Do you often wear jewelry?

No, these days I don’t, but back in my office days I used to wear earrings sometimes. One pair I bought in India stands out in my mind and that I especially like. And also, at one time I used to wear a jade bracelet, but not anymore.

These days, I can say I’m pretty much jewelry-free, as I only stay at home for the most part. That will probably change later, though I’m sure and that I might start wearing again. Kinda depends on the situation.

• back in my office days 上班的时候
• stands out in my mind 从我脑海里脱颖而出
• jade bracelet 玉镯子
• jewelry-free 不戴首饰

Do you usually buy jewelry?

I used to yes, especially earrings. I’d always stop at earring stalls whenever I encountered them, and even now if I’m out and about, and see a shop, I’ll stop and have a browse. I like looking at all the different materials and designs.

And I think earrings are something that displays a person’s personality and mood, but not in a flamboyant way usually; they don’t have the dazzle of necklaces for example. But whenever I travel, I’ll always end up buying at least a pair of earrings from that place. For instance, a few years ago, I was in south India for a week and that’s where I bought a pair of peacock-shaped earrings and a set of bangles from a roadside stall, and they act as a reminder that I should visit there again at some point.

• stop at 停留
• encounter 遇见
• out and about 出门
• have a browse 看一看
• mood 心情
• flamboyant 绚丽的；炫耀的
• dazzle 让人眼花缭乱的
• necklace 项链
• end up 最终
• a pair of earrings 一对耳环
• ___-shaped ……形状的
• a set of bangles 一套手环
• roadside stall 路边摊
• act as 作为
• a reminder 题型
• at some point 某天

What type of jewelry do you like to buy?

As I just mentioned, I enjoy looking at and buying earrings and sometimes bracelets. As a result, I’m always tempted to stop at an accessory store or a simple roadside stall and buy a few pieces. I have a box full of jewelry keepsakes and once in a while I’ll take them out and enjoy the designs and colors. In fact, it gives me a lot of pleasure by just sitting back and appreciating them.

• tempted to 忍不住
• accessory 饰品
• keepsake 小纪念品
• a lot of pleasure 很多乐趣

Why do you think some people wear a piece of jewelry for a long time?

Hmm, well, I think there are probably a few reasons.

One is that some pieces of jewelry are a family heirloom, for example, a ring a mother passes down to her daughter and the daughter is supposed to always wear it, or it’s a reminder of some important occasion, for instance, a wedding ring, so I guess you can call that sentimentality.

And of course, the other reason is that jewelry can make a person look more attractive. It can add a touch of mystery, or allure, or class, or for that matter, make people seem a little more sophisticated.

Oh, another reason that comes to mind, is that jewelry can be a sort of status symbol. You know, look at me, I’m wearing Cartier sort of thing. So those are at least three reasons for why some will regularly wear a jewelry piece for an extended period of time, I think.

• family heirloom 传家宝
• pass down to 传给
• sentimentality 感伤；多愁善感
• attractive 好看的；吸引人的
• a touch of mystery 神秘感
• allure 魅力
• class 阶级；品味
• sophisticated 老练的；见多识广的
• an extended period of time 一段时间