生活里总有那么些事儿，让你说不清是该笑还是该愁。比如突然涨了工资，可随之而来的是翻倍的工作量；又比如考上了离家很远的名牌大学，兴奋之余又舍不得爸妈。这种“有好有坏”的情况，在英文里有个特别贴切的表达——mixed blessing。

一、mixed blessing

mixed 这个词常见的意思是“混合的”，比如 mixed salad 就是“什锦沙拉”；blessing 则是“好事、福气”，比如 a blessing in disguise 就是“塞翁失马，焉知非福”。

合在一起，mixed blessing 字面意思是“混合的福气”，实际指的是“有利亦有弊的事”，也就是一件事既有好的一面，也有不好的一面，让人喜忧参半。

它的英文解释也很直白：something that has both advantages and disadvantages。

二、场景应用

1. 关于学习和考试

例句1：Getting a scholarship is a mixed blessing. It covers my tuition, but I have to maintain a high GPA, which is really stressful.

翻译：拿到奖学金真是件有利有弊的事。它能支付我的学费，但我必须保持高绩点，这压力太大了。

例句2：Having extra homework during the holiday is a mixed blessing. It helps me review what I've learned, but it takes away my free time.

翻译：假期有额外的作业是件喜忧参半的事。它能帮我复习学过的知识，但也占用了我的空闲时间。

2. 关于工作和职场

例句1：Being promoted to manager is a mixed blessing. I get a higher salary, but I also have to work longer hours and deal with more responsibilities.

翻译：晋升为经理是件有利有弊的事。工资涨了，但我得加班更久，承担的责任也更多了。

例句2：Working from home is a mixed blessing. I don't have to commute, but it's easy to get distracted by household chores.

翻译：居家办公是件喜忧参半的事。不用通勤了，但很容易被家务事分心。

3. 关于科技和生活

例句1：Smartphones are a mixed blessing. They make communication easier, but they also make people spend too much time on social media.

翻译：智能手机真是有利有弊。它们让沟通更方便了，但也让人们花太多时间在社交媒体上。

例句2：Online shopping is a mixed blessing. You can buy things from all over the world, but you can't try them on before purchasing.

翻译：网购是件喜忧参半的事。你能买到世界各地的东西，但买之前没法试穿。

4. 关于生活琐事

例句1：Having a big family is a mixed blessing. There's always someone to talk to, but it's also noisy and expensive to support.

翻译：大家庭是件有利有弊的事。总有人可以聊天，但也很吵，养活一家人开销也大。

例句2： Moving to a new city is a mixed blessing. Everything is fresh and exciting, but I have to make new friends and get used to a new environment.

翻译：搬到一个新城市是件喜忧参半的事。一切都新鲜又刺激，但我得交新朋友，适应新环境。

三、相关表达

1. two sides of the same coin：字面意思是“同一枚硬币的两面”，比喻事物有两个不同的方面，既有好的也有坏的。

例句：Freedom and responsibility are two sides of the same coin. You can't have one without the other.

翻译：自由和责任是同一枚硬币的两面，缺一不可。

2. every advantage has its disadvantage：直译为“每个优势都有其劣势”，和中文里的“有利必有弊”意思差不多。

例句：Every advantage has its disadvantage. Living in a big city means more job opportunities, but also higher living costs.

翻译：有利必有弊。住在大城市意味着更多的工作机会，但生活成本也更高。

练习题

1. 请用 mixed blessing 翻译下面这句话：“住在郊区是件有利有弊的事，空气好，但上班要花很长时间。”

2. 选择题：The new policy is a _______. It reduces pollution, but it also increases the cost of production.    
A. good thing    
B. mixed blessing    
C. bad news

3. 请用 two sides of the same coin 造句，并翻译成中文。

参考答案：

1. Living in the suburbs is a mixed blessing. The air is good, but it takes a long time to get to work.

2. B

3. 示例：Success and failure are two sides of the same coin. You can learn from both. 翻译：成功和失败是同一枚硬币的两面，你都能从中学到东西。