Name: 首位訪美日本人描述美國生活 // 1860 年德川大使館 // 原始資料 (First Japanese Visitor to USA Describes American Life // 1860 Tokugawa Embassy // Primary Source)
Uploaded: 2025-03-23T03:39:46.000Z
Duration: 17 min 32 s

基礎被動語態

The year after I reached Yedo, the sixth year of Ansai, there was established the so-called Treaty of the Five Nations, and the port of Yokohama was formally opened for trade with foreign countries.

我到達江戶的第二年，也就是安西六年，簽訂了所謂的《五國條約》，橫濱港正式對外開放。

One day I went to Yokohama for sightseeing.

There was nothing of the town of Yokohama then, a few temporary dwellings had been erected here and there as posts for the foreign trade, and in these the pioneer merchants were living and showing their wares.

當時還沒有橫濱鎮，只是在這裡和那裡搭建了一些臨時住所，作為對外貿易的驛站，先驅商人們就在這些臨時住所里居住和展示他們的商品。

To my disappointment, when I tried to speak with them, no one seemed to understand me at all, nor was I able to understand anything spoken by anyone of the foreigners I met.

令我失望的是，當我試圖與他們交談時，似乎根本沒有人聽得懂我的話，我也聽不懂我遇到的任何外國人說的話。

Neither could I read anything of the signboards over the shops, nor the labels on the bottles which they had for sale.

我既看不懂商店上方的招牌，也看不懂商店出售的酒瓶上的標籤。

There was not a single recognisable word in any of the inscriptions or in any speech.

任何碑文或語言中都沒有一個可識別的單詞。

It might have been English or French for what I knew.

據我所知，可能是英語或法語。

On the very next day after returning from Yokohama, I took up a new aim in my life and determined to begin the study of English.

從橫濱回來的第二天，我就立下了人生的新目標，決心開始學習英語。

But needless to say, there was no teacher of English then in Yedo.

但不用說，那時的江戶還沒有英語教師。

I found after enquiring around there was an interpreter named Moriyama Takachiro who had been called from Nagasaki to help in the negotiation proceedings of the new treaty.

我四處打聽後發現，有一位名叫森山隆八郎的翻譯被從長崎召來，協助新條約的談判工作。

I heard that this man knew some English, though his speciality was Dutch.

我聽說這個人懂一些英語，不過他的專長是荷蘭語。

I went at once to Moriyama's house and implored him to teach me English.

我立刻去了森山的家，懇求他教我英語。

At that time a young lad had reached Yedo from Nagasaki.

當時，一個年輕小夥子從長崎來到了江戶。

We heard that he knew some English and we tried to get some pronunciation from him.

我們聽說他懂一些英語，就試著向他請教一些發音。

Then occasionally there were shipwrecked Japanese fishermen who were brought back by foreign ships.

偶爾也有遇難的日本漁民被外國船隻帶回。

These poor men had formerly, by government degree, not been permitted to re-enter this land.

根據政府的規定，這些窮人以前不得再進入這片土地。

But after the new policy of open ports came into effect, they were allowed to return home.

但在開放港口的新政策生效後，他們被允許返回家園。

Whenever we heard of any such men, we called on them at their lodgings and asked them to give us any English they knew.

每當我們聽說有這樣的人，我們就去他們的住處拜訪他們，請他們告訴我們他們所知道的英語。

In truth, Dutch and English were both strange languages written sideways of the same origin.

事實上，荷蘭語和英語都是同源的奇怪語言。

Our knowledge of Dutch could be applied directly to English.

我們的荷蘭語知識可以直接應用於英語。

Our one-time fear was a groundless illusion.

我們曾經的恐懼只是一種毫無根據的幻覺。

The year after I was settled in Yedo, the 6th year of Ansai, the government of the Shogun made a great decision to send a ship of war to the United States, an enterprise never before attempted since the foundation of the Empire.

在我定居江戶的第二年，也就是安西六年，幕府政府做出了一個重大決定：派遣一艘戰船前往美國，這是帝國建國以來從未嘗試過的行動。

On this ship I was to have the good fortune of visiting America.

在這艘船上，我有幸訪問了美國。

This video is sponsored by Magellan, the premier documentary streaming service.

本視頻由頂級紀錄片流媒體服務 Magellan 贊助。

So, here we are, 100 days into lockdown, and I can now confirm that Coco has watched all of Magellan's documentaries and now runs the channel.

現在，我們已經被關禁閉 100 天了，我現在可以確認，可可已經看完了麥哲倫的所有紀錄片，現在正在管理這個頻道。

Luckily for Coco, Magellan have a huge range of fascinating documentaries, everything from ancient history to space, including some beautiful nature documentaries.

可可很幸運，麥哲倫有大量精彩的紀錄片，從古代歷史到太空，應有盡有，包括一些精美的自然紀錄片。

My personal recommendation this week would be the Jupiter Enigma, an eye-opening documentary on Jupiter's huge effect on the early Earth, and a great companion to our new channel, The Entire History of the Earth.

本週我個人推薦的是《木星之謎》，這是一部令人大開眼界的紀錄片，講述了木星對早期地球的巨大影響，是我們新頻道《地球的全部歷史》的最佳伴侶。

A long-time supporter of content from the History Brothers, Magellan TV is basically a Netflix for documentaries, with the widest range of history content available anywhere.

Magellan TV 是 "歷史兄弟 "內容的長期支持者，它基本上就是紀錄片的 Netflix，擁有最廣泛的歷史內容。

Click on the link in the description for an exclusive month-long free trial for Voices of the Past viewers.

點擊說明中的鏈接，《過去的聲音》觀眾可獲得為期一個月的獨家免費試用。

Though it had been called a warship, the vessel was a very small sailing craft, equipped with an auxiliary steam engine of 100 horsepower, which was used for manoeuvring in and out of harbours.

雖然這艘船被稱為軍艦，但它只是一艘非常小的帆船，配備了一臺 100 馬力的輔助蒸汽機，用於進出港口。

In the open sea, she must depend entirely on sail.

在公海上，它必須完全依靠風帆。

The government had purchased her from the Dutch for 25,000 riyu a few years before and had named her the Kanrin Maru.

幾年前，政府以 25 000 日圓的價格從荷蘭購買了這艘船，並將其命名為 "神林丸"。

This voyage of Kanrin Maru was an epoch-making adventure of our nation.

Kanrin Maru 的這次航行是我們民族一次劃時代的冒險。

Every member of the crew was determined to take the ship across unassisted by a foreigner.

每個船員都決心在沒有外國人協助的情況下把船開過去。

It seems to me now that the reason for granting my wish to go on the boat so easily must have been that such an unusual enterprise as the voyage was to be, there were not many volunteers.

現在看來，我之所以這麼容易就實現了上船的願望，一定是因為像這次航行這樣不尋常的活動，志願者並不多。

No sooner did we get out into the open sea that we ran into storms and continued to have rough weather all the way across.

我們剛駛入公海，就遇到了風暴，而且一路上都是惡劣的天氣。

In the rocking ship, a quiet, dignified meal was impossible, so I used to pile my rice in my purloined bowl and pour soup and everything over it, take it to the side of the cabin and eat standing up.

在搖搖晃晃的輪船上，不可能安靜、體面地吃飯，所以我常常把米飯堆在我偷來的碗裡，然後把湯和其他東西倒在上面，端到船艙邊上站著吃。

For a whole month we saw nothing but the waves and the clouds.

整整一個月，我們只看到海浪和雲朵。

Once we sighted a sailboat said to be an American vessel carrying Chinese workmen over to America, that was the only thing we saw during the voyage.

有一次，我們看到一艘帆船，據說是一艘美國船隻，載著中國工人前往美國，這是我們在航行中看到的唯一景象。

The four or five American sailors on our ship were found to be using more water than they One of the officers told Captain Brook about it and the latter replied instantly.

我們發現船上的四五名美國水手用水量超過了他們的用水量，其中一名軍官將此事告訴了布魯克船長，後者立即做出了答覆。

You may shoot any seaman found wasting water.

您可以射殺任何浪費水的海員。

Any such person is guilty of general treason to the ship.

Our water supply was thus made to hold out and we, with the entire crew of 96 men, were able to reach land at San Francisco after 37 days.

我們的水源是以得以維持，我們全體船員共 96 人在 37 天后到達了舊金山的陸地。

I am willing to admit my pride in this accomplishment for Japan.

我願意承認，我為日本的這一成就感到自豪。

It was not until the sixth year of Kei that a steam ship was seen for the first time.

直到箕子六年，人們才第一次看到蒸汽船。

It was only in the second year of Ansai that we began to study navigation from the Dutch in Nagasaki.

在安塞的第二年，我們才開始向長崎的荷蘭人學習航海。

By 1860 the science was sufficiently understood to enable us to sail a ship across the Pacific.

到 1860 年，我們對這門科學已經有了足夠的瞭解，可以駕船橫渡太平洋。

This means that about seven years after the first sight of a steam ship, after only about five years of practice, the Japanese people made a trans-Pacific crossing without help from foreign experts.

這意味著，在第一次看到蒸汽船約 7 年後，日本人經過僅 5 年左右的實踐，就在沒有外國專家幫助的情況下完成了橫渡太平洋的壯舉。

I think we can, without undue pride, boast before the world of this courage and skill.

我想，我們可以毫不誇張地在世人面前誇耀我們的勇氣和技巧。

Our welcome on shore was certainly worthy of a friendly people.

我們在岸上受到的歡迎確實不愧為友好的人民。

They did everything for us and they could not have done more.

他們為我們做了一切，不勝感激。

The feeling on their part must have been like that of a teacher receiving his old pupil several years after graduation, for it was their Commodore Perry who had effected the opening of our country eight years before, and now here we were on our first visit to America.

他們的心情一定就像一位老師在學生畢業幾年後接見他的老學生一樣，因為正是他們的海軍准將佩裡在八年前促成了我國的開放，而現在我們是第一次訪問美國。

As soon as we came on shore, we found we were to be driven off in carriages to a hotel.

我們一上岸，就發現我們將被馬車送往一家旅館。

While we were resting in the hotel, city officials and various dignitaries came to offer entertainment.

當我們在酒店休息時，市政官員和各路政要紛紛前來獻藝。

We were given quarters in the official residence of the Navy Station on Mare Island.

我們被安排住在馬雷島海軍基地的官邸裡。

Our hosts knew that we Japanese were accustomed to different diets, so they arranged that our food, instead of being served, should be prepared by our own cook in the quarters allotted to us.

我們的主人知道我們日本人習慣於不同的飲食習慣，所以他們安排我們的食物由我們自己的廚師在分配給我們的宿舍裡準備，而不是由別人端上來。

But the officials, being very kind and desiring to satisfy their Japanese love for seafood, sent fish every day.

但官員們非常好心，為了滿足日本人對海鮮的喜愛，每天都送來魚。

Also, on learning the Japanese custom of bathing frequently, they had baths prepared daily.

此外，在瞭解到日本人經常洗澡的習俗後，他們每天都會準備洗澡水。

This generous treatment in every way brought to mind an old expression of ours.

這種無微不至的厚待讓我們想起了一句老話。

As if our host had put us on the palm of his hand to see that we lacked nothing.

就好像主人把我們放在他的手掌上，讓我們什麼都不缺。

On our part, there were many confusing and embarrassing moments, for we were quite ignorant of the customs and habits of American life.

就我們而言，有許多困惑和尷尬的時刻，因為我們對美國生活的風俗習慣一無所知。

For instance, we were very surprised even by the carriages as part of our very first experiences.

例如，我們第一次體驗馬車時也感到非常驚訝。

On seeing a vehicle with horses attached to it, we should easily have guessed what it was.

看到一輛拴著馬的車，我們應該很容易就能猜到那是什麼。

But really, we did not identify our mode of conveyance until the door had been opened, we were seated inside, and the horses had started off.

但實際上，直到車門打開，我們坐了進去，馬兒開動，我們才確定了我們的交通工具。

Then we realised we were riding in a carriage behind horses.

然後我們才意識到，我們是在馬後面坐馬車。

All of us wore the usual pair of swords at our sides and the hemp sandals.

我們所有人都像往常一樣佩劍，穿麻布涼鞋。

So attired, we were taken to the modern hotel.

穿戴整齊後，我們被帶到了現代化的酒店。

There we noticed, covering the interior, the valuable carpets and rugs, which in Japan only the more wealthy could buy from the importer's shop at so much a square inch to make purses and tobacco pouches with.

在那裡，我們注意到室內鋪滿了名貴的地毯和毯子，在日本，只有比較富有的人才能從進口商的店裡以每平方英寸如此高的價格買到這些地毯和毯子，用來製作錢包和菸袋。

Here the carpet was laid over an entire room, something quite astounding, and upon this costly fabric walked our hosts, wearing the shoes with which they had come in from the streets.

在這裡，地毯鋪滿了整個房間，令人驚歎。在這昂貴的地毯上，走著我們的主人，他們穿著從街上買來的鞋子。

我們穿著麻涼鞋跟在他們後面。

Immediately, bottles were brought in, suddenly an explosion, the popping of champagne.

隨即，瓶子被搬了進來，突然一聲爆炸，香檳酒 "噼啪 "作響。

When the glasses were passed around, we noticed strange fragments floating in them.

當杯子傳過來時，我們發現杯子裡漂浮著奇怪的碎片。

Hardly did we expect to find ice in the warm spring weather.

我們幾乎沒想到會在溫暖的春天裡發現冰塊。

Some of the party swallowed these floating particles, others expelled them suddenly, others bravely chewed them.

有的人吞下了這些漂浮的顆粒，有的人突然將它們排出體外，還有的人勇敢地咀嚼著它們。

This was an adventure, finding out that they were ice.

發現它們是冰，這是一次冒險。

I wanted to have a smoke, but seeing no tobacco tray, such as in Japan is placed before the smoker, to hold the burning charcoal brazier and the bamboo ash receiver, I took a light from the open fireplace.

我想抽一口煙，但看到煙燻爐前沒有像日本那樣的菸草托盤，無法盛放燃燒著的木炭釺子和竹製菸灰接收器，於是我就從開放式壁爐裡點燃了一根菸。

Perhaps there was an ash tray and a box of matches on the table, but I did not recognise them as such.

也許桌子上有一個菸灰缸和一盒火柴，但我認不出它們是什麼。

I finished my smoke, but finding no ash receiver, I took out some of the tissue paper which we carried in place of handkerchiefs and, wrapping the ashes in it, crushed them very carefully and placed the ball in my sleeve.

我抽完煙，卻發現沒有菸灰接收器，於是我拿出一些我們隨身攜帶的紙巾代替手帕，把菸灰包在裡面，小心翼翼地碾碎，然後把菸灰團放在袖子裡。

After a while, I took out the paper to have another smoke.

過了一會兒，我拿出紙再抽了一口。

Some wisps of smoke were trickling from my sleeve.

The light that I had thought I had crushed out was quietly setting me afire.

我曾以為被壓滅的光芒，正悄悄地將我點燃。

After all these embarrassing incidents, I thought I could well sympathise with the Japanese bride.

在經歷了這些尷尬的事件後，我想我完全可以同情這位日本新娘。

Her new family, whom the bride has never met before, welcome her, tell her to make herself at home and do everything to make her comfortable.

新娘從未見過的新家人歡迎她，讓她不要拘束，盡一切努力讓她住得舒適。

One laughs with her, another engages her in conversation, all happy with the new addition to the family.

一個人和她談笑風生，另一個人和她哈拉，大家都為這個家庭的新成員感到高興。

In the midst of all this, the bride has to sit, trying to look pleasant, but in her efforts, she goes on making mistakes and blushes every time.

在這一切之中，新娘不得不坐著，努力讓自己看起來和顏悅色，但在她的努力下，她不斷犯錯，每次都會臉紅。

Before leaving Japan, I, the independent soul, a carefree student who could look the world in the face, had feared nothing.

在離開日本之前，我，一個獨立的靈魂，一個無憂無慮、可以直面世界的學生，什麼都不怕。

But on arriving in America, I was turned suddenly into a shy, self-conscious, blushing bride.

但一到美國，我就一下子變成了害羞、自卑、臉紅的新娘。

The contrast was indeed funny, even to myself.

這種反差確實很有趣，連我自己都覺得好笑。

One evening, our host had said that some ladies and gentlemen were having a dance party and they would be glad for us to attend it.

一天晚上，我們的主人說，有幾位女士和先生正在舉行舞會，他們很高興我們能參加。

To our dismay, we could not quite make out what they were doing.

令我們沮喪的是，我們看不清楚他們在做什麼。