VOA慢速英語(yǔ)：對(duì)泰國(guó)國(guó)王健康擔(dān)憂增加

泰國(guó)國(guó)王普密蓬·阿杜德 (Bhumibol Adulyadej) 健康狀況仍然存在問(wèn)題。

The 87-year-old has been the king of Thailand since 1946.

現(xiàn)年87歲的泰國(guó)國(guó)王自1946年起登基成為泰國(guó)國(guó)王。

Last week, the king's youngest daughter made a public request for prayers from the Thai people for her ailing father. He has spent much of the past several years in a hospital in Bangkok.

上周，國(guó)王的小女兒公開請(qǐng)求泰國(guó)人民為她生病的父親進(jìn)行祈禱。在過(guò)去幾年里，他一直住在曼谷的一家醫(yī)院。

The Thai king briefly appeared in public earlier this month. Since then, he has reportedly had healthl issues with his blood, fever and lungs. Many in the country are concerned.

The king, also known as Rama IX, briefly appeared in public earlier this month. Since then, he has reportedly had blood infections, fever and lung problems. Thai officials say he has improved, but many in the country remain concerned.

國(guó)王，也被稱為拉瑪九世，本月初在公開場(chǎng)合簡(jiǎn)短露面。從那時(shí)起，他被報(bào)道患上血液感染、發(fā)熱及肺部問(wèn)題。泰國(guó)官員說(shuō)，他的病情已好轉(zhuǎn)，但國(guó)家的許多人們?nèi)匀粨?dān)心。

Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is in line to be the next king. But he is not as loved or respected in the country as his parents. In August, he led a 43-kilometer mass bicycle ride in tribute to his ill mother, Queen Sirikit.The event had more than 145,000 cyclists and 9,000 police officers. Some believe the bicycle ride demonstrates to a nation under army rule that the military backs the crown prince to succeed his father.

王太子瑪哈·哇集拉隆功(Maha Vajiralongkorn) 將成為下一任國(guó)王。但在泰國(guó)，他不像他的父母那樣受人們愛戴與尊敬。他領(lǐng)導(dǎo)了一場(chǎng)43千米的群眾騎自行車賽，向他生病的母親詩(shī)麗吉王后表示致敬。該活動(dòng)有超過(guò)145,000騎車者及9000名警察參加。一些人認(rèn)為騎自行車賽展示了在軍隊(duì)統(tǒng)治之下的國(guó)家，軍隊(duì)支持王儲(chǔ)接替他的父親。

But the prince remains distant from the public. And his private life has been a source of concern.

但是王子仍然遠(yuǎn)離群眾。并且他的私生活成為人們的顧慮。

His sister Princess Sirindhorn, however, is more widely respected. She is broadly admired for her charity work and her efforts in education. Some say that the princess could become asuccessor. But she has not been formally chosen as anheir to thethrone.

然而，他的妹妹詩(shī)琳通公主，卻受到群眾的廣泛尊重。她通過(guò)從事慈善事業(yè)與教育工作而深受愛戴。一些泰國(guó)民眾期望詩(shī)琳通公主(Princess Sirindhorn) 繼承王位。但她還沒有被正式選為王位繼承人。

Openly speaking about the royal succession is taboo, something not to be discussed. Making comments critical of or threatening to senior members of the royal family is also taboo. Doing so can result in long prison sentences under Thailand's harsh laws. Visit the website www.chinavoa.com to get more information!

公開談?wù)撏跏依^承是大忌，有些事情不能被討論。對(duì)王室高級(jí)成員作出評(píng)論批評(píng)或威脅也是禁忌。這樣做可能會(huì)導(dǎo)致受到泰國(guó)嚴(yán)峻刑法長(zhǎng)期監(jiān)禁的懲罰。

Bhumibol is the only king most Thais have ever known. His death will send Thailand into deep mourning.

普密蓬國(guó)王是唯一的被大多數(shù)泰國(guó)人所知的國(guó)王。他的死亡將使泰國(guó)人民陷入深痛悲哀中。

Tyrell Haberkorn is an expert on Thailand. She says the respect and admiration many Thais have for King Bhumibol "is specific to him as an individual, not the institution."

泰瑞爾哈勃孔是泰國(guó)的專家。她表示許多泰國(guó)人對(duì)普密蓬國(guó)王的尊重和贊賞，是把他作為一個(gè)特定個(gè)體，而非機(jī)構(gòu)。

"Rama X will not be able to automatically slip into the same position held by Rama IX, even if he wears the same crown," she said. "The wildcardhere is not who is going to ascend to the throne, but what citizens will do in that moment."

“拉瑪十世不能自動(dòng)繼承拉瑪九世的王位位置，即使他帶上王冠，”她說(shuō)。“外卡不是誰(shuí)登上王位，而是在那一刻，公民將做什么。”

I'm Jonathan Evans.

我是喬納森·埃文斯。

VOA's Steve Herman wrote this story from Bangkok. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in this Story

successor– n. a person who has a job, position, or title after someone else

heir– n. a person who has the legal right to receive the property of someone who dies

throne – n. the position of king or queen

The health of King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand remains in question.

The 87-year-old has been the king of Thailand since 1946.

Last week, the king's youngest daughter made a public request for prayers from the Thai people for her ailing father. He has spent much of the past several years in a hospital in Bangkok.

The king, also known as Rama IX, briefly appeared in public earlier this month. Since then, he has reportedly had blood infections, fever and lung problems. Thai officials say he has improved, but many in the country remain concerned.

Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn is in line to be the next king. But he is not as loved or respected in the country as his parents. In August, he led a 43-kilometer mass bicycle ride in tribute to his ill mother, Queen Sirikit. The event had more than 145,000 cyclists and 9,000 police officers. Some believe the bicycle ride demonstrates to a nation under army rule that the military backs the crown prince to succeed his father.

But the prince remains distant from the public. And his private life has been a source of concern.

His sister Princess Sirindhorn, however, is more widely respected. She is broadly admired for her charity work and her efforts in education. Some say that the princess could become asuccessor. But she has not been formally chosen as anheir to thethrone.

Openly speaking about the royal succession is taboo, something not to be discussed. Making comments critical of or threatening to senior members of the royal family is also taboo. Doing so can result in long prison sentences under Thailand's harsh laws. Visit the website www.chinavoa.com to get more information!

Bhumibol is the only king most Thais have ever known. His death will send Thailand into deep mourning.

Tyrell Haberkorn is an expert on Thailand. She says the respect and admiration many Thais have for King Bhumibol "is specific to him as an individual, not the institution."

"Rama X will not be able to automatically slip into the same position held by Rama IX, even if he wears the same crown," she said. "The wildcard here is not who is going to ascend to the throne, but what citizens will do in that moment."

I'm Jonathan Evans.

VOA's Steve Herman wrote this story from Bangkok. Jonathan Evans adapted it for Learning English. Kathleen Struck was the editor.

______________________________________________________________

Words in this Story

successor– n. a person who has a job, position, or title after someone else

heir– n. a person who has the legal right to receive the property of someone who dies

throne – n. the position of king or queen