定下基调

美国总统布什当地时间13日在纽约联邦国家纪念堂的演讲中阐明&＃xff0c;金融改革及国际合作是此次二十国集团(G20)高峰会讨论的目标&＃xff0c;这为本届峰会定下了基调。人们期待这次峰会有助于解决此次全球金融危机。

请看新华网的报道&＃xff1a;

U.S. President George W. Bush set tone for the upcoming Group-20 Summit Thursday in New York saying that the summit will focus on "understanding the causes of the global crisis and developing principles for reforming our financial and regulatory systems."

美国总统布什本周四的讲话为即将于纽约召开的二十国集团(G20)高峰会定下基调。他称此次峰会的目标是“理解全球金融危机的起因&＃xff0c;并为财政及监管体制改革制定规则。”

在上面的报道中&＃xff0c;set tone就是指“定下基调”&＃xff0c;tone在这里的意思是the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people&＃xff08;对处于某地或情境中的人们有影响的气氛&＃xff09;。如&＃xff1a;Her friendly opening speech set the tone for the whole conference.&＃xff08;她友好的开幕词确定了整个会议的基调。&＃xff09;

Tone最常见的意思是指“音调、色调”。如果你想形容一个人的“声调很悦耳”&＃xff0c;就可以说Her voice has a pleasant tone. Tone做动词还可以表示“搭配、协调”&＃xff0c;朋友家新买了窗帘&＃xff0c; The new curtains tone in beautifully with the carpet.&＃xff08;与地毯的颜色非常协调&＃xff09;&＃xff0c;但是她今天心情可不太好&＃xff0c;上班的时候took an angry tone with her colleagues.&＃xff08;带着怒气与同事说话&＃xff09;&＃xff0c;因为最近由于金融危机&＃xff0c;公司的市场状况&＃xff08;tone of the market&＃xff09;不太好。