英語美文朗讀 第423期 The qualities of a true friend

On social media networks like Facebook, you probably get the impression that some people have hundreds or even thousands of friends. But studies show that people usually maintain a close relationship with only a few people in real life. It takes time and nurturing for real friendships to develop, and there are certain habits and characteristics that genuine friends possess, which makes them more like family. So, here are the qualities of a true friend!

 

在Facebook等社交媒體網(wǎng)絡上，你可能會覺得，很多人有幾百個甚至幾千個朋友。但是，研究表明，在生活中，人們只跟少數(shù)幾個人保持密切聯(lián)系。真正的友誼需要時間去培養(yǎng)，真正的朋友擁有一些特點和習慣，這讓他們像我們的家人一樣。那么，讓我們來看一下真正的朋友有哪些特征吧！

 

Number 1 - They accept you as you are. A true friend won't try to change you. They embrace everything about you, from your flaws to your best personality traits. They may not agree with or like everything that you say or do, but they won't bash you or try to change your personality. They simply accept you as you are!

第一，他們接納最真實的你。一個真正的朋友不會試圖改變你，他們接納你的一切，無論是你的小缺點，還是你的閃光點。也許，他們并不完全認同你的觀點或者你的行為，但是他們不會打擊你，不會嘗試改變你的性格。他們接納最真實的你！

 

Number 2 - They really listen. How many times have you tried to have a conversation with someone, about something that is important to you, and that person keeps turning the topic back to him or herself? You somehow don't find these conversations fulfilling. But, when you have a conversation with a real friend, they aren't one-sided. You find that your friend really listens to you. They don't talk over you, misunderstand what you are saying, or try to hog the attention in the conversation. They open themselves up to listening, really listening, with the intent to understand your thoughts and feelings.

第二，他們樂于傾聽。你肯定遇到過這種情況，你想和某人說一件很重要的事，但是對方卻不斷地談論他（她）自己，你會莫名其妙地感到這種交流沒什么意思。但是，如果你是在跟真正的朋友交流，他們不會這樣做。你會發(fā)現(xiàn)，你的朋友非常樂意傾聽你的觀點。他們不會嘗試說服你，不會誤解你，也不會把話題引到他們自己身上。他們敞開心扉，聆聽你的心聲，他們想理解你的想法和感受。

 

Number 3 - They don't gossip. Real friends will never talk bad about you behind your back. They will always confront you personally if they need to talk. They respect you and won't spread rumors and tarnish your reputation behind your back. They would rather talk face-to-face and resolve any issues they may have.

第三，他們不會說閑話。真正的朋友不會在背后說你的壞話，如果他們需要溝通，他們會親自跟你交流。他們尊重你，不會到處造謠，不會在背后詆毀你，他們會選擇面對面交流來解決問題。

 

Number 4 - They stick with you. This probably best distinguishes a real friend from a fake one. A true friend will never leave you just because you're going through a rough patch. They will laugh with you through the good times but then cry with you through the bad ones. They will stick by your side and help you through the darkness. They will offer to help however they can. In today's world of flaky, fake friendships, you should genuinely cherish those who are really there for you. These are the people you will want to keep in your life, as they are definitely genuine friends who want the best for you and care about your well-being. They understand that you can't always deal with all of life's curveballs all by yourself, so they have your back, no matter what.

第四，他們一直都在。這可能是真朋友和假朋友的最大區(qū)別，真正的朋友從不會因為你過得不好而離開你。你一帆風順時，他們陪你笑。你人生失意時，他們陪你哭。他們一直陪在你身邊，幫你走出黑暗，他們會盡最大的努力幫助你。在這個爾虞我詐的世界里，你真的應該珍惜那些一直陪伴著你的人。他們是你要一直留在身邊的人，因為他們是真正的朋友，他們想讓你過得更好，他們在乎你的幸福。他們知道，你不可能總是自己承擔人生的風雨，所以，無論如何，他們都會支持你。

 

Number 5 - They make time for you. Real friends will never blow you off or tell you that they're too busy for you. They don't just talk to you when it's convenient. Yes, they might have to rearrange their schedule a bit, but they will never use lack of time or other commitments as an excuse not to see you. A true friend will usually follow through with their promises to you no matter how busy life gets, and you never feel like you have to chase them in order to keep them in your life.

第五，他們愿意為你留出時間。真正的朋友從來不會讓你失望，不會跟你說他們太忙了沒空理你，不會在有空的時候才想起你。確實，為了見你，他們可能要臨時改變一下自己的安排，但是他們從不會用沒時間之類的借口來敷衍你。無論多忙，真正的朋友都會說到做到，你不用為了留住他們而放低自己的姿態(tài)。

 

Number 6 - They don't hold grudges. A real friend is aware that nobody is perfect. When you're with them, you don't feel like you have to walk on eggshells to gain their approval. They understand that you muck up every now and then, and you don't have to offer a long apology. They just put it behind them, because they know that you have good intentions despite whatever mistakes you make.

第六，他們不會抱怨。真正的朋友知道，沒有人是完美的。跟真正的朋友相處，你不需要小心翼翼，唯恐他們對你產(chǎn)生不滿。他們知道有時候你可能會犯點小錯誤，但是你不需要忐忑地道歉。這點小事，他們轉眼就忘了，因為他們知道，就算你犯了點錯誤，你的本意還是好的。

 

Number 7 - You're comfortable around them. Being completely comfortable is a sign of true friendship. You can act silly and let your guard down and you never have to think twice about doing so. You can tell each other anything and you don't have to censor yourselves. You don't have to fake laugh or force conversations. Everything just seems to flow effortlessly between the two of you. A true friend wants to know your secrets, your wildest dreams, embarrassing stories, and things you wouldn't share with just anyone. They want to know you to your core!

第七，跟他們在一起時，你感到很自在。相處自在，是真正的友誼的特征。在他們面前，你可以自由自在地犯傻，放下戒備。你們之間可以訴說任何事情，你不會有所顧忌。你不需要強顏歡笑，不需要說違心話，你們的相處非常自然。真正的朋友想知道你的秘密，你最瘋狂的幻想，你的糗事，還有其它你不想跟任何人提及的事情。真正的朋友想充分地了解你！

 

Number 8 - They see the best in you. One of our greatest faults can be our negative self-criticism, but true friends lift us up when we're down. Our closest friends are the ones who beg to differ when our self-opinion starts getting low. When you feel ugly, your friend reminds you of your beauty. When you feel talentless, your friend reminds you of your many skills. A real friend can see the positive things about you, even when you don't see them yourself.

第八，他們看得到你的閃光點。我們對自己太挑剔，這也許是我們最大的缺點。但是，真正的朋友，在我們失意時伸出援手。最親近的朋友，能夠在我們不自信時給我們勇氣。當你覺得自己不好看時，但真正的朋友會告訴你，你很美。當你覺得自己一無是處時，但真正的朋友會告訴你，你很能干。也許你看不到自己的閃光點，但真正的朋友能看到。

 

Number 9 - They tell it like it is. They don't tell you what you want to hear. Not just for arguments sake, but they will tell you when you are actually wrong. They tell you the truth, even if it may hurt, not because they want to make you feel bad, but rather to help you make better choices in your life and become a better person. You've learned to appreciate this because not many people in life will tell it like it is.

第九，他們很坦誠。真正的朋友不會單純地說那些你樂意聽的話。在你犯錯誤時，他們會告訴你，這并不是故意要跟你吵架。就算他們知道你可能會手上，他們也會告訴你真相，這并不是為了讓你感到難過，而是想幫你做出更好的選擇，幫你成為更好的人。你要珍惜這樣的朋友，因為并不是每個人都會跟你講真話。

 

Number 10 - They don't get jealous. A real friend is confident in the bond that you share, and they will never try to control you. They understand that you don't have to be in their company around the clock in order to validate the friendship, and they give you the freedom to pursue other friendships and activities in your life. Few people will genuinely be happy for your success. In fact, most people around you will be jealous or envious. But true friends will actually be happy for you and push you to achieve even greater heights.

第十，他們不會嫉妒。真正的朋友對你們的友誼有信心，他們不會想控制你。他們不需要你每時每刻陪在他們身邊來證明這份友誼，他們給你充分的自由，你可以跟其他人交朋友，你可以參加其他的活動。你成功的時候，很少人會由衷地感到開心，事實上，你身邊的大多數(shù)人會感到嫉妒。但是，真正的朋友會為你感到開心，并且鼓勵你去追求更高的理想。