚟緊就去基輔。聽起嚟痴撚線，但係真㗎。“

The downpours, pelting over Kowloon as though they were bullets from above, had finally subsided. For Liverpool, however, this was the inception of the storm.
嚟香港踢波先落狗屎，唔同連個天都唔鍾意我。但原來對利物浦嚟講，果日只係惡夢嘅開始。

Before the sun could fully crack through the scattered clouds that Friday morning in Hong Kong last July 21st, Jurgen Klopp’s phone screen was crowded with notifications from sporting director, Michael Edwards, and Fenway Sports Group president, Mike Gordon.
舊年7月21號，打鑼咁早，身在香港嘅高普部電話已經畀體育總監Michael Edwards同FSG總裁Mike Gordon嘅message震爆咗。

The news being broken to the manager - the club had instantly rejected a £72 million bid from Barcelona for Philippe Coutinho - was yesterday’s back-page buffet in the United Kingdom courtesy of the seven-hour time difference.
喺高普同隊波仲瞓緊覺果時，球會已經拒絕咗巴塞羅拿對古天奴7200萬鎊嘅開價。

Klopp’s designs for the pre-season tour had already been scaled back due to monsoon conditions that prompted cancelled training sessions and improvised workouts.
高普嘅季前熱身計劃本身已經畀香港嘅天氣打亂咗，原有嘅訓練只可以改為體能訓練。

It was this development, though, which had the potential to cyclone through their preparations for 2017-18.
但呢鑊就真係堅，隨時將成季嘅部署打亂晒。

Liverpool could not have been more unambiguous in their response to the offer: there would be no summer sale, regardless of how much the fee shot up.
利物浦嘅官方回應好堅定：無論幾多錢，今個夏天都唔會賣。

Undisguised, too, was the fact La Liga’s giants would return armed with a traditional media offensive that would pack more of a punch than their improved proposals.
而另一方面，更加肯定嘅係，呢支西甲班霸唔會就咁放棄，佢哋媒體喉舌嘅攻勢比起佢哋嘅叫價更加凌厲。

The only variable surrounded the focal point. What was Coutinho, who had signed a new five-year deal without a release clause that January, thinking?
唯一唔肯定嘅係，究竟啱啱喺1月簽咗5年約嘅古天奴點諗呢？

As Klopp entered the private assembly room for breakfast at the palatial Ritz-Carlton, the answer immediately presented itself. The 25-year-old, inner turmoil tinting his facial features, was on edge with “an instant difference in his body language,” according to observers.
當高普行入香港Ritz-Carlton酒店準備畀球隊食早餐果間房嘅時候，即刻明晒。古天奴嘅面部表情同身體語言都話畀大家知，佢心入面十五十六。

So this was a problem. Klopp walked over to Coutinho to schedule a talk for that evening, when they had an honest and respectful exchange.
呢個係一個問題。高普同古天奴講，約定傍晚攤牌講清楚。

Liverpool could not simply delete their plans for the season on account of Barcelona being unprepared for the loss of Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain, the Reds boss explained.
高普話，巴塞羅拿戇鳩鳩畀尼馬走咗去巴黎聖日耳門，唔代表利物浦就要跟住一齊柒㗎嘛。

It was a point he circled back to, while also emphasising that the timing was wrong, as was the message it would send about the club.
高普不停重複呢一點，佢仲提到， 呢刻賣人時機錯晒，而且外界會點樣睇利物浦呢？

Coutinho understood that, but highlighted the sacrifices his wife, Aine, and parents had made for his career. The future revolved around them as much as it did his own ambitions.
古天奴好明白，但佢提到佢老婆Aine同埋佢父母已經為佢嘅職業犧牲好多。諗將來嘅時候佢除咗考慮自己嘅目標，亦都要考慮屋企人。

He was happy at Liverpool, he loved the club, he was full of gratitude… But this was Barcelona. And beyond that, it represented a lifestyle change for his family, who could function within a culture so much closer to their own.
佢喺利物浦好開心。佢好鍾意隊波，亦都心存感激。但係，果隊係巴塞喎。除此之外，轉會仲代表生活上重大嘅轉變，搬去果邊嘅文化會更加適合佢屋企。

Klopp acknowledged Coutinho’s thought process, but repeated that it was about Liverpool and this was not the right thing for the club, for his teammates, or for their season ambitions.
高普好明白古天奴嘅思路，但佢再次強調，呢個係利物浦嘅問題，呢個對隊波唔係好事，對班波同對佢哋今季嘅大計都唔係好事。

The message was reinforced privately by Edwards and the ownership before a public declaration.
喺發出官方聲明之前，Edwards同老闆都分別私底下向古天奴重申呢幾點。

/“We wish to offer clarity as regards our position on a possible transfer of Philippe Coutinho,” read a statement on the club’s official website on August 11 2017, which highlighted their “definitive stance is that no offers for Philippe will be considered and he will remain a member of Liverpool FC when the summer window closes.”

“我們特此重申有關古天奴轉會一事之立場” 球會於2017年8月11日發出官方聲明“任何對古天奴的開價均不會被考慮，他於夏季轉會窗關閉時將繼續是利物浦的一員”/

Through the clinking glasses and guffaws, there is thick blend of relief and defiance daubing the atmosphere in the Freshfield area of Formby.
利物浦附近嘅一個小鎮 Formby 充斥住杯碟聲同埋歡笑聲。

It is Saturday, January 6 2018, where a long-scheduled New Year’s celebration for Liverpool’s staff at the Klopp residence has coincided with the £142m sale of Coutinho to Barcelona.
今年1月6號星期六，成班利物浦嘅職球員喺高普屋企開緊Party。無獨有偶，球會啱啱公佈古天奴將會以1億4200萬鎊身價加盟巴塞。

The news had been released shortly before the flow of Monkey 47 gin and a catalogue of German lager at the gathering, with the message following the announcement on the club’s official website entirely scripted by the manager.
呢個消息都係喺佢地呢個不醉無歸嘅聚會之前無耐公佈，而呢篇球會嘅官方聲明其實係出自高普手筆。

/“Players will come and players will go, that is football, but as a club we are big enough and strong enough to continue with our aggressive progression on the pitch, even when we lose an important player. We have never been in a better position in recent times, as a club, to react in the right way. We will use our size and strength to absorb moments like this and still move forward.”
“有出先有入，足球係咁㗎啦。但我哋作為一間球會，即使無咗一個重要嘅球員，都應該夠堅強喺球場上繼續拼搏。我哋而家處於近年嚟最好嘅時間去應對呢個轉變，我哋應該夠強大去適應然後繼續向前。”/

That night, as the spine of the football staff and their partners made his home their own, Klopp may as well have had the words inked on his appearance.
果晚，當球員帶埋佢地嘅另一半去到高普屋企嘅時候，大家都睇得出高普嘅心情寫晒喺塊面度。

The party, defined as “symbolic” and “powerful” had an element of toasting to Coutinho’s contribution at Liverpool, but at the same time, there was a sense of middle fingers flying in the direction of the doom decorating his departure.
有人事後形容果晚嘅派對好有象徵意義同力量。個Party其實亦都係為咗感謝古天奴對球隊嘅貢獻，但同時似乎大家都對佢嘅離開暗地裡媽聲四起。

Whatever followed, those present felt they were in this together. They believed in each other, in the roster, that the addition of Virgil van Dijk would make Liverpool stronger, that there was more than enough snarl as a collective to continue on an upward trajectory.
無論如何，出席嘅球員都感覺到大家喺同一條船。佢哋相信大家，而且相信雲迪克加盟之後隊波會更加強大，越踢越好。

That Klopp, above all, subscribed so religiously to this thinking translated into others sharing his conviction.
而高普就不斷將呢個信念向成班波洗腦。

Liverpool would not just be fine, Liverpool would be fucking flying.
利物浦唔只會掂，仲要係好撚掂。

Klopp was a portrait of confidence and composure, but the previous five months had been stressful for the former Borussia Dortmund trainer.
高普一直係自信同冷靜嘅化身。但過去5個月，呢位前多蒙特嘅領隊承受住好大壓力。

It went against his entire nature, heavily built around empathy, to see a player so sewn in distress. He treasured Coutinho professionally as well as personally and agonised over what the saga was doing to the Brazil international.
呢個同佢嘅天性相反。佢對古天奴受嘅巨大壓力充滿住同情，而且佢喺個人同足球層面都好欣賞古天奴，對於佢喺呢場轉會風波入面所受嘅折磨亦感同身受。

Klopp imagined what it was like for him at home. He was torn by the impact it was potentially having on his wife and young daughter.
高普曾經想像如果係佢自己，佢老婆同咁細個嘅女所受嘅影響，佢感到更加痛苦。

The manager knew how he'd feel if one of his own kids were going through that situation, or if his partner was being affected by it.
佢好明白如果係佢嘅仔女面對咁嘅情況，或者係佢老婆受到嘅影響會係幾咁大。

Part of Klopp’s weaponry is sagacity, drilling deep to appreciate what drives those that line up under him or work alongside him.
高普其中一個強項就係佢嘅睿智。佢識得深入了解幫佢做嘢嘅人，佢哋嘅動力來源係乜嘢。

That he knew Coutinho, who is quite sensitive and counts his family as his axis, was cheerless made him so too.
而佢知道，古天奴係一個多愁善感嘅人。佢嘅屋企人就係佢嘅世界，而呢點亦係點解佢咁唔開心。

The 50-year-old is often cast as the centrepiece, revelling in attention. He is charismatic, and so is more than comfortable getting on the dance floor or grabbing the mic to create a rhapsodic environment.
呢位50歲嘅教頭經常都成為大家嘅焦點。佢好有魅力，而且好擅長製造開心熱鬧嘅環境氣氛。

But those who know him best insist Klopp is happiest sitting off and shining the spotlight on the ones he cares about having a good time.
但熟悉佢嘅人會知道，其實佢最鍾意嘅係坐埋一邊，睇住佢珍重嘅人做返主角接受群眾嘅目光。

He loves witnessing the initiation tradition of a player singing a song in front of all his teammates.
佢好鍾意一個傳統，就係叫一個球員喺隊友面前唱歌。

He adores the environment the squad have carved between themselves and the way they have married the serious (a strict fine system) with the humorous - Dejan Lovren’s ‘gaffer’ social media undressing stands out after he revealed his Champions League half-time rallying call at Manchester City.
佢好喜歡球隊嘅氣氛，可以將嚴肅(嚴格嘅罰款制度)同幽默結合，例如路夫蘭就喺社交媒體同球迷分享佢喺對曼城果場波半場休息嘅時候做更衣室大佬嘅事。

Klopp can also spend hours on YouTube watching videos of joyous supporters and has noted multiple times this season that watching the crowd develop and truly connect with the team has been special.
高普亦都好鍾意上YouTube睇球迷嘅片。佢多次提到睇住球迷真正同球隊連結埋一齊嘅感覺好特別。

So to view the opposite - to see sadness plague Coutinho - was piercing.
相反，睇住古天奴所受嘅折磨，亦令高普無比痛苦。

As such, if the decision was solely Klopp’s to make, the No.10’s switch to Spain would have been sanctioned before the start of 2017-18.
正因為咁，如果畀高普話晒事，佢開季前就會將古天奴賣去西班牙。

Never thinking he is always right, and knowing what he personally felt was trivial when juxtaposed with the full picture, the German supported the reasoning of Edwards, Gordon and the ownership in general.
高普唔係一個覺得自覺永遠啱嘅人。佢知道自己嘅感覺都係好表面嘅，當佢將成個大局擺喺眼前，佢都同意Edwards，Gordon同老闆嘅諗法。

It did not make sense then, that when the only route available for Coutinho to secure an exit was to go antagonist, his camp targeted the manager in their press onslaught, which only hardened FSG’s stance.
離奇嘅係，當時古天奴一方要離隊嘅唯一可能性就只能夠擺爛個款，而佢哋嘅陣營竟然以高普作為攻擊對象，咁樣結果只係加強咗FSG唔賣嘅決心。

Klopp hid it well, but the falsehoods over his relationship with Liverpool’s “genius,” plus the player’s manufactured unhappiness at the club did hurt - especially as he continued to publicly fight his corner.
雖然高普無表現出嚟，但果啲關於佢同古天奴關係惡劣嘅流言同埋古天奴為球隊帶嚟嘅唔開心，的確係傷害咗高普，特別係高普仲要出嚟喺公眾面前辯護。

Coutinho’s performances post the saga, especially on the continent, may have been seen as a fait accompli, but to get him to feature in the Champions League at all was an achievement.
古天奴喺呢次事件後嘅表現，尤其喺歐聯賽場，有目共睹。但派佢喺歐聯出場呢件事本身就已經唔簡單。

When it became apparent there was absolutely no twisting of Liverpool’s arm, the threat of not representing the club in Europe was still strongly being advocated by his advisors.
當知道利物浦嘅立場非常堅定之後，古天奴嘅軍師就極力主張古天奴拒絕喺歐聯上陣。

Gordon and Edwards toiled to surgically remove that and Klopp began reintegrating Coutinho, a process made simpler by his protection of the wantaway star.
Gordon同Edwards好辛苦咁解決咗呢個問題，高普亦重新將古天奴擺返入球隊嘅戰術體制入面，而高普千方百計咁喺公眾面前保護古天奴亦都令呢件事更加容易。

Despite the heckling and suspicious inverted commas each time the ‘back injury’ that sidelined the midfielder in August was mentioned, Klopp never deviated from his line - even when the issue was “only emotional” according to Brazil’s doctor during an international break.
雖然8月嘅時候，古天奴因“背傷”的確惹嚟唔少懷疑，即使巴西軍醫都話佢嘅背傷只係情緒問題，但高普始終如一支持球員。

Squad harmony and ensuring there were no further hiccups to the start of the season was paramount for Klopp - he did not mind being the subject of ridicule, which drew mass respect from the dressing room.
球隊嘅和諧對高普嚟講最為重要。佢唔介意成為事情嘅主角，咁就可以令傳媒嘅焦點離開更衣室。

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…
Happy New Year!
新年快樂！

2018 had only just ticked in, but it entered with the same complexity and concern Liverpool had enjoyed a temporary break from.
2018年啱啱開始，同時標誌住呢個困擾住利物浦嘅問題喺短暫嘅休息之後又再出現。

Barcelona were not so much knocking on the door as they were smashing through it. Coutinho’s desire to leave had not diminished despite his excellence behind a supreme frontline and the club preparing for their first Champions League knockout fixture since 2009.
巴塞羅拿今次唔只係敲門，可以講係撞門。雖然古天奴上半季留喺利物浦表現出色，而球隊亦自2009年以嚟第一次打入歐聯淘汰賽，但佢離隊嘅慾望並無消失。

Liverpool did not want a repeat of the upheaval of the summer, but conversely, neither did they want to cede the Brazilian during such a positive juncture.
利物浦唔想重演上個夏天嘅劇情，但另一方面亦唔想喺呢個重要關頭失去古天奴。

Against the tide, they attempted to persuade him to stay until the end of the season on very lucrative terms - a deal now effective later. However, there was no budging from Barca’s end nor his: Coutinho had been on Merseyside for five years and he was adamant: it was time to say goodbye.
利物浦嘗試挽留古天奴，以先簽約後離隊嘅方式留到季尾。但無論巴塞定係古天奴都寸步不讓：佢已經喺度踢咗5年，佢非常堅決係時候離隊。

As the days ticked on and the eventuality of a sale became more pronounced, Gordon was hugely concerned that the uplifting tone around the club would morph into one of unrest. He was insistent that any abuse should be funnelled towards him and the ownership, shielding Klopp and the squad from toxicity.
當轉會勢在必行，Gordon非常擔心咁樣會為一切都穩步上揚嘅球隊帶嚟負面影響。佢堅持所有外界嘅責難都應該由佢同董事會承擔，高普同球員唔應該受到牽連。

Through this period, though, there was no calmer person at Melwood than the manager and there was no way he wouldn’t front up.
喺呢段期間，成個Melwood無人比高普更加冷靜，亦都無人可以阻止佢對住傳媒頂硬上。

Klopp demanded that everyone relax, that this was just a football transfer, and so they should treat it as such and nothing more.
高普要求所有球員保持放鬆，呢單只係普通嘅足球轉會，大家唔需要諗太多，

If Liverpool did not want any drama around it, then it was imperative that they did not create a spectacle themselves.
如果利物浦唔想事情繼續發酵，佢哋首先就要唔好自己製造新嘅話題。

It was a transaction, not a tombstone for the Reds’ season.
呢單只係一單普通嘅交易，隊波嘅球季仲未完嘅。

The most significant factor was how the squad would react to the development. The Magician was loved by his peers, but additionally, there had been an episode that played on Klopp’s mind.
最重要嘅係隊波點樣面對呢個轉變。隊友都好鍾意古天奴，而有件事喺高普心入面揮之不去。

One August afternoon, a desperate Coutinho approached the senior players’ committee and pencilled in a talk in one of the meeting rooms on Melwood’s ground tier.
早喺8月嘅時候，有一日古天奴喺Melwood一間會議室入面同球隊嘅“一隊球員委員會”開會。

He appealed to them to change the club’s mind, and while he knew the squad wanted him to stay, he also figured fellow professionals would recognise why he felt this was a ‘dream step’ that was critical to take.
佢希望球會可以改變決定。佢知道球隊希望佢留低，但佢亦深信隊友會明白佢為夢想而行嘅呢一步。

For all the chicanery that occurred during the summer window, it was the folding of his teammates into the fuss that most annoyed Klopp.
而最令高普擔憂嘅係其他隊友焦急嘅心情。

So when the deal was done and Coutinho was off, the manager rounded up the full group in the dressing room at the training complex and delivered an incisive address.
當轉會已成定局，高普召集所有球員，喺訓練場嘅更衣室向佢哋訓話。

The message was that they'd lost a great player and a friend, but it was no more than that. He told them to not give anyone on the outside a chance to say that Phil going has affected their season.
高普最主要嘅訊息係，佢哋係喪失咗一個好球員，但亦只係少咗一個好球員咁大把。最重要嘅係唔好畀外面嘅人有任何機會話古天奴嘅離開影響咗我哋嘅球季。

Klopp mentioned that the scrutiny would increase, but he didn't believe it would hamper Liverpool in a negative way. It was important for the team to believe the same, because if they allowed his exit to be an excuse, Liverpool were weak.
高普話佢相信出面嘅批評會越嚟越多，但佢唔覺得球隊會受到任何負面影響。隊波一定要有呢個信念，呢樣係好重要，否則如果球隊畀呢樣嘢成為藉口，咁利物浦就太軟弱。

He reminded his players they could decide whether people said their collective genius had walked out the door with Coutinho.
高普提醒球員，佢哋有能力話畀全世界知道，佢哋加埋嘅力量係咪都畀古天奴一個拎走晒。

/"This is us. On we go."
丟那媽 頂硬上/

Liverpool had anticipated a thunderstorm, and when the whistle for the interval went at the Etihad, they were relieved for the respite from Manchester City’s electric onslaught.
利物浦預咗場波會好難踢，而當半場嘅哨子聲響起嘅時候，佢哋即刻鬆一口氣，可以暫時忘記曼城喺主場瘋狂嘅攻勢。

The scoreline was only 1-0 to Pep Guardiola’s men on the night, and still 3-1 to the visitors on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals, but those first 45 minutes were punishing.
比數只係1-0，對於作客嘅利物浦嚟講兩回合計仲係領先緊3-1。但呢45分鐘嘅歐聯八強可以話係一種折磨。

Klopp’s half-time routine is consistent home and away. He speeds from the touchline to the dressing room, takes off his jacket and convenes with assistant coach Peter Krawietz, who has selected crucial in-match clips along with analysts Harrison Kingston and Mark Leyland.
高普每次嘅半場休息都係一樣，主場同作客都係。佢會由球場跑入更衣室，除咗件外套，集合埋已經剪好咗上半場精華嘅助教Peter Krawietz，同埋兩位分析員，Harrison Kingston 同 Mark Leyland。

The footage they slice is never usually of a goal being conceded or scored, but examples of how to avoid the former or ensure the latter by highlighting the positioning of the defensive line or where the best offensive spaces are.
佢哋揀嘅片通常都唔係重溫失波或者入波，而係講解防線嘅企位點樣防止失波，同埋點樣利用進攻嘅空位爭取入波。

At City, there was a deviation. Lovren had been shouting, telling the team to ‘wake up,’ that they weren’t showing enough belief and were allowing Kevin De Bruyne and co to do as they please.
而今次嚟到曼城，情況有啲唔同。路夫蘭大聲喝醒班隊友，話佢哋信心唔夠同埋畀迪布尼太多空位。

Klopp pounced on this as the perfect opening for his own message and so he broke away from his normal process, allowing the centre-back to speak for just under a minute before then commanding the room.
高普覺得呢個會係一個好好嘅開場白，所以佢畀咗大概1分鐘路夫蘭講佢要講嘅嘢。

He started by agreeing with the Croatian, before pointing at Lovren and Van Dijk, saying they were killing the team by being too deep.
之後輪到高普，佢首先同意路夫蘭嘅講法，然後就話路夫蘭同雲迪克逗得太深，令場波好難踢。

He then calmly got his crucial information over: get higher, condense the pitch and stop City playing the passes that feed their strengths.
然後佢好冷靜咁指示球員：逗前啲，企密啲，唔好畀曼城咁多空位做波。

In possession, relax, orientate yourselves better and speed it up. He pointed out spaces available to break City’s press, helping Liverpool retain the ball and thwart the hosts’ constant flow of attacks.
控球果時保持冷靜，轉身然後加速。善用進攻空位突破曼城嘅迫搶，亦都可以減慢曼城嘅進攻。

Klopp then highlighted Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s chance at the end of the first half as the memory that would be playing on loop in the home dressing room.
佢特別提到張伯倫臨完半場前嘅一次機會。

He stressed that City had just seen what Liverpool were capable of and it would be terrifying them as all it would've taken was one successful attack to scorch Guardiola's charges.
佢話呢球畀曼城睇到利物浦嘅實力，而佢哋先應該係驚果一隊，因為我哋一次成功嘅進攻佢哋就玩完。

There was an element of 'so what the fuck are we doing still sitting here?' as he ordered them to go out and get back on the front foot.
“咁仲坐喺度做乜鳩吖”高普就趕咗隊波出球場準備。

While City were engulfed by the emotion of the occasion with Guardiola getting sent off at half-time, Liverpool used the break to reorganise.
當曼城仍然因為哥迪奧拿半場被趕離場而激動，利物浦就借呢個時候重整旗鼓。

Klopp’s ability to cut through everything and communicate concisely was visible through the first passage of play in which his side strung five to six consecutive passes together.
高普講解戰術嘅能力可以由利物浦下半場第一個攻勢連續五六下靚傳就睇到。

It culminated in Mohamed Salah’s opener on 56 minutes that effectively ended the tie, after Gini Wijnaldum fed Oxlade-Chamberlain.
利物浦好快就得到回報。56分鐘，韋拿度姆傳畀張伯倫，最後由沙拿射入，賽事就基本上大局已定。

The England international dissected City to supply the Egyptian, who along with Sadio Mane had worked to isolate and unsettle Aymeric Laporte, Fernandinho and Nicolas Otamendi as per instruction.
張伯倫劏穿咗曼城嘅防線，畀沙拿配合文尼，根據高普嘅指示搞掂咗拿撲迪，費蘭甸奴同奧達文迪。

Klopp is forever examined through his magnetism, but not his methods. People see the cool as fuck figure with his unkept stubble in a hoody and trainers, but not the tactical nerd obsessed with preparation and details.
高普最吸引人嘅係佢嘅魅力而唔係佢嘅教波或者戰術。大家睇到嘅高普都係著住運動衫同埋有一頭混亂嘅短髮，同果啲執著於準備戰術部署嘅大師風格完全唔同。

The storyline is dictated by the hugs, fist pumps and rantings, but should be about the composed leader, who is able to read the room and never ducks a big call.
完場嘅一刻充滿住擁抱，碰拳同埋咆哮。但係唔能夠遺忘嘅係呢位永不退縮嘅領袖。

Liverpool need only a point to secure Champions League football heading into the final top-flight game of the season against Brighton? Ok then, he'll just pick four attackers.
利物浦只需要喺白禮頓身上拎到1分就足夠確保下季歐聯參賽資格？無問題，出四個前鋒囉。

There is a misconception too that Klopp’s management is punctuated by Hollywood moments, that ‘Any Given Sunday’ type zingers are delivered on a daily.
大家都有個誤會，就係喺高普嘅領導之下，呢啲本應喺荷李活先出現嘅誇張劇情好似每日都會上演。

To this point, Andy Robertson and Oxlade-Chamberlain are often asked “what did Klopp say to you when things weren’t going well at the start of your Liverpool career?”
就住呢點，羅拔臣同張伯倫都曾經分別被問到“高普喺你哋啱啱加盟，表現唔係咁好嘅時候，同你哋講過啲咩？”

There is no cinematographic answer as there were no elaborate meetings or ground-shifting discussions.
無任何驚喜嘅答案，因為根本就無任何特別嘅對話或者照肺。

He told them to continue as they were, put in the work, and the time would come, things would align.
高普只係叫佢哋繼續努力，時機會嚟到，所有嘢就會好順利。

Klopp believes there is no point ballooning something beyond what it actually is, and that often, the best decision to take is none at all.
高普覺得，有時一動不如一靜。

He figures having ‘the talk’ can be self-indulgent and self-serving at times. If there is no certain benefit to a player, what exactly is the point?
佢覺得有時呢啲所謂對話，即係照肺，根本幫唔到球員，晒氣。

And if there is no massive issue, with the criticism existing externally, why should Klopp feed the notion that there is a problem by formally addressing it?
如果根本就無乜問題，只係外界係度亂咁批評，咁何必太認真看待？

Take Mane for example, who was slightly off colour for a period, snatching a little too much and overthinking every action.
以文尼為例，佢有段時間的確係失色咗啲，獨食咗啲，有啲決定慢咗啲。

In general, though, the speedster was still a threat, still being decisive and still ensuring that the front three functioned exceptionally while adding to his defensive duties.
但整體嚟講，佢仍然係前場一個威脅，仍然係決定性嘅，加上佢喺防守嘅貢獻，確保三把尖刀可以各自發揮作用。

There was never a big sit down with the Senegal international, simply a brief sort of ‘What’s up? Stop beating yourself up about any mistakes, I am very happy with you.’
高普從來都無坐低同文尼傾過啲咩問題，最多都只係“喂，唔使咁躁，你踢得好吖我好滿意。”

Mane found his own way through his stifled spell, aided by a sprinkling of encouragement rather than a lengthy tactical dissection.
文尼最後都走出低潮，靠嘅只係少少嘅鼓勵，而唔需要長篇大論嘅戰術分析。

Klopp doesn’t hesitate to assume control when a situation demands it - see Mamadou Sakho as a reference - but he dictates when necessary, not out of ego nor as an act.
當然，如果有需要，高普會毫不猶豫手起刀落介入問題，沙高就係一個例子。但佢只會喺客觀情況有必要嘅時候先會咁，而絕對唔係自我中心。

October 8, 2015
2015年10月8號

At Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool’s city centre, those who would now work closely with the club’s new manager were offered insight into the character behind the established caricature.
喺利物浦市中心嘅希望街設計酒店(Hope Street Hotel)，一班而家同高普緊密合作嘅伙記當時就第一次見識到呢位領隊。

After Klopp signed a three-year deal worth an estimated £7m per season in the Sixth Boardroom, where Rafa Benitez had also ratified a contract with the club in 2004, he gathered the football staff for dinner.
高普同球會簽咗3年，每年值7百萬鎊嘅合約。佢簽約嘅地方同2004年賓尼迪斯同利物浦簽約嘅地方一樣。簽約之後，高普就約咗成班職員食晚飯。

Some expected a rousing speech from the German, others assumed it would be the introduction to Jurgen’s Law.
大家都預期高普會發表激勵嘅演說，或者先小人後君子講下自己帶波嘅規矩。

Instead, Klopp spoke very little, inviting everyone to tell him about themselves, their roles and how things worked at Liverpool - from training schedules to the matchday routine. He wanted to absorb as much information as possible.
但結果，高普無乜點講嘢。佢邀請所有人分別介紹自己，佢啲嘅崗位同職責，由訓練日程到比賽日嘅運作，佢都想知道多啲。

When it was time to talk through the media plan for his unveiling, Klopp was asked about his preferences when dealing with press. “No, no,” he responded, underlining that this was the communication team's field and they were the experts.
當講到應對媒體方面，高普話呢個係公關團隊嘅範疇同專業。

They had to tell him how it should be. They had to teach him.
佢會等佢哋指導佢點做。

One of the Stuttgart native’s gifts is trusting and turning to the people he works with, previously stating “I’m not a one-man show. I was never that in my life, and I never want to be that. The best lesson you can get in a day - to speak to smart people about things they know about much more about than you do.”
高普其中一樣天賦就係對人嘅信任。“我唔係單打獨鬥嘅人，我從來都唔係。每日最好嘅事就係同聰明嘅人傾計，聽佢哋講一啲佢哋比你叻好多嘅嘢。”

It is why when recruitment continuously pushed Salah to the forefront of the agenda for Liverpool’s incomings, Klopp co-signed their expertise.
咁就解釋咗點解當球探極力推薦沙拿嘅時候，高普毫不猶豫就投下信任一票。

He is across everything, but respects staff who take responsibility for their spheres of influence and are bold enough to settle on important decisions without informing him of each small detail.
高普好尊重所有同事喺佢哋自己嘅範疇工作，而且可以勇敢啲做決定，唔使事無大小都問准佢。

Klopp surrounds himself with strong personalities, and as such, perhaps that partly explains why his long-time assistant and friend, Zeljko Buvac, is expected to leave the club at the end of the season.
高普身邊有好多叻人一齊做嘢。或者正因為咁，佢嘅長期拍檔，Zeljko Buvac 預計將會係季尾離隊。

The Bosnian-Serb has been missing from the first-team fold since the end of April due to ‘personal reasons,’ and while no clarity has been offered on the situation, there is thought to be an element of discontent for Buvac over his standing in football.
呢位助教自從4月尾就因為私人理由缺席一隊嘅活動。外界盛傳其中一個原因係佢唔滿意自己喺對足球方面嘅意見唔夠被重視，而呢個傳聞亦一直無被正式澄清。

That his absence has not affected Liverpool behind the scenes is a nod to the strength of the individuals in the backroom team.
佢嘅缺席對利物浦影響似乎唔大正好證明球隊背後支援嘅團隊實力洪厚。

It is a strand that runs through the playing personnel as well, with proof in the non-upheaval following Coutinho’s winter departure.
呢點同球員喺古天奴離隊後嘅穩定表現有異曲同工之妙。

Just as the footballers have happily assumed more responsibility, so too have the coaching and support staff.
正如其他球員樂於承擔更多責任，職員亦都一樣。

“Incredibly healthy” has been a label used to describe the overall set-up at Melwood and when you consider the seamless adjustment of Van Dijk and Salah, it seems an accurate assessment.
有人形容Melwood 嘅分工安排係“非常健康”。當你睇到雲迪克同沙拿都可以咁快適應球隊，呢個講法似乎千真萬確。

Meanwhile, players that took a while to find their stride, like Robertson and Oxlade-Chamberlain, never felt walled off.
同時，一啲需要多啲時間適應嘅球員，例如羅拔臣同張伯倫，都無感到被遺忘。

Klopp empowered Henderson to cultivate the dressing room culture and the captain has promoted a togetherness many within the West Derby facility say they haven’t encountered before.
高普吩咐軒達臣負責更衣室裡面嘅氣氛同文化，而大家都認同呢位隊長為球隊帶嚟前所未有嘅團結。

The bond extends beyond the team to the non-football staff, who are part of the fabric of the place too. This is so much so, that even when players leave the fondness lingers.
呢股團結力量亦擴展至其他職員，甚至乎有啲球員離隊後仍然維持住對球隊嘅感情。

When Liverpool travelled to Rome for the second leg of their Champions League semi-final, Lucas Leiva sent back a surprise for popular canteen pairing Carol Farrell and Caroline Guest - signed Lazio shirts with a personal message for both.
當利物浦作客羅馬嘅時候，盧卡斯利華就準備咗拉素簽名波衫作為驚喜禮物送畀一對飯堂孖寶，Carol Farrel 同 Caroline Guest。

Meanwhile, it is in their domain - the dinning room - where Klopp and Edwards often strategise over breakfast or lunch beyond the more in-depth presentations on players. The duo, who both employ an open-door policy, enjoy an effortless relationship underpinned by mutual respect.
高普同Edwards經常都去到飯堂踩場，趁住食早餐或者午餐嘅時間，向球員做戰術指導。呢對飯堂孖寶都表示門常開，非常之歡迎大家。

And while the sporting director keeps a low profile as he prefers to do his job rather than talk about it, allowing him to make moves under the radar at times, Klopp appreciates that he is distinguished in his field and very decisive.
我哋嘅體育總監比較鍾意低調，不受注目，而高普就非常欣賞佢，喺佢嘅範疇十分之出色，亦好果斷。

The Reds boss is never shy to talk up the brilliance of the recruitment group, who are backed by a stellar research team run by Ian Graham.
高普亦毫不吝惜對由Ian Graham帶領嘅球探團隊嘅讚美。

And while Edwards is not the type to seek credit, Liverpool’s forward line - the most devastating in Europe this season - is largely his sketch.
雖然Edwards並唔鍾意領功，但其實利物浦而家嘅前場三叉戟，好大程度係佢嘅功勞。

Gordon assesses the dovetailing between the pair as a core canon for the club’s success. Klopp appreciates Edwards’ intelligence in assembling a team to effectively implement his aggressive blueprint, while the transfer chief is aware that signing a top player is purposeless without a top manager to extract every inch of their talent.
Gordon覺得兩人之間嘅合作係球會成功嘅重要武器。高普欣賞Edwards可以砌到隊波啱佢用，而呢位轉會話事人亦明白，幾好嘅球員都需要一個優秀嘅領隊先可以發揮所長。

The way the Reds have vaporised teams on the continent this season with their attacking venom has seen a spike in agents calling up to ascertain if there’d be any interest in their exciting clients.
利物浦今季令人聞風喪膽嘅表現令唔少經理人都蠢蠢欲動，想睇下利物浦對佢哋嘅球員有無興趣。

Liverpool are now the running train.
利物浦而家可以話係如日方中。

/'I could see myself here for the rest of my career'
我覺得自己淨低嘅職業生涯都會喺呢度。/

FSG were convinced, but how could they not have been? For nearly five years, he was the one: the ownership’s ideal manager, who remained just out of reach.
FSG都好有信心。等咗將近5年，佢就係管理層心儀嘅領隊人選。

In October 2015, however, he had finally become their one - Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp.
2015年10月，高普終於成為利物浦領隊。

But it was only on a three-year deal. He had never lived outside of Germany, let alone managed in a different country, and while there were no doubts over his status as The Perfect Fit on the club’s end, Klopp was mindful of the adaptation both he and his family would have to undertake.
但當時佢只係簽咗一份3年嘅合約。佢從來未試過喺德國以外居住，更加唔好講帶一隊德國以外嘅球隊。雖然球會對高普充滿信心，但佢就難免顧慮佢同屋企人適應嘅問題。

The contract represented a realistic scenario rather than a romantic one. During a relaxed conversation in June 2016, however, he remarked that he could imagine being at Liverpool for the rest of his managerial career to Gordon.
合約終歸係現實嘅。之後喺2016年，佢提到自己可能可以將淨低嘅執教生涯都放係利物浦。

That put in motion an instant process to lock Klopp in after a quick discussion with principle owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner.
球隊即刻事不宜遲，同老闆John Henry同主席Tom Werner簡單討論之後，就立即著手準備留住高普。

Within a matter of hours, fresh terms had been thrashed out with the manager’s agent, Marc Kosicke, and a new six-year deal was agreed.
話咁快，新合約就預備好，喺高普經理人Marc Kosicke嘅協助下，高普簽咗一份6年嘅合約。

Klopp had been on holiday in Ibiza before ferrying over to Formentera, the smallest of Spain’s Balearic islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
當時，高普正喺西班牙伊維薩島(Ibiza)放緊大假，佢之後再飛到地中海嘅福門特拉島(Formentera)繼續行程。

And on June 16, as he celebrated his 49th birthday, he also toasted signing on until 2022, with the news only being announced at the start of pre-season the following month.
喺6月16號，當佢慶祝緊49歲生日嘅同時，佢亦正式簽約擔任利物浦領隊直至2022年，而呢個好消息一直等到臨開季先向外公佈。

/"When you have an individual of Jurgen's quality in the building it makes perfect sense to secure that person for the long term. To not do so would be irresponsible."
“當你有一個好似高普咁有能力嘅人帶領球隊，無理由唔同佢簽份長約，否則係對球隊不負責任”/

Long before Henry, Werner and Gordon had first met with Klopp on October 1 2015 at the New York law offices of Shearman & Sterling, they had done extensive homework on his credentials.
遠喺Henry，Werner同Gordon第一次同高普喺2015年10月1號喺紐約一間律師樓見面之前，佢哋已經對高普做咗好多功課。

It was obvious that he was charming and a unifying figure, but they sharply realised there was endless substance beyond the soundbites and mad-scientist smile.
好明顯高普係一個有魅力而有凝聚力嘅人物，但佢哋好快就發現高普嘅功力唔只咁簡單。

Liverpool had craved a recognisable identity and here was a bonafide architect; a man worshipped in Mainz and Dortmund for his remarkable design work.
利物浦有令人景仰嘅歷史同身分，而高普正正就係一個優秀嘅建築師，佢喺緬因斯同多蒙特嘅出色表現已經係好好嘅證明。

They spoke for hours at the high-rise building on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, chewing over everything from playing style to reawakening the fan base and reconvened the following day for further talks.
佢哋果日傾咗好耐。由球隊踢法到球迷覺醒，佢哋甚至好傾到要約定第二日繼續傾。

Klopp had made one particular point with regularity: Liverpool should be a force in Europe. And they could be. He would work to get them back amongst Europe’s elite, and moreover, as being the kind of team no-one wanted to face in the Champions League.
高普提出咗一點：利物浦應該，而且可以喺歐洲有一席位。佢會令球隊重返歐洲前列，而且會令利物浦成為喺歐聯無人想對碰嘅隊伍。

In a matter of months after arriving in Liverpool, he had guided the club to the Europa League final eliminating Manchester United, Dortmund and Villarreal en route before falling short against Sevilla at the showpiece in Basel.
嚟到利物浦未夠1年，高普就帶領球隊先後淘汰曼聯，多蒙特同維拉利爾，殺入歐霸盃決賽，可惜喺巴塞爾輸咗畀西維爾。

In his first full season at the helm, Klopp’s side secured a fourth-place finish and a crack at Champions League football for only the second time in eight seasons.
喺佢嘅第一季英超，佢就成功殺入前四，拎到來季歐聯參賽資格。呢個只係利物浦近8年嚟第2次。

And having navigated a tricky qualifier against Hoffenheim last August to enter the group phase of the tournament, Liverpool are in now in its final and will be at the continent’s top table again next season.
而今季，先喺外圍賽淘汰賀芬咸，再經過分組賽，利物浦而家已經嚟到歐聯決賽，而且已經穩奪下年嘅歐聯參賽資格。

Whatever happens against Real Madrid in Kiev, Liverpool’s advancement is unarguable.
無論喺基輔對皇家馬德里嘅決賽結果係點，利物浦嘅進步都係有目共睹。

Rewinding to Hong Kong, that they have made it here - one objective boxed off, one well surpassed - through the disruption, the injuries and the sale of Coutinho mid-season, is masterful.
回帶重溫由香港開始嘅球季，經歷風風雨雨，古天奴離隊同埋傷兵滿營，最終前四目標達到，歐聯之路令人驚喜。

Liverpool have the opportunity to be the ultimate conquerers of Europe this season having already dispatched Porto, Manchester City and Roma, smashing scoring records en route to the NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium.
利物浦先後闖過波圖，曼城同羅馬，向住奧林匹克國家綜合體育場進發，有機會成為歐洲嘅盟主。

Most significantly though, there is a wealth of confidence within the club that this will not be a rarity, that spellbinding nights under Anfield’s lights will become a divine right again.
而最重要嘅係，球會上下充滿信心，今季嘅成績唔係偶然，以後仍然陸續有嚟。

They believe Liverpool will not just be fine, Liverpool will be fucking flying.
佢哋相信，利物浦唔單止會掂，仲會係好撚掂。

原文連結：

【如何在兩個月內買到小米手機
How to Buy a Xiaomi in Two Short Months】

Beijing, Sept. 4th (by Carlos Tejada) -- China’s Xiaomi rose to the top ranks of global smartphone makers in only five years by selling high-spec phones at lowball prices. The phones have been snapped up by Chinese consumers looking for an affordable, homegrown alternative to pricier gadgets made by Apple and Samsung Electronics. Its success has made it China’s most valuable startup and second only to Uber in terms of global valuations.
中國的小米公司僅用了不到五年的時間，藉由以低價銷售高規格手機商品，在全球智慧型手機市場中躍昇至名列前茅的位置。與美國蘋果和南韓三星生產且較為昂貴的智慧型裝置相比，小米公司給中國消費者提供的是可負擔得起的國產化和實惠替代選擇，其產品也屢屢被中國消費者一掃而空。小米公司的成功使它一舉成為中國最具市場價值的新創企業，即使在全球範圍來算，其市值也僅次於 Uber。

So goes the story behind Xiaomi’s rise. Still, there’s one aspect of its business that can be hard to convey to the outside world: Its phones can be very, very, very difficult to buy.
以上便是小米崛起的故事，然而這其中尚有一個難與外界陳述的事實是：小米手機是非常，非常，非常難以購買的。

Xiaomi sells its phones only in China, India and a few other Asian markets. But that’s just the start of the difficulties. In China the company sells its newest phones online in limited batches through what are called flash sales. Xiaomi and analysts say that helps the company cope with demand for new products as it ramps up production.
目前小米公司僅在中國、印度及一些亞洲國家銷售智慧手機，不過這其實只是造成購買困難的第一個因素。小米公司在中國是透過所謂線上分批搶購的方式來銷售其最新機型。小米公司和分析家認為這種銷售方式有助於公司更好地控管新產品產量只能逐步上升可能造成的供不應求狀況。

On a practical level, it means those who aren’t quick enough with a computer mouse may have a long time to wait before they get one.
實際一點來說，這就表示那些使用電腦滑鼠不夠敏捷的人可能就得在買到一台小米手機之前要等上好長一段時間了。

I chose to buy a Xiaomi phone after the company lent me its newest phablet, the Note Pro, to use for a few weeks. I liked the large screen, decent camera and its take on Google’s Android phone-operating software, which in my opinion is still inferior to Apple’s mobile software but is closing the gap. Mostly, I liked the price – the Note Pro costs about half the price of Apple’s base-model iPhone 6 Plus, which is the same size but comes with only a quarter of the memory.
在小米公司把最新型的 Note Pro 智慧型大螢幕手機借給我使用了幾個星期之後，我決定自行購買一台小米手機。我非常喜歡它的大螢幕以及拍照效果不錯的鏡頭。小米手機使用的是 Google 公司的 Android 手機作業系統，雖然 Android 系統跟蘋果公司的 iOS 系統還存在一定差距，但這個差距正逐漸縮小中。我最在意的還是價格：小米 Note Pro 的售價僅為蘋果公司 iPhone 6 Plus 基本款(16 GB)的一半，且這兩台手機的尺寸一樣，而 Note Pro 的記憶體容量足足為 iPhone 6 Plus 的 4 倍 (64 GB)。

Another reason I liked it: In China-nerd circles, the phone is a conversation starter. People who follow China or technology but who aren’t on the mainland rarely see one. In that crowd everybody has an opinion of Xiaomi, ranging from respect for a scrappy startup to contempt for a cheap copycat. “Oh, you have a Xiaomi?” they ask, with some mix of curiosity and amusement.
我喜歡小米手機的另一個理由是，在愛好中國事物的群體之中，小米手機總是一個很不錯的開場白，因為關注中國或者科技產品但身不在中國的人很少能看見小米手機。那個群體的人對於小米都有各自的看法，有的人對這個草莽的新創公司表達尊重，也有人輕蔑地認為小米手機僅僅是廉價的山寨產品。他們會帶著愉悅和好奇問說：「哦？你的是小米手機？」

I chose to buy my phone like most Chinese people buy theirs: through an online flash sale. I skipped online brokers and secondhand dealers over concerns about malware and fakes. I also declined an offer from Xiaomi for a pass that would let me jump to the front of the line, an inducement it offers to its biggest Mi fans.
我選擇採用大多數在中國的消費者們所使用的方式來購買小米手機：線上搶購。出於對惡意軟體和假貨問題的擔憂，我略過了從網路賣家和二手交易者那邊購買的方案。我還放棄了小米公司提供的「插隊」優待，這對於廣大的「米粉」族來說可是項福利啊。

I went in with a co-worker, Olivia, who wanted to buy a budget-level phone for her father.
我和我的同事 Olivia 一起進行搶購，而她想幫她爸爸購買一台經濟實惠的手機。

Day 1第 1 天
Xiaomi holds its flash sales on Tuesdays at noon sharp. To buy one, a customer needs access to a Chinese debit or credit card or an account with an online payment system like Alibaba Group’s Alipay affiliate. With all those in check, I perched over my computer with my mouse at the ready.
小米在週二中午整點展開了一次搶購活動，想要參與的消費者必須擁有中國記帳卡、信用卡或者像隸屬阿里巴巴公司的支付寶那樣的線上付款系統。一切就緒以後，我手握滑鼠靜候在電腦旁邊嚴陣以待。

As it turns out, there’s another helpful prerequisite: An ability to read fine print in Chinese. My noontime click generated a message congratulating me for registering to try to buy a Xiaomi phone. The fine print on the website said people trying to buy a phone must first register on the site. My first true opportunity, it told me, would be next Tuesday.
有一個先決條件更能使我們成功搶購到手機：你需要具備讀懂中國文字的能力。我算好正午時間點下按鈕之後出現一個視窗，是一條恭喜資訊：小米網站祝賀我註冊成功，並可以開始嘗試搶購小米手機。網站上的中文有提示希望搶購小米手機的用戶必須先在網站進行註冊，我成功註冊以後的第一次嘗試機會變成了下週二。

Day 8第 8 天
Primed and registered, I set off with my mouse promptly at noon as if a starter’s pistol had gone off next to my ear. Two pages of options popped up on my browser. I read the Chinese as quickly as I could and clicked away.
確認註冊成功，且一切就緒以後，我又一次算準正午時分點下了滑鼠，那時的聲音就像是起跑槍的聲音從我耳邊呼嘯而過。隨後瀏覽器上出現了兩個頁面，我盡可能快速地閱讀了上面的中文資訊並隨後點了關閉。

Xiaomi’s mascot – a white rabbit named Mitu wearing a green Chinese army hat – popped up on my screen. It appeared to be running in place. The text explained that too many people were trying to buy phones too. “I’m lined up and currently moving forward with everything I’ve got,” it said.
小米的吉祥物，一隻戴著綠色中國軍帽，名為「米兔」的兔子出現在我的螢幕之上，一切看似順利。但上面的文字卻顯示目前搶購小米手機的人數已經太多，而且頁面一直顯示「正在排隊中」。

It ran with everything it had for the next 20 minutes. I wondered how long it would take for me to find out whether I had won my phone.
結果20 分鐘過去了，頁面所顯示的內容還是一樣，我當時就很好奇還需要等多久我才會知道是否搶到了手機。

A colleague, Yang Jie, walked by and sighed. “You didn’t get it, Carlos,” she said. Sure enough, the image soon changed to a Mitu gushing tears. “Sorry, we’re already sold out,” it said.
這時我一位同事Yang Jie經過並嘆了一口氣。她說：「Carlos，你沒有搶到。」果不其然，頁面隨後便出現了一隻淚水狂噴的米兔。上面寫著：「非常抱歉，我們已經售罄。」

I looked to Olivia, who shook her head. Sold out too.
我望向 Olivia 那兒，她搖了搖頭，顯然她也沒有搶到。

Day 15第 15 天
I noticed this time that Xiaomi offers potential buyers the option of ordering the Xiaomi phone for guaranteed delivery in a month. I snorted. Waiting, I decided, is for chumps. I’m not a chump. I’m a champ. Surely I can click as fast as anybody.
這次我注意到小米為潛在購買者提供了預約購買的服務，並保證在一個月內進行配送。我對此冷哼一聲。我主意已決，這種等待方案是準備給傻瓜的，但我並不是一個傻瓜，我是一個贏家，我肯定可以比別人更快點下滑鼠。

Apparently not. This time the crying Mitu quickly replaced the running Mitu. Sold out. On to next week.
結果根本事與願違，這次哭泣的米兔很快便取代跑步的米兔出現在了螢幕之上。再次售罄，只好再等到下個星期了。

But not with Olivia. Twice was enough, and she dropped out. “It’s too hard,” she said.
不過這次 Olivia 並沒有參與，因為她覺得兩次嘗試就夠了所以罷手。她說：「這太難了」。

Day 22第 22 天
I was on the phone with a colleague in Hong Kong when the trumpets from theme music of China’s national noon television broadcast blared across the newsroom. Noon! I scrambled to my open browser. Those precious seconds may have cost me. The crying Mitu mocked my inattention. Vigilance is the price of flash sales.
當時我在跟一位在香港的同事講電話，隨後我聽到了中國午間新聞的主題音樂。又到正午了！我習慣性反射地衝到開啟的瀏覽器前面，每一秒鐘都太寶貴了。哭泣的米兔再一次無情地嘲笑著我不夠投入的搶購行為。在進行秒殺搶購的時候警惕性實在是太重要了。

Day 29第 29 天
Xiaomi says it sells phones in limited batches strictly for production reasons, not to stoke demand through what’s known as scarcity marketing. “We have to monitor the demand for our smartphones, and produce our inventory accordingly, which requires us to use the flash sale model,” a spokeswoman said.
小米公司稱其之所以採用限量搶購的方式主要是由於產能問題，而並非像所傳的那樣利用所謂的「饑餓行銷」來刺激需求。「我們必須對自己智慧手機的銷量進行監控，並據此對庫存及產能進行調整，因此我們只能選擇限量搶購的模式。」小米公司的一位女發言人這麼說。

Whatever the reason, it resulted in a crying Mitu on my screen.
不管理由是什麼，最終我的螢幕上還是再度出現了一隻哭泣的米兔。

Day 36第 36 天
Hello again, you crying little lapin tease. Had I chosen to be a chump, instead of a champ, I’d have my Xiaomi by now.
再次見到了米兔的哭臉嘲諷。如果當初能自認蠢蛋，不要選擇當贏家的話，現在我應該已經把小米手機拿到手了。

Still, I wasn’t frustrated. More curious. Was it possible, in fact, to buy a Xiaomi phone?
但我並沒有感到沮喪，只是更加好奇用搶購這種方式的消費者究竟能否買到小米手機？

Day 42第 42 天
Noon on Tuesday in China came at 9 p.m. Monday at the airport in Phoenix, where I was schlepping two children from one set of grandparents to another. I thought about telling my wife I wanted to put down our luggage and pause our U.S. vacation while I try to buy a phone in China from a company that uses a militant rabbit as a mascot. I thought about the divorce proceedings. I kept silent.
中國週二的正午是美國鳳凰城（Phoenix）週一早上 9 點，當時我在鳳凰城的機場內，手上抱著兩個孩子，我剛把他們從祖父母處接回，現在正前往外祖父母的住處。當時我想要告訴太太我想放下行李並暫停我們的度假，因為我正嘗試從一家以軍裝兔子作為吉祥物的公司處搶購一台手機。只是在我想到了離婚的訴訟程序之後，我選擇了保持沉默。

Day 49第 49 天
I just plain forgot.
我壓根兒忘記了有搶購這件事情。

Day 55第 55 天
I logged into Xiaomi’s Chinese site the day before the Tuesday auction to register for the big showto be greeted with a message that the Note Pro was available for immediate sale. The Xiaomi spokeswoman later said that “we move from flash sales to open sales after we determine the exact alignment of demand and supply accordingly.” My Xiaomi would be waiting at my desk in Beijing when I returned.
我在週二的搶購開始之前就先登入小米的中文網頁，結果登入後我看到一則訊息說小米 Note Pro 已經可以即時購買。隨後小米公司的女發言人表示：「在確認了供應量能夠滿足需求量以後，我們決定將銷售方式從限量搶購調整為公開銷售。」在我回到北京的時候我的小米手機就已經躺在我桌子上等著我了。

TZ Wong, an analyst with research firm Canalys, says Xiaomi will need to broaden its distribution channels, “especially if it wants to achieve its ambitious 80 million to 100 million smartphone target for this year.” The Xiaomi spokeswoman said it doesn’t pursue market-share targets.
市場調查及研究機構Canalys 的分析師 TZ Wong 表示小米公司必須拓展其分配銷售的管道，「特別是如果他們想在今年達成 8 千萬至 1 億的銷售目標後。」但小米的女發言人稱公司並不以追求市場佔有率為目標。

My phone works fine so far. Does it work two-months’-wait fine? That’s between me and the Mitu.
目前我的手機運作的狀況一切良好，不過這支手機真的值得這兩個月的苦苦等候嗎？這個問題就留給我和米兔吧。

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