↶ Graded Readers

The Story of Patagonia

↶ HSK 5 reading practice

The Story of Patagonia

Patagonia是shì一家yī jiā以yǐ独特dú tè价值观jià zhí guān著称zhù chēng的de服装fú zhuāng公司gōng sī,它tā的de故事gù shì与yǔ传统chuán tǒng企业qǐ yè截然不同jié rán bù tóng。

Patagonia is a clothing company renowned for its unique values, and its story is completely different from traditional enterprises.

故事gù shì要yào从cóng创始人chuàng shǐ rén伊冯·乔伊纳德yī fēng · qiáo yī nà dé说起shuō qǐ。

The story starts with the founder Yvon Chouinard.

他tā是shì位wèi狂热kuáng rè的de攀岩pān yán爱好者ài hào zhě。

He is a passionate rock climbing enthusiast.

20世纪50年代,他tā经常jīng cháng和hé朋友péng you去qù攀岩pān yán。

In the 1950s, he often went rock climbing with friends.

但dàn发现fā xiàn市面shì miàn上shàng能néng买mǎi到dào的de攀岩pān yán工具gōng jù不仅bù jǐn价格jià gé昂贵áng guì,质量zhì liàng也yě不佳bù jiā。

But he discovered that the rock climbing tools available on the market were not only expensive but also of poor quality.

于是yú shì,伊冯yī fēng萌生méng shēng了le自己zì jǐ制作zhì zuò工具gōng jù的de想法xiǎng fǎ。

Thus, Yvon had the idea to make his own tools.

起初qǐ chū,他tā在zài自家zì jiā车库chē kù手工shǒu gōng打造dǎ zào工具gōng jù。

Initially, he handcrafted tools in his own garage.

这些zhè xiē工具gōng jù设计shè jì简洁jiǎn jié,却què既jì经济jīng jì实惠shí huì又yòu性能xìng néng出色chū sè。

These tools were simple in design, yet both affordable and outstanding in performance.

后来hòu lái,朋友péng you们men纷纷fēn fēn慕名mù míng而来ér lái购买gòu mǎi。

Later, friends came one after another to buy them upon hearing their reputation.

渐渐地jiàn jiàn de,这zhè演变yǎn biàn成chéng了le一家yī jiā小型xiǎo xíng公司gōng sī。

Gradually, this evolved into a small company.

时间shí jiān来到lái dào20世纪70年代初,伊冯yī fēng去qù苏格兰sū gé lán攀岩pān yán。

The time came to the early 1970s, when Yvon went to Scotland for rock climbing.

他tā在zài那里nà lǐ购得gòu dé一件yī jiàn橄榄球gǎn lǎn qiú衫shān。

He purchased a rugby shirt there.

惊喜jīng xǐ地de发现fā xiàn这种zhè zhǒng衣服yī fu极其jí qí结实jié shi耐磨nài mó,特别tè bié适合shì hé户外hù wài探险tàn xiǎn活动huó dòng。

He was pleasantly surprised to discover that this type of clothing was extremely sturdy and wear-resistant, especially suitable for outdoor adventure activities.

回到huí dào美国měi guó后hòu,他tā便biàn尝试cháng shì生产shēng chǎn同样tóng yàng耐用nài yòng的de服装fú zhuāng。

After returning to the United States, he then tried to produce similarly durable clothing.

1973年nián,伊冯yī fēng正式zhèng shì创立chuàng lì了le新xīn品牌pǐn pái“Patagonia”。

In 1973, Yvon officially founded the new brand 'Patagonia'.

他tā的de愿景yuàn jǐng是shì:生产shēng chǎn经久jīng jiǔ耐穿nài chuān的de服装fú zhuāng,并bìng最大限度zuì dà xiàn dù减少jiǎn shǎo对duì地球dì qiú的de资源zī yuán消耗xiāo hào与yǔ污染wū rǎn。

His vision was to produce long-lasting clothing and to minimize the consumption of Earth's resources and pollution as much as possible.

此后cǐ hòu,Patagonia声名鹊起shēng míng què qǐ,这zhè不仅bù jǐn源于yuán yú其qí卓越zhuó yuè的de产品chǎn pǐn品质pǐn zhì,更gèng得益于dé yì yú它tā对duì环境保护huán jìng bǎo hù的de坚定jiān dìng承诺chéng nuò。例如lì rú:

Thereafter, Patagonia rose to fame, not only due to its excellent product quality, but also thanks to its firm commitment to environmental protection. For example:

大量dà liàng采用cǎi yòng回收huí shōu材料cái liào制造zhì zào服装fú zhuāng。

Extensively using recycled materials to manufacture clothing.

积极jī jí倡导chàng dǎo“少shǎo购买gòu mǎi”的de理念lǐ niàn。

Actively promoting the concept of 'buy less'.

鼓励gǔ lì顾客gù kè修补xiū bǔ破损pò sǔn衣物yī wù而非ér fēi直接zhí jiē丢弃diū qì。

Encouraging customers to repair damaged clothing rather than discarding it directly.

甚至shèn zhì,他们tā men曾céng在zài一则yī zé引起yǐn qǐ轰动hōng dòng的de广告guǎng gào中zhōng直言不讳zhí yán bù huì地de呼吁hū yù“别买bié mǎi这件zhè jiàn夹克jiá kè!”。

Even, they once bluntly called out in a sensational advertisement: 'Don't buy this jacket!'

旨在zhǐ zài促使cù shǐ人们rén men反思fǎn sī过度guò dù消费xiāo fèi,共同gòng tóng守护shǒu hù地球dì qiú。

Aiming to prompt people to reflect on excessive consumption and jointly protect the Earth.

如今rú jīn,Patagonia早已zǎo yǐ超越chāo yuè一家yī jiā普通pǔ tōng成功chéng gōng企业qǐ yè的de范畴fàn chóu,它tā已成为yǐ chéng wéi众多zhòng duō公司gōng sī效仿xiào fǎng的de可持续kě chí xù发展fā zhǎn典范diǎn fàn。

Nowadays, Patagonia has long surpassed the category of an ordinary successful enterprise, becoming a sustainable development model emulated by many companies.

它tā用yòng行动xíng dòng证明zhèng míng:

It proves with actions:

“商业shāng yè成功chéng gōng与yǔ保护bǎo hù地球dì qiú可以kě yǐ并行bìng xíng不悖bù bèi。”

Business success and protecting the Earth can go hand in hand.

Hover a word for its pinyin & meaning; click to pin it.

Vocabulary 192 words

ChinesePinyinEnglish
是 shìto be; correct
一家 yī jiāthe whole family; the same family; the family ... (when preceded by a family name); group
以 yǐto use; by means of; according to; in order to; because of
独特 dú tèunique; distinctive
价值观 jià zhí guānvalue system; system of values
著称 zhù chēngto be widely known as
的 depossessive particle
服装 fú zhuāngclothing; costume
公司 gōng sīcompany; firm; corporation
它 tāit
故事 gù shìnarrative; story; tale
与 yǔand; with
传统 chuán tǒngtradition; traditional
企业 qǐ yècompany; enterprise; corporation
截然不同 jié rán bù tóngcompletely different; entirely unlike
要 yàoto want; will
从 cóngfrom
创始人 chuàng shǐ rénfounder; originator
伊冯·乔伊纳德 yī fēng · qiáo yī nà déYvon Chouinard (founder of Patagonia)
说起 shuō qǐto mention; to bring up (a subject); with regard to; as for
他 tāhe; him
位 wèiposition; (honorific) classifier for people
狂热 kuáng rèfanatical; fervent
攀岩 pān yánrock climbing; to climb a rockface
爱好者 ài hào zhělover (of art, sports etc); amateur; enthusiast; fan
经常 jīng chángoften; frequently; regularly
和 héand; with
朋友 péng youfriend
去 qùto go
但 dànbut; however
发现 fā xiànto discover; to find out
市面 shì miànthe marketplace (i.e. the world of business and commerce)
上 shàngup; on
能 néngcan; to be able to
买 mǎito buy
到 dàoto arrive; to reach
工具 gōng jùtool; instrument
不仅 bù jǐnnot only; not just
价格 jià géprice
昂贵 áng guìexpensive; costly
质量 zhì liàngquality; (physics) mass
也 yěalso
不佳 bù jiānot good
于是 yú shìas a result; consequently
伊冯 yī fēngYvon (name)
萌生 méng shēngto burgeon; to produce; to conceive; to be in the initial stage
了 le(particle indicating completed action or change of state)
自己 zì jǐoneself; one's own
制作 zhì zuòto make; to produce; to manufacture
想法 xiǎng fǎidea; opinion
起初 qǐ chūat first; initially
在 zàito be (located); at; in
自家 zì jiāoneself; one's own family
车库 chē kùgarage
手工 shǒu gōnghandwork; handmade; manual
打造 dǎ zàoto create; to build; to develop
这些 zhè xiēthese
设计 shè jìto design; design
简洁 jiǎn jiéconcise; succinct
却 quèbut; yet; however
既 jìboth … and …; since
经济 jīng jìeconomy; economic
实惠 shí huìaffordable; good value; beneficial
又 yòuagain; also
性能 xìng néngperformance; functionality
出色 chū sèremarkable; outstanding
后来 hòu láiafterwards; later
们 menplural marker for pronouns
纷纷 fēn fēnone after another; continuously
慕名 mù míngto admire sb's reputation; to seek out famous person or location
而来 ér láicome (to a place) for (a purpose)
购买 gòu mǎito purchase; to buy
渐渐地 jiàn jiàn degradually
这 zhèthis
演变 yǎn biànto develop; to evolve; development; evolution
成 chéngto succeed; to complete; to become
小型 xiǎo xíngsmall-scale; of small size
时间 shí jiāntime
来到 lái dàoto arrive; to come to
苏格兰 sū gé lánScotland
那里 nà lǐthere
购得 gòu déto purchase; to acquire
一件 yī jiànone item; a piece of (something)
橄榄球 gǎn lǎn qiúfootball played with oval-shaped ball (rugby, American football, Australian rules etc)
衫 shāngarment; jacket with open slits in place of sleeves
惊喜 jīng xǐpleasant surprise; to be pleasantly surprised
地 de-ly (adverb particle)
这种 zhè zhǒngthis kind of
衣服 yī fuclothes
极其 jí qíextremely; exceedingly
结实 jié shisturdy; strong
耐磨 nài mówear resistant
特别 tè biéspecial; especially
适合 shì héto suit; to be suitable for
户外 hù wàioutdoor; outside
探险 tàn xiǎnto explore; to go on an expedition; adventure
活动 huó dòngactivity; event
回到 huí dàoto return to
美国 měi guóUnited States; USA; US
后 hòubehind; after
便 biànconvenient; simply; then (as a structural particle)
尝试 cháng shìto try; to attempt
生产 shēng chǎnto produce; to manufacture
同样 tóng yàngidentical; same
耐用 nài yòngdurable
年 niányear
正式 zhèng shìformal; official
创立 chuàng lìto establish; to found
新 xīnnew
品牌 pǐn páibrand; trademark
愿景 yuàn jǐngvision (of the future)
经久 jīng jiǔlong-lasting; durable
耐穿 nài chuāndurable; proof against wear and tear
并 bìngand; also
最大限度 zuì dà xiàn dùto the greatest extent; to the maximum
减少 jiǎn shǎoto decrease; to reduce
对 duìright; correct
地球 dì qiúthe Earth
资源 zī yuánresource; natural resource
消耗 xiāo hàoto consume; to use up
污染 wū rǎnto pollute; to contaminate
此后 cǐ hòuafter this; afterwards
声名鹊起 shēng míng què qǐ(idiom) to rise to fame
源于 yuán yúhas its origins in
其 qíhis; her; its; their; that; such
卓越 zhuó yuèoutstanding; surpassing; distinguished; splendid
产品 chǎn pǐnproduct; merchandise
品质 pǐn zhìquality; intrinsic character
更 gèngmore; even more; further; still; additionally
得益于 dé yì yúto benefit from; thanks to
环境保护 huán jìng bǎo hùenvironmental protection
坚定 jiān dìngfirm; resolute; steadfast
承诺 chéng nuòto promise; a commitment; an undertaking
例如 lì rúfor example
大量 dà liànga large amount; massive
采用 cǎi yòngto employ; to use
回收 huí shōuto recycle; to recover
材料 cái liàomaterial; ingredients; data
制造 zhì zàoto manufacture; to produce; to make
积极 jī jíactive; proactive
倡导 chàng dǎoto advocate; to promote
少 shǎofew; little
理念 lǐ niànconcept; philosophy; theory
鼓励 gǔ lìto encourage
顾客 gù kècustomer; client
修补 xiū bǔto mend
破损 pò sǔnto become damaged
衣物 yī wùclothing; clothing and other personal items
而非 ér fēirather than; and not
直接 zhí jiēdirect; straightforward
丢弃 diū qìto discard or abandon
甚至 shèn zhìeven; so much so that
他们 tā menthey
曾 céngonce; formerly
一则 yī zéon the one hand
引起 yǐn qǐto cause; to trigger; to arouse
轰动 hōng dòngto cause a sensation; to stir up commotion
广告 guǎng gàoadvertisement; commercial
中 zhōngmiddle; center
直言不讳 zhí yán bù huìto speak bluntly (idiom); not to mince words
呼吁 hū yùto appeal; to call on someone to do something
别买 bié mǎido not buy
这件 zhè jiànthis item; these items
夹克 jiá kè(loanword) jacket; also pr. [jia2 ke4]
旨在 zhǐ zàito have as its purpose; to be intended to; to aim to (do sth)
促使 cù shǐto prompt; to induce; to cause
人们 rén menpeople
反思 fǎn sīto reflect; to rethink
过度 guò dùexcessive; over-
消费 xiāo fèito consume; to spend; consumption
共同 gòng tóngtogether; shared; common
守护 shǒu hùto guard; to protect
如今 rú jīnnowadays; now
早已 zǎo yǐlong ago; already (in the past)
超越 chāo yuèto surpass; to transcend
普通 pǔ tōngordinary; common
成功 chéng gōngto succeed; success
范畴 fàn chóucategory; scope
已成为 yǐ chéng wéialready become; already turned into
众多 zhòng duōnumerous
效仿 xiào fǎngto copy; to imitate (same as 仿效)
可持续 kě chí xùsustainable
发展 fā zhǎnto develop; development
典范 diǎn fànmodel; exemplar
用 yòngto use
行动 xíng dòngaction; to act
证明 zhèng míngto prove; proof; demonstration
商业 shāng yèbusiness; commerce
保护 bǎo hùto protect; to safeguard
可以 kě yǐcan; may; possible; allowed
并行 bìng xíngto proceed concurrently; to run in parallel
不悖 bù bèinot mutually exclusive; to run in parallel without hindrance