You may have heard the following expression:
你可能听过下面这句:
May the odds be ever in your favor.
This is a catchphrase that comes from a series of books (and movies) called The Hunger Games.
这是《饥饿游戏》里很具标志性的一句。
(catchphrase = a well-known sentence or phrase, typically one that is associated with a particular famous person.)
(catchphrase = 一句很有句的句子或短语,特别常见于和某位名人相关的典型句子。)
To understand the meaning of this phrase, we need to divide it into parts.
为了了解 这句的含义,我们需要把它分成几部分。
MayMAY is a modal verb. In this case May is used to express a wish or desire.
这里,MAY是情态动词,这时May用于表达一种希望或渴望。
The verb that comes after a modal verb is in the base form of the infinitive (without the “To“).
情态动词后跟着的动词应该是不定式的基本形式(没有"To")。
The odds of a winning the lottery are one in a million.
中奖的机率是百万分之一。
EverEver is an adverb that means always.
Ever 是个副词,表示 always.
An adverb is a word or phrase that modifies an adjective or a verb. In this case it modifies (or gives more information about) the verb To Be. Adverbs express a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, and in this case the frequency of May be.
副词是指用来修饰形容词或动词的单词或词组。这里它修饰(或给出关于其更多信息)动词To be。副词表达 了一种地点,时间,环境,动作,原因,程度,这里指可能性的频率。
So they don’t just wish you good luck (or good fortune) that one time but they wish you ALWAYS have good luck (or to be lucky).
所以他们不只希望你一次好运,他们确定要那我去经常有好运气。
FavorNote: There are two ways of spelling this word. Favor is used in American English and Favour in British English.
注意:这个词有两种拼写方式。Favor 用于美式英语, Favour用于英式英语。
When something is in your favor, it means to be to your advantage.
当某件事in your favor,意思是这件事对你有利。
When the odds are in your favor, it means that chances of winning are to your advantage and you are more likely to win.
当发生的事情对你有利时,这代表着赢的机会多,你很可能会赢。
Overall meaningMay the odds be ever in your favor means “I wish/hope that you have the best chances of winning, not just now, but always.”
指『我希望你有最大的赢的机率,不只现在,一直都是。』
通俗一点来说:『希望你一直好运!』