Working Through the Storm: A Typhoon Sunday
Hey everyone! Welcome back to "Learn English with Podcasts." I'm Mike.
And I'm Sarah. Mike, you look tired today. What happened?
Sarah, don't even ask. Last night was terrible. There was a huge typhoon, and it lasted the entire night.
lasted the entire night 意思是"持续了一整夜"。last 做动词表示"持续"，the entire night 是"整个晚上"。
A typhoon? That sounds scary. Were you okay?
I was safe at home, but I couldn't sleep at all. The wind was so loud, and the rain kept hitting the windows. I just lay there listening to the storm.
lay there 意思是"躺在那里"。lie 的过去式是 lay，表示"躺"的状态。listening to the storm 是现在分词做伴随状语。
So when did the typhoon finally stop?
It calmed down around sunrise this morning. I looked outside and thought, "Great, the storm is over." But then I checked my phone.
calmed down 意思是"平静下来"。calm down 是固定短语，表示从激烈状态恢复平静。
Let me guess — your boss sent you a message?
Exactly. The group chat said: "Typhoon has passed. Normal work schedule today. See you at the office."
That's so harsh. It was still dangerous outside, wasn't it?
The streets were full of water. Trees had fallen everywhere. But the clock-in time wouldn't wait for anyone.
clock-in time 指的是"上班打卡时间"，是上班族必须准时到达的时间。wouldn't wait 表示"不会等你"。
So you had to go to work on a Sunday, right after a typhoon?
That's right. Sunday is supposed to be a rest day. But no — up at 7 AM, put on my raincoat, and off I went.
be supposed to 意思是"应该"，表示按计划或期望应该发生的事。off I went 是倒装句，表示"我就出发了"。
What was the commute like?
Terrible. The buses were late, the subway stations were flooded in some areas, and the roads had deep puddles. I saw people wading through water just to get to work.
wading through water 意思是"涉水而行"。wade 指在水中艰难行走，通常水到脚踝或小腿。
That's awful. Did you make it on time?
Barely. I arrived at 8:57 — three minutes before clock-in. My shoes were completely soaked.
barely 意思是"勉强"，表示刚好达到某个标准。completely soaked 是"完全湿透"。
And I bet the office wasn't much better. Was there air conditioning? Heating?
The power went out for two hours in the morning. No AC, no internet, no printers. We just sat there in the dark, checking our phones.
the power went out 意思是"停电了"。go out 在这里表示电力中断，是常见口语表达。
That's ridiculous. Why couldn't they just let people work from home?
Great question. Some companies did allow remote work. But many didn't. There's a popular saying: the typhoon can stop, but work never does.
the typhoon can stop, but work never does — 这是中文"台风可以停，但班不能停"的英文翻译，表达了打工人的无奈。
That's both funny and sad. It really shows how much pressure workers face.
It does. And it's not just office workers. Think about delivery drivers, bus drivers, and shop owners. They all had to go out in that storm.
think about 在这里是祈使句，用来引导听众思考。delivery drivers 是"外卖骑手或快递员"。
You're right. The delivery workers are especially brave. They ride their scooters through floods just to bring people their food.
I saw one guy on my way to work. His scooter broke down in the water. He just stood there, holding his delivery bags, looking lost.
broke down 意思是"坏了、抛锚了"，常用于描述车辆故障。looking lost 表示"看起来不知所措"。
That's heartbreaking. These workers don't get paid extra for working in dangerous conditions, do they?
Usually not. They get the same daily rate whether it's sunny or stormy. Some might even lose money if they can't complete their deliveries on time.
So what can ordinary people do during a typhoon? What are the safety rules?
First, stay indoors. Don't go outside unless you absolutely have to. Second, stay away from windows — the wind can break glass easily.
unless you absolutely have to 意思是"除非你绝对必须"。absolutely 加强语气，表示没有其他选择。
Third, prepare emergency supplies — water, food, a flashlight, and a fully charged phone. And fourth, if you live near the coast, follow evacuation orders immediately.
Good advice. But here's the problem — when your boss says "come to work," most people feel they have no choice.
That's the real issue, isn't it? Safety laws say workers shouldn't be forced to go out during extreme weather. But in practice, many people are afraid to say no.
in practice 意思是"在实际操作中"，与 in theory（在理论上）形成对比。be afraid to say no 是"不敢说不"。
I think things are slowly changing though. After the typhoon, many people on social media shared their stories and demanded better treatment.
That's good. When workers speak up, companies listen. It's important to know your rights.
speak up 意思是"大胆说出来、公开发声"。know your rights 是"了解自己的权利"。
So Sarah, what's the lesson from today's episode?
I think there are two. First, natural disasters are dangerous — always prioritize safety over work. Second, workers deserve respect and protection, even on stormy Sundays.
Well said. Before we go, let's review today's vocabulary!
词汇复习时间！今天学了 7 个重点词，跟着读一遍。
Number one — commute. C-O-M-M-U-T-E. The journey from home to work.
Number two — wade. W-A-D-E. To walk through water that is not too deep.
Number three — soaked. S-O-A-K-E-D. Completely wet.
Number four — evacuation. E-V-A-C-U-A-T-I-O-N. Leaving a dangerous place to go somewhere safe.
Number five — remote work. R-E-M-O-T-E W-O-R-K. Working from home instead of the office.
Number six — prioritize. P-R-I-O-R-I-T-I-Z-E. To treat something as more important than other things.
Number seven — speak up. S-P-E-A-K U-P. To say what you think openly and bravely.
Great job today! Stay safe during stormy weather, and don't forget to rest on Sundays.
See you next time on "Learn English with Podcasts." Bye everyone!
Goodbye!