和老外聊天的地道口语第136期:谁还买得起房子?

H: Monica, I heard you're trying to buy a new house, is that true?

M: yes, but seeing the ever-rising prices, I'm afraid I'll never be able to afford one.

H: oh, that's definitely a problem for most of us wage-earners.

M: houses are ridiculously expensive these days.

H: what about second-hand houses?

M: I've been looking but they're not much cheaper and I don't think it's worth all the problems of an older house.

H: do you think the government will take some steps to cool down the overheated real estate market?

M: maybe. But I don't think it will make any difference. The demand is too high.

H: so what's your budget like?

M: I'm thinking between 3,000 yuan and 7,000 yuan per square meter.

H: oh, I see. In that case, you need to wait a while.

M: but I'm afraid it will go from bad to worse. I can't help being worried.

H: take it easy. I heard there may be a "bubble" in the real estate market.

M: you mean it will burst sooner or later.

H: yes, the house prices have already gone down in Shenzhen and Shanghai.

M: that's true. I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

莫妮卡,你听说你打算要买房,是真的吗?
是真的.但是眼看房价越来越高,我担心买不起啊.
是啊,对我们工薪阶层来说,这是个大问题.
近几年,房价高得有点离谱.
那没有看看二手房吗?
我最近一直在看,但是也不便宜,而且旧房子有很多问题,我觉得不值啊.
你觉得政府会不会采取一些措施,控制房地产市场过热呢?
也许吧.但是,我觉得可能不太会起什么大作用,需求太大了.
那你的预算是多少呢?
我打算买每平米3000—7000元的.
啊,那样子的话,你得等一阵子.
但是我觉得可能越等越贵,我就担心这个.
别着急,我听说房产市场好像存在泡沫.
你是说泡沫会破裂吗?
是啊,上海和深圳的房价已经降了.
这倒是,真希望情况会好转.

Overheated:

hot 太热的;过热的
Don't sleep in an overheated room. 不要在太热的屋子里睡觉.
interested or excited 过于热心的;过于兴奋的;痴迷的
the figment of an overheated imagination 想入非非而虚构的事物
a country's economy 国家经济 too active in a way that may cause problems 过热的;增长过快的

Take steps to do sth: 采取措施做某事

We are taking steps to prevent pollution. 我们正在采取措施防止污染.

make a, no, some, etc. difference (to/in somebody/something): to have an effect/no effect on somebody/something 有(或没有、有些等)作用,关系,影响

The rain didn't make much difference to the game. 这场雨对比赛没多大影响.
Your age shouldn't make any difference to whether you get the job or not. 你能否得到这工作与你的年龄无关.
Changing schools made a big difference to my life. 转学对我的一生有着重大影响.
What difference will it make if he knows or not? 他知不知道有什么关系吗?
I don't think it makes a lot of difference what colour it is(= it is not important). 我认为颜色无关紧要.
'Shall we go on Friday or Saturday?' 'It makes no difference (to me).' "我们星期五还是星期六走?""我无所谓."

But I'm afraid it will go from bad to worse.

"go from bad to worse"是一个很常见的习语,意思是"每况愈下,越来越糟".
Under the new management things have gone from bad to worse. 新的管理层使情况更加恶化.

I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.

cross your fingers: to hope that your plans will be successful (sometimes putting one finger across another as a sign of hoping for good luck) 祈求成功(有时使手指交叉为祈求好运的手势)
I'm crossing my fingers that my proposal will be accepted. 但愿我的建议能被采纳.
Keep your fingers crossed! 祈求好运吧!