Webster defines advice as being, a recommendation with regard to a course of action.

韦氏字典给建议一词概念如下：对某行为提出建议或忠告。

The expression, I need some advice has to be one of the most horrifying1 statements in the English language. What makes it remarkably2 terrifying is that the advisor3 is usually confronted with it out of the blue and with little or no warning. My daughter is an expert at this. Lately I have been able to predict when she will call. It usually happens when I am having the type of day when everything seems to be going well. I am actually relaxed with few things that have to be done. It is almost as if I send out a signal to her that I am ready for the challenge. The call always begins with the expression, Dad. The word is not as important as how it is stated. It sounds like a question being asked by someone who does not want to be heard. In other words, it is a little quieter than a whisper. I know she knows it is I, because she did the calling and I am confident that she knows the sound of my voice. It is almost as if the word is a signal that I had better be ready.

我需要素建议是英文中一句非常耸人听闻的言辞，之所以用耸人听闻一词是由于给建议的人一直在没任何先兆的状况下面对一些未知的事情。我的女儿是这方面的专家。近期我总能掐算到她什么时间会打电话给我，电话铃一直在风平浪静的日子里响起。我对逃避不了的事情一直泰然处之，就好象我总在向女儿发出我整装待发的信号。父亲，电话那头一般用如此的开场白，其实这个称呼并没它听起来那样伟大。那声音比耳语还要轻微，好象提出了问题却又不愿让人听见似的。其实她了解我是哪个，是她拨的电话，而我确信她听出了我的声音，而父亲两个字就好象明摆着我最好要筹备妥当。

When my daughter was small I looked forward to giving her advice. In fact, I sincerely believe that she also enjoyed it. For the most important thing a Dad can do is get his child ready for life. Not that I ever thought I was ready but at least I have been able to survive my years, so far. She used to sit real close to me or on my lap and I would explain the mysteries of life to her. I would tell her of morals and ethics4 that made life as good as it can possibly be. Years later, when my daughter hit the wonderful teenaged years, she didn't accept my advice as she did in the past. In fact, she obviously dreaded5 it. However, I gave it to her anyway because I wanted her to survive her teenaged years. I survived them so why shouldn't she listen to me and take in the knowledge that I had from the experiences of my past. For years she never came to me for advice but I continued to submit it. Now that I think of it, my father did the same.

当女儿还非常小的时候，我非常渴望给她建议。事实上，我坚信她会非常乐意同意。一名爸爸非常重要的职责就是让孩子能筹备充分地面对生活。倒不是说我就筹备好了，但至少这么多年来我可以在社会上存活下来。以前她常依偎在我身旁、或趴在我腿上听我讲解日常令她疑惑的事情。同时我还会给她讲一些伦理道德，尽可能让生活过得更有水平。几年将来，女儿步入了花样的青春期，她不再同意我的建议。其实我看得出她非常害怕。不管如何，我还是给出了我的建议，由于我期望她能平稳地度过那个阶段。我是过来人，为何她就是听不进我的前车之鉴呢？多年来她都缄口不提此事，但我仍继续给她建议。直到目前我回想起来才发现我的爸爸也是如此。

Soon, too soon, she left and started her own life. It was as though our separation necessitated6 that she would once again need, and seek out, my advice. At first this was a good thing, in that I appreciated the fact that she thought my wisdom was worth the time. After awhile I came to the realization7 that I might not always be right. I started to fear my own answers to her questions.

恍然间，她离开了我打造了我们的生活。仿佛大家的分开反倒使得有的事情成为必要，她将第三需要寻求我的建议。第一这是件好事情，就此事看来她还是觉得我的智慧是经得起时间的考验的。然而我又意识到可能我的建议不一直对的。于是我开始有的害怕回答她的问题了。

My daughter is not the only person in my life that asks for advice. My wife does it in an odd way. I know she knows the answer to her question but it is almost as though she wants to combine mine with hers. Sometimes when I give her advice she takes it in and basically makes her own decisions. Other times she gives me that odd look that asks, What planet were you born on? Either way I do my best.

在我的日常女儿并非唯一向我征询建议的人。我老婆的做法却非常怪。她了解问题的答案，但她总期望我的答案能和她的一致。有时我给出建议，她也欣然同意了，但事实上她一直根据我们的方法决定事情。有时她作出十分怪诞的表情看着我好像在问：你到底是什么星球的人呢？在两种状况下我都能尽力而为。

My parents have started to ask for my advice. This was very difficult for me to understand. Most of my life my father and mother were the ones to direct me on how I should handle certain situations. They were the ones who survived their years so that they could direct me toward correct decisions. Now the roles seem to be reversed. I guess I should take it as a compliment because this shifting of roles means that they have finally come to the realization that I am capable of making correct choices. Now, if I could only believe this same realization and finally relax in my new role.

我的爸爸妈妈也开始向我征求建议，对此我深感不解。由于一直都是爸爸妈妈指导我怎么样待人处事，他们可以凭着多年的生活阅历帮我作出正确的抉择。而目前大家的角色好像被互换了。我觉得这是一种恭维，由于角色的交换意味着他们终于意识到我已经拥有正确的抉择能力了。依目前的情形，我只能相信这种意识并最后会在新的角色中释怀。

My folk's questions usually surround their preparation for the final stages of their lives. I hate these situations because, if I admit that they are getting old, I am literally8 resigning myself to the fact that I am not far off. I answer their questions as best as I can, praying that I am advising them to do the right things but how could I possibly know? Unlike giving advice to my daughter, giving advice to my parents involves me guessing what to do without the experience of going through what they are presently going through. I guess they ask me because they trust me, like I have always trusted them.

朋友们的问题总纠缠在行将之日上。我讨厌如此的问题,由于假如我承认他们老了，那我也只好听天由命等去世了。我尽全力去回答他们的问题，然后期望我的话行之有效，但我又如何能了解呢？不像给女儿和爸爸妈妈建议，由于我没历程过他们正历程的事情，所以建议中夹杂了我的猜测。我想他们问我是由于信赖我，就好似我一直信赖他们一样。

I am a teacher. In fact, I am a high school teacher who works with young adults who are about to embark9 on careers that include college, the military, or work. Every day I am asked questions concerning how they should organize for their futures10, away from a life that centered on their public school. Most people don't realize that graduating from high school is one of the last rights of passage our society has. This is true because these young children are leaving a time that had taken up over 75% of their young lives.

我是一名教师，一名以青年为工作对象的高中教师，而这类青年马上升上大学、或参军、或走上工作职位。天天都有人问我在他们离开以校园为中心的生活后该怎么样计划他们的将来。很多人意识不到高中毕业是社会赋予大家最重要的转折点之一。这是真的，由于年轻的孩子们正在离开一个年代，一个占据他们年轻生命四分之三的年代。

So, I advice them as to what industries will be important when they get out of college; what military service they should look into, in order to achieve what they think they want to achieve. Sometimes just to tell these young men and women that life is a wonderful thing and that they are fortunate to be in a stage of their lives where they are about to become adults. Every time they leave I pray that I gave them good advice. I know I did my best.

所以，为了他们能达到他们想达到的目的，我告诉他们，当他们离开校园的时候，什么工业会更有前途，要服哪种兵役。有时只须告诉少男少女们生活是美好的就好了，身处生活最好看的好的阶段是非常幸运的，他们也将长大成人。每当他们离开后我都祈祷我的话是有益的。我了解我尽力了。

Sometimes people I don't know ask for my advice. The parents of my students usually ask what they should do to make their child's future bright. Sometimes they ask what they should do because their child doesn't listen or doesn't believe what they are telling them. I assume they ask me because they believe a teacher should know the answers. Either that or they look at my gray hair and beard and believe that my age necessitates11 my ability to know.

有时，不认识的人也向我寻求建议。学生的父母一般会问他们该如何做才能让孩子们有个更光明的前途；该如何做才能让孩子们听话或相信他们的话。我想他们问我是由于他们相信一个老师应该了解答案，或者由于他们看到我灰白的头发和胡子而相信我的年龄应该有这个能力了解该如何做。

The basic problem with Webster's definition of advice is that it doesn't take into account the advisor. Does the advisor understand the problem and have the ability to help with a decision? In the past, did I give my daughter, parents, students, and strangers the correct advice?

韦氏关于建议一词的概念最重要的问题是没把建议者算进来。建议者懂这个问题吗？有这个能力帮忙做决定吗？以前，我给女儿、爸爸妈妈、父母、学生和陌生人的建议到底对吗？

I think I'll give my daughter a call and ask her for some advice!

我想我该给女儿一个电话向她询问一些建议。