Jack Ma: Rejected 30 Times馬雲：被拒絕 30 次
聆聽課程
0:00
0:00
EN： The phrase 'later known as Jack Ma' is a reduced relative clause (appositive) used to provide extra information about the subject. It functions like 'who was later known as'.
中文： 短語 'later known as Jack Ma' 是一個簡化的關係子句（同位語），用於提供關於主詞的額外資訊。其功能相當於 'who was later known as'。
The city, once called Edo, is now known as Tokyo.
這座城市曾被稱為江戶，現在以東京之名為人所知。
EN： The verb 'faced' is in the past simple tense, used here to describe a completed state or situation in the subject's past history.
中文： 動詞 'faced' 使用過去簡單式，在此用於描述主詞過去歷史中一個已完成的狀態或處境。
She faced many difficulties during her first year abroad.
她在國外第一年期間面臨了許多困難。
EN： Jack Ma is a global icon of entrepreneurship. His English name, 'Jack', was given to him by a foreign tourist he befriended while working as a free guide in Hangzhou.
中文： 馬雲是全球創業精神的標誌性人物。他的英文名「Jack」是一位外國遊客送給他的，當時他在杭州擔任免費導遊並與該遊客結為好友。
EN： The correlative structure 'not once, but [number]' is used for emphasis to highlight that an action occurred more than once, often implying that the repetition is significant or surprising.
中文： 相關結構「not once, but [次數]」用於強調某事不只發生過一次，通常暗示這種重複具有重要意義或令人驚訝。
She called him not once, but three times before he answered.
在他接聽之前，她不只打了一次，而是打了三次電話給他。
EN： The Past Simple tense is used here to describe a completed action in the past. 'Failed' is the regular past form of the verb 'fail'.
中文： 此處使用簡單過去式來描述過去已完成的動作。「Failed」是動詞「fail」的規則過去式形態。
They failed the inspection last week.
他們上週的檢查沒過。
EN： In many East Asian cultures, the university entrance exam (like the Gaokao in China) is a high-stakes event that is seen as a primary determinant of a person's future success. Failing it multiple times and still succeeding later is a powerful narrative of resilience.
中文： 在許多東亞文化中，大學入學考試（如中國的高考）是一項影響重大的事件，被視為決定一個人未來成功的主要因素。多次落榜但最終仍取得成功，是一個展現韌性的強大敘事。
EN： Passive Voice (be + past participle): Used when the focus is on the person or thing receiving the action. In this sentence, 'was rejected' emphasizes Jack Ma's experience rather than the company's action.
中文： 被動語態 (be 動詞 + 過去分詞)：用於強調動作的承受者而非執行者。在本句中，「was rejected」強調的是馬雲的遭遇，而非肯德基公司的行為。
The proposal was rejected by the committee yesterday.
該提議昨天被委員會否決了。
EN： Numerical Expressions (X out of Y): A common way to express proportions or ratios, where X is the number of successful cases and Y is the total number of attempts or candidates.
中文： 數量表達方式 (X out of Y)：一種表達比例或比率的常用方式，X 代表成功的數量，Y 代表嘗試或候選者的總數。
Nine out of ten students passed the final exam.
十名學生中有九名通過了期末考試。
EN： This sentence refers to a famous anecdote about Jack Ma's early failures. In the 1990s, Western fast-food chains like KFC were expanding rapidly in China and were seen as prestigious places to work, making his rejection particularly poignant.
中文： 這句話引用了關於馬雲早期失敗的一個著名軼事。在 1990 年代，肯德基等西方快餐連鎖店在中國迅速擴張，被視為體面的工作場所，這使得他的被拒絕顯得格外令人感慨。
EN： The preposition 'despite' is used to introduce a contrast, meaning 'even though something happened'. It must be followed by a noun, noun phrase, or a gerund (-ing form), not a full clause.
中文： 介系詞 'despite' 用於引進對比，意為「儘管、雖然」。其後必須接名詞、名詞短語或動名詞（-ing），不能直接接完整的子句。
Despite the heavy rain, they decided to go for a hike.
儘管下著大雨，他們還是決定去健行。
EN： The modal verb 'would' is used here as the 'future in the past'. It describes an event that was going to happen from a viewpoint in the past.
中文： 助動詞 'would' 在此處用作「過去完成式中的未來」。它從過去的角度描述未來將會發生的事件，常用於敘事文學中。
He didn't know then that this decision would change his life forever.
他當時並不知道這個決定將永遠改變他的人生。
EN： Jack Ma's story is a classic example of the 'rags to riches' narrative, which is highly valued in both Western and modern Chinese business culture. The emphasis on persistence despite failure is a universal theme in success stories.
中文： 馬雲的故事是典型的「白手起家」敘事，這在西方和現代中國商業文化中都受到高度重視。強調在失敗中堅持不懈是成功故事中的普世主題。
EN： Present Participle Phrase (V-ing): The phrase 'earning just $12 a month' is a reduced relative clause or a participial phrase that describes the result or a simultaneous action of the main clause. It functions as an adverbial modifier to provide more information about the subject's situation.
中文： 現在分詞短語 (V-ing)：'earning just $12 a month' 是一個簡化的關係子句或分詞短語，用來描述主句動作的結果或同時發生的狀態。它在此作為副詞修飾語，補充說明主詞當時的情況。
She worked late every night, hoping to get a promotion.
她每天晚上加班，希望能獲得晉升。
EN： Past Simple Tense: The verb 'became' is the past tense of 'become'. It is used here to describe a completed action or a change of state that occurred at a specific time in the past.
中文： 過去簡單式：動詞 'became' 是 'become' 的過去式。這裡用來描述在過去特定時間點完成的動作或狀態的改變。
He became a doctor after years of hard study.
經過多年的努力學習，他成為了一名醫生。
EN： The mention of '$12 a month' highlights the economic conditions in China during the early 1990s and emphasizes Jack Ma's humble beginnings. It serves as a stark contrast to his later success as one of the world's wealthiest individuals.
中文： 文中提到「每月 12 美元」突顯了 1990 年代初期中國的經濟狀況，並強調了馬雲平凡的出身。這與他後來成為全球最富有的人之一的成功歷程形成了鮮明對比。
EN： Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle): This tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action or a specific time in the past. In this context, it emphasizes that his English learning happened before he became a teacher or visited Seattle.
中文： 過去完成式 (had + 過去分詞)：此時態用於描述在過去某個動作或特定時間點之前就已經完成的動作。在此語境中，它強調他在成為老師或前往西雅圖之前就已經完成了英語學習的過程。
She had finished her homework before her parents came home.
在她的父母回家之前，她就已經完成了作業。
EN： The preposition 'by' + Gerund (-ing): This structure is used to indicate the method or means by which something is achieved. It answers the question 'How?'.
中文： 介係詞 'by' + 動名詞 (-ing)：此結構用於表示達成某事的手段或方法。它回答了「如何達成？」的問題。
You can improve your health by exercising regularly.
你可以透過規律運動來改善健康。
EN： In the 1980s, when Jack Ma was learning English, China was just beginning to open up to the world. Hangzhou, being a scenic city, attracted foreign tourists. Volunteering as a guide was a rare and proactive way for a local Chinese person to practice English with native speakers at that time.
中文： 在 1980 年代馬雲學習英語時，中國才剛開始對外開放。杭州作為風景名勝城市，吸引了許多外國遊客。在當時，擔任志願導遊是當地中國人與母語人士練習英語的一種罕見且積極的方式。
EN： The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('practiced', 'absorbed') to describe completed actions in the past. The time expression 'For nine years' indicates the duration of these past actions.
中文： 此句使用過去簡單式（practiced, absorbed）來描述過去已完成的動作。時間副詞短語「For nine years」（長達九年）則用來表示這些過去動作持續的時間長度。
For five years, she lived in London and studied art.
五年來，她住在倫敦並學習藝術。
EN： Parallel Structure: When using a coordinating conjunction like 'and', the verbs should be in the same form. Here, both 'practiced' and 'absorbed' are in the past tense to maintain consistency.
中文： 平行結構：當使用對等連接詞「and」時，動詞應保持形式一致。在此句中，「practiced」與「absorbed」皆為過去式，以維持句法的一致性。
He opened the book and started reading.
他打開書並開始閱讀。
EN： The mention of 'nine years' highlights the traditional Chinese value of persistence and long-term effort (often referred to as 'Kung Fu' in its original sense of skill achieved through hard work over time). Jack Ma's story is frequently used in China as a modern example of this virtue.
中文： 提到「九年」強調了中國傳統價值觀中的堅持與長期努力（即「功夫」的原意：透過長時間勤奮練習而獲得的技能）。馬雲的故事在中國常被視為這種美德的現代典範。
EN： Past Participle Phrase as a Modifier: The phrase 'driven by...' is a past participle phrase that functions as an adjective to describe the subject 'man'. It indicates a passive state or the cause behind an action.
中文： 過去分詞片語作修飾語：'driven by...' 是一個過去分詞片語，在此句中充當形容詞來修飾主詞 'man'。它表示一種被動的狀態或某種行為背後的成因。
The athlete, motivated by the crowd, finished the race.
那位運動員受到群眾的激勵，完成了比賽。
EN： Compound Adjectives: 'Self-taught' is a compound adjective formed by a noun/pronoun and a past participle, used to describe someone who learned a skill without formal instruction.
中文： 複合形容詞：'Self-taught' 是由名詞/代名詞與過去分詞構成的複合形容詞，用來描述某人是在沒有正式指導的情況下自學成才的。
She is a self-made millionaire.
她是一位白手起家的百萬富翁。
EN： In Western business culture, being 'self-taught' is often highly respected as it demonstrates initiative, grit, and intellectual curiosity—qualities Jack Ma is famous for.
中文： 在西方商業文化中，「自學成才」(self-taught) 通常受到高度尊重，因為這展現了主動性、毅力和求知慾，而這些正是馬雲廣為人知的特質。
EN： The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('visited', 'experienced') to describe completed actions that happened at a specific time in the past (1995).
中文： 本句使用過去簡單式（visited, experienced）來描述在過去特定時間（1995年）已經完成的動作。
She visited London last summer and enjoyed the museums.
她去年夏天訪問了倫敦，並且很喜歡那些博物館。
EN： The phrase 'for the first time' is an adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event has never happened before the specified moment.
中文： 短語 'for the first time' 是一個副詞短語，用來表示某個事件在指定時刻之前從未發生過，即「第一次」。
I saw snow for the first time when I was ten.
我十歲時第一次見到雪。
EN： Seattle was a major tech hub in the 1990s (home to Microsoft and Amazon), making it a significant location for Jack Ma's first encounter with the internet.
中文： 西雅圖在1990年代是主要的科技中心（微軟和亞馬遜的所在地），這使得它成為馬雲首次接觸網際網路的一個具有重要意義的地點。
EN： The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('searched', 'appeared') to describe completed actions in a specific historical context (Jack Ma's 1995 trip).
中文： 本句使用過去簡單式（searched, appeared）來描述在特定歷史背景下（馬雲1995年的旅行）已經完成的動作。
She looked for her keys but found nothing.
她尋找她的鑰匙，但什麼也沒發現。
EN： The coordinating conjunction 'but' is used to connect two independent clauses, showing a contrast between the action (searching) and the unexpected result (no results).
中文： 對等連接詞「but」用於連接兩個獨立子句，展現動作（搜尋）與出乎意料的結果（沒有結果）之間的對比。
He studied hard, but he failed the test.
他努力學習，但考試不及格。
EN： This sentence highlights the digital divide in the mid-1990s. At that time, China had very little presence on the global internet, which inspired Jack Ma to start his first internet business, 'China Pages'.
中文： 這句話凸顯了1990年代中期的數位落差。當時，中國在全球網際網路上的存在感極低，這啟發了馬雲創立他的第一個網路事業「中國黃頁」。
EN： The Past Perfect Tense (had + past participle) is used to describe an action or state that was completed before another point in the past. In this sentence, China's lack of presence occurred before the moment Jack Ma realized it.
中文： 過去完成式 (had + 過去分詞) 用於描述在過去某個時間點或動作之前就已經完成的動作或狀態。在此句子中，中國缺乏網路存在感的情況發生在馬雲「意識到」之前。
She realized that she had left her keys at home.
她意識到她把鑰匙忘在家裡了。
EN： Noun Clauses with 'that' function as the object of a verb (like 'realized'). The word 'that' introduces a complete sentence that acts as the thing being thought, said, or felt.
中文： 由 'that' 引導的名詞子句作為動詞（如 'realized'）的受詞。'that' 引導一個完整的句子，用來表達所思考、說出或感覺到的內容。
I believe that technology can change the world.
我相信科技可以改變世界。
EN： In the mid-1990s, the internet was rapidly expanding in the West, but China was just beginning to connect. This moment highlights the 'digital divide' that existed before China became a global tech powerhouse.
中文： 在 1990 年代中期，網際網路在西方迅速擴張，但中國才剛開始起步。這個時刻凸顯了在中國成為全球科技強國之前所存在的「數位落差」。
EN： The sentence uses the Past Simple Tense (was) to describe a state or situation that existed at a specific time in the past, specifically referring to the late 1990s in the context of Jack Ma's story.
中文： 本句使用過去簡單式（was）來描述過去特定時間點存在的狀態或情況，在此指 1990 年代末期馬雲故事中的背景。
The invention of the steam engine was a major turning point for the industry.
蒸汽機的發明是工業的一個重大轉折點。
EN： The preposition 'for' is used here to indicate the recipient or the entity affected by the 'opportunity'. It shows who benefits from the situation.
中文： 介係詞「for」在此用於表示「機會」的接收者或受影響的實體，顯示誰從該情況中獲益。
This scholarship is a great chance for students from low-income families.
這項獎學金對來自低收入家庭的學生來說是一個很好的機會。
EN： In the late 1990s, China's digital infrastructure was in its infancy. Jack Ma's realization that the internet could bridge the gap between Chinese suppliers and global buyers was a visionary insight that transformed the Chinese economy.
中文： 在 1990 年代末期，中國的數位基礎設施尚處於起步階段。馬雲意識到網際網路可以彌合中國供應商與全球買家之間的差距，這是一個具有遠見的洞察力，隨後徹底改變了中國經濟。
EN： The sentence uses the Past Simple tense ('gathered') to describe a completed action that occurred at a specific time in the past ('In 1999').
中文： 句子使用了過去簡單式（gathered），用來描述在過去特定時間點（1999年）已經完成的動作。
She started her own business two years ago.
她兩年前開始了自己的事業。
EN： Prepositional phrases of time and place: 'In 1999' (time) and 'in his small apartment' (place) provide essential context to the main action.
中文： 時間與地點的介係詞短語：「In 1999」（時間）與「in his small apartment」（地點）為主要動作提供了必要的背景資訊。
They met at a coffee shop on Monday.
他們週一在一家咖啡店見面。
EN： The '18 Founders' of Alibaba (Jack Ma plus the 17 friends mentioned) is a legendary story in the Chinese tech industry, symbolizing the humble beginnings of a global giant in a residential apartment.
中文： 阿里巴巴的「18位創始人」（馬雲加上提到的17位朋友）是中國科技產業中的傳奇故事，象徵著一家全球巨頭在普通民宅公寓中艱苦創業的起點。
EN： The verb 'give' is often used with nouns like 'speech', 'presentation', or 'talk' to describe the act of delivering a formal address. This is a common collocation (words that naturally go together).
中文： 動詞「give」常用於「speech」（演講）、「presentation」（簡報）或「talk」（談話）等名詞，用來描述發表正式演說的行為。這是一種常見的詞彙搭配（collocation）。
She gave an inspiring speech at the graduation ceremony.
她在畢業典禮上發表了一場感人至深的演講。
EN： The preposition 'about' is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) when describing the topic or purpose of an action. Here, 'creating' acts as a noun phrase.
中文： 介係詞「about」後面接動名詞（動詞 + -ing）來描述某個動作的主題或目的。在這裡，「creating」作為名詞短語使用。
We had a long discussion about improving our sales strategy.
我們針對改善銷售策略進行了長久的討論。
EN： The phrase 'online marketplace' in 1999 was a revolutionary concept in China, where internet access was extremely limited. Jack Ma's ability to convince 17 friends to invest in this vision is often cited in business studies as a prime example of charismatic leadership and 'Guanxi' (social networking/trust) in Chinese culture.
中文： 「線上市場」（online marketplace）在 1999 年的中國是一個革命性的概念，當時網路普及率極低。馬雲能說服 17 位朋友投資這個願景，在商業研究中常被引用為魅力型領導以及中國文化中「關係」（社交網絡與信任）的典型案例。
EN： The use of 'to + infinitive' (to make) functions as an infinitive of purpose, explaining 'why' the action of pooling money was taken.
中文： 不定詞 (to + 原型動詞) 在此作為「目的狀語」，用來解釋為什麼要採取「集資」這個行動。
She saved money to buy a new laptop.
她存錢是為了買一台新筆電。
EN： The phrase 'make [something] a reality' follows the structure 'make + object + complement', where the complement describes the resulting state of the object.
中文： 片語「make [something] a reality」遵循「make + 受詞 + 補語」的結構，補語用來描述受詞最終達到的狀態。
Hard work helped him make his dream a reality.
努力工作幫助他讓夢想成真。
EN： The mention of 'pooling $60,000' highlights the early 'friends and family' funding stage common in startup culture, especially significant given the low wages in China at the time (Jack Ma earned $12/month previously).
中文： 提到「集資六萬美元」凸顯了創業文化中常見的「親友籌資」階段。考慮到當時中國的工資水準（馬雲之前每月僅賺12美元），這在當時是一筆巨大的信任投資。
EN： The Passive Voice (be + past participle) is used when the focus is on the action or the person/thing affected by the action, rather than who performed it. Here, 'was founded' emphasizes the creation of the company.
中文： 被動語態（be 動詞 + 過去分詞）用於強調動作本身或受詞，而非執行動作的人。在此處，'was founded' 強調了公司的成立。
The museum was built in 1920.
這座博物館建於 1920 年。
EN： Apposition (Noun Phrase as Appositive): The phrase 'a testament to their shared belief' acts as an appositive, providing additional information or a description of the preceding clause or noun.
中文： 同位語（名詞短語作為同位語）：短語 'a testament to their shared belief' 作為同位語，對前面的子句或名詞提供額外的補充說明或描述。
He won the prize, a great honor for his family.
他贏得了獎項，這對他的家人來說是莫大的榮幸。
EN： The founding of Alibaba is a legendary story in the global tech industry, symbolizing the rise of the Chinese internet. The '18 founders' (Jack Ma and his 17 friends) is a famous detail often cited as an example of teamwork and shared vision.
中文： 阿里巴巴的創立是全球科技產業中的傳奇故事，象徵著中國互聯網的崛起。「十八羅漢」（馬雲與他的 17 位朋友）是一個著名的細節，常被引用為團隊合作和共同願景的典範。
重要單字附有 IPA 發音、定義、例句和互動式測驗。
在本文中： 堅持不懈，在困難中持續努力的毅力
在本文中： 拒絕，被排斥或不被錄取的經歷
在本文中： 自願服務，無償提供勞務
在本文中： 吸收（知識、資訊等）
在本文中： 自學的，無師自通的
在本文中： 存在感，在特定領域（如網路）的影響力
在本文中： 熱情的，充滿激情的
在本文中： 集中（資金、資源）共同使用
在本文中： 遠見，對未來的構想或藍圖
在本文中： 證明，證據
片語包含類型標示、雙語定義、用法說明和例句。
To cause something that was only imagined to happen or exist.
使某事成為現實
An exam which you take to be accepted into a school or university.
入學考試
Motivated or influenced by a particular force or feeling.
受...所驅使
Used to show the number of people or things that are part of a larger group.
在...之中
The existence of a brand, company, or entity in a specific digital space or market.
網路存在感 / 數位足跡
To combine money, resources, or information from different people for a shared purpose.
共同集資 / 匯集資源
Something that serves as clear evidence or proof of a specified fact, event, or quality.
證明 / 見證
A digital platform where multiple third-party sellers can list and sell their products to customers.
線上交易平台 / 電子市集