“势利”指“根据财产和地位看待人”，英语译为snobbish。例如：1. 简·爱感到她永远无法同这些势利而高雅的人们竞争。Jane feels she can never compete with these snobbish, elegant people.

2. 他发现这个奢侈品店的店员可能是最势利的一群人。He found the shop　assistants in this luxury store were per⁃haps the most snobbish group of people.

“势利眼”或“势利小人”，英语译为snob。如：3. 约翰有点势利眼，他太羡慕社会地位较高的人，而不尊重社会地位较低的人。John is a bit of a snob,who admires people in the higher social　classes too much and has no respect for　people in the lower social classes.

“势利行为”，英语译为snobbery。例如：5. 这名男子对穷人采取势利态度，总是摆臭架子，因此几乎所有的人都对他的势利行为感到恼怒。The man adopted　a snobbish attitude toward poor people, al⁃ways talking through his nose, so almost　everyone was annoyed by his snobbery.

6. 这个有钱人从骨子里就势利，常常炫富。他周围的人把他的行为看作是一种可耻的势利行为。The rich man has a　snobbish bone in his body, and often　shows off his wealth. The people around　him all consider his behavior as a shame⁃ful piece of snobbery.▲

（本栏目供稿：王逢鑫教授）