点外卖，你原意多等5分钟/10分钟吗？

这两天，一篇题为《外卖骑手，困在系统里》的文章火了，引发人们对外卖小哥的关注。对此，今日凌晨饿了么平台紧急回应，表示将尽快新增“多等5分钟/10分钟”的功能。

无注释原文：

Viral article puts the brakes on China's food delivery frenzy

TechCrunch

For China’s food delivery workers, life can feel like a constant battle with algorithms, traffic police, and disgruntled customers.

An essay detailing the hazardous work conditions of China’s food delivery drivers went viral on the internet on Tuesday, causing a moment of national reckonings on algorithmic harms to people.

In China’s populated urban hubs, one won’t miss the army of express couriers speeding and honking on their scooters. Their reckless driving, according to the investigative report from China’s People magazine, is largely a result of stringent algorithms that penalize late delivery; what’s more, the machines fail to fully factor in real-life variables like weather and traffic and often put drivers’ lives at risk. Within hours, the story had gained over 100,000 views and was shared widely and discussed on the WeChat messenger.

While food delivery platforms boast increasingly fast delivery thanks to state-of-the-art machine learning, the lofty goals the algorithms set for drivers are often attainable only by breaking traffic rules and working extended hours. Sitting indoors, customers tap on streamlined apps, detached from the dangerous delivery journey. To avoid bad reviews and wage cuts, drivers dash and honk pedestrians out of their way to be on time.

Within the first six months of 2019, Shanghai recorded 325 injuries and deaths involving food and parcel delivery drivers alone, with Alibaba’s Ele.me and Tencent-backed Meituan, the food delivery leaders, accounting for nearly 70% of the accidents.

“Most people won’t care if their order arrives two minutes sooner or 10 minutes late. Platforms can actually be more forgiving of delivery drivers. We are more patient than expected,” said a reader comment with 33,000 likes.

On the flip side it is an enormous market opportunity. The food ordering industry in China is estimated to reach 665 billion yuan ($97 billion) by 2020. A total of 398 million or nearly 45% of China’s internet users ordered food online as of March. In contrast, online delivery penetration in the U.S. will reach about 9% by 2020.

Millions of drivers are powering China’s food delivery economy, with nearly 4 million on Meituan by 2019 and 3 million on Ele.me at last count.

This isn’t the first time that China has come to grips with safety for food delivery drivers. Following a series of road accidents in 2017, Chinese police ordered on-demand platforms to improve safety standards for drivers. A commentary from China's newspaper at the time called for “more humane” management for take-out couriers.

Alibaba has taken notice of the latest critique. About 12 hours after the article published, Ele.me announced it will add a feature that allows customers to voluntarily extend wait time by five or 10 minutes. It also promised that the platform won’t penalize couriers with good credit and service history even when they are occasionally late. Meituan, Ele.me’s main rival, has yet to respond to the issues brought up by the widely circulated article.

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注：中文文本为机器翻译仅供参考，并非一一对应

含注释全文：

Viral article puts the brakes on China’s food delivery frenzy

TechCrunch

For China's food delivery workers, life can feel like a constant battle with algorithms, traffic police, and disgruntled customers.

对于中国的送餐员来说，生活就像一场不断与算法、交警和不满的顾客进行的战斗。

algorithm /ˈælɡəˌrɪðəm/ 表示“算法；计算程序”，英文解释为“a set of rules that must be followed when solving a particular problem”。

disgruntled /dɪsˈɡrʌntəld/ 表示“生气的；不满的”，英文解释为“If you are disgruntled, you are angry and dissatisfied because things have not happened the way that you wanted them to happen.”举个🌰：

Disgruntled employees recently called for his resignation.

不满的雇员们最近要求他辞职。

🎬电影《假结婚》（The Proposal）中的台词提到：Bob is nothing but a disgruntled former employee. 他只是一名泄愤的前雇员

An essay detailing the hazardous work conditions of China's food delivery drivers went viral on the internet on Tuesday, causing a moment of national reckonings on algorithmic harms to people.

周二，一篇详述中国外卖骑手危险工作环境的文章在网络上疯传，引起了全民对算法害人的反思。

表示“危险的，有害的”，英文解释为“dangerous”，如：a hazardous journey/occupation 危险的旅行/职业。

go viral的出镜率是很高的，之前也出现过很多次。viral除了表示“病毒性的”，还可以表示“（尤指在网上）传播迅速的；很快变得受欢迎的”。go viral字面意思就是“像病毒一样传播、扩散”，引申为表示“走红，十分流行，疯狂传播”，比如朋友圈xxx刷屏了，也可以说go viral，英文解释为“to become very popular very quickly”。

1）表示“估计；估算；计算”，英文解释为“the act of calculating sth, especially in a way that is not very exact”举个🌰：

By my reckoning you still owe me ￥100.

我算计着，你还欠我100元。

2）表示“最后审判日；算总账”，英文解释为“a time when sb's actions will be judged to be right or wrong and they may be punished”举个🌰：In the final reckoning truth is rewarded.

在最后算总账的时候，诚实的人会有好报。

In China's populated urban hubs, one won't miss the army of express couriers speeding and honking on their scooters. Their reckless driving, according to the investigative report from China's People magazine, is largely a result of stringent algorithms that penalize late delivery; what's more, the machines fail to fully factor in real-life variables like weather and traffic and often put drivers' lives at risk. Within hours, the story had gained over 100,000 views and was shared widely and discussed on the WeChat messenger.

在中国人口密集的城市中心，配送大军骑着摩托车超速、按喇叭的场景随处可见。根据中国《人物》杂志的调查报道，他们的鲁莽驾驶，主要是由于严格的算法，对派送超时进行惩罚；更重要的是，这些机器未能充分考虑到天气和交通等现实生活中的变数，往往会让骑手的生命受到威胁。几个小时内，这篇报道就获得了超过10万的浏览量，并在微信上被广泛分享和讨论。

表示“（使汽车喇叭）鸣响”，英文解释为“if a car horn honks or you honk or honk the horn , the horn makes a loud noise SYN hoot”举个🌰：

Why did he honk at me?

他为什么对我按喇叭？

📺美剧《绝命毒师》（Breaking Bad）中的台词提到：Honk once. I'll meet you in the parking lot. 按一声喇叭 在停车场等我。

可以指“小型摩托车”英文解释为“A scooter is a small light motorcycle which has a low seat.”也可以指“踏板车，滑板车”（A scooter is a type of child's bicycle which has two wheels joined by a wooden board and a handle on a long pole attached to the front wheel. The child stands on the board with one foot, and uses the other foot to move forward.）

此前经济学人一篇讲述电动滑板车的文章就用的“e-scooters”来表达。

「经济学人」电动滑板车的兴起

reckless表示“轻率的；鲁莽的；不顾后果的”，英文解释为“not caring or worrying about the possible bad or dangerous results of your actions”，举个🌰：

He was accused of causing death by reckless driving.

他被控因鲁莽驾驶致人死亡。

stringent /ˈstrɪndʒənt/ 表示“严格的；严厉的”，英文解释为“very strict and that must be obeyed”，如：stringent air quality regulations 严格的空气质量管理条例。

表示“将…因素包括进来”，英文解释为“to include a particular fact or situation when you are thinking about or planning sth”举个🌰：

Remember to factor in staffing costs when you are planning the project.

规划该项目时，记住要把雇人费用这个因素考虑进去。

表示“可变情况；变量；可变因素”，英文解释为“a situation, number or quantity that can vary or be varied”举个🌰：

With so many variables, it is difficult to calculate the cost.

有这么多的可变因素，很难计算出成本。

熟词僻义，可以表示“新闻报道”，英文解释为“a report in a newspaper, magazine or news broadcast”如：a front-page story 头版报道。

While food delivery platforms boast increasingly fast delivery thanks to state-of-the-art machine learning, the lofty goals the algorithms set for drivers are often attainable only by breaking traffic rules and working extended hours. Sitting indoors, customers tap on streamlined apps, detached from the dangerous delivery journey. To avoid bad reviews and wage cuts, drivers dash and honk pedestrians out of their way to be on time.

虽然外卖平台标榜由于最先进的机器学习算法，送餐速度越来越快，但算法为骑手设定的高远目标往往只能通过违反交通规则和延长工作时间来实现。坐在室内，顾客点开精简的应用程序，危险的配送过程与己无关。为了避免差评和降薪，骑手们不惜横冲直撞、对着行人狂按喇叭以便准时送达。

表示“拥有（值得自豪的东西）”，英文解释为“to have or own something to be proud of”举个🌰：

Hangzhou boasts beautiful lakes, great restaurants, and friendly locals.

杭州拥有美丽的湖、很棒的餐馆和友好的当地人。

1）表示“高傲的，自大的”，英文解释为“If you have a lofty way of behaving or talking, etc., you act as if you think you are better than other people.”如：a lofty attitude/air/tone 高傲的态度/神情/语气。

2）表示“崇高的，高尚的”，英文解释为“Lofty ideas, etc. are of a high moral standard.”如：lofty sentiments/ideals 崇高的情操/理想。

1）表示“轻敲；轻拍；轻叩”（to hit sb/sth quickly and lightly）举个🌰：

He tapped at the door.

他轻轻敲门。

2）表示“轻触（手机或平板电脑等给予指令）”（to touch the screen of a phone, tablet computer, etc. in order to give an instruction for something to happen）举个🌰：

You can manage the repeat and shuffle options by tapping the screen once and swiping to the left.

你可以通过轻触一下屏幕向左滑动来使用重复和移动功能。

3）表示“ 在（电话或电报线）上装窃听器；窃听”（to use a small device attached to a phone in order to listen secretly to what people are saying）举个🌰：

He suspected that his phone had been tapped.

他怀疑自己的电话被人窃听了。

4）表示“利用，开发，发掘（已有的资源、知识等）”（to make use of a source of energy, knowledge, etc. that already exists）举个🌰：

We need to tap the expertise of the people we already have.

我们需要利用我们现有人员的专业知识。

🎬电影《头号玩家》（Ready Player One）中的台词提到：This isn't real, you're tapping my feed. 这不是真的 你们拦截了我的信号。

🎬电影《银河护卫队2》（Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2）中的台词提到：She wouldn't even tap her foot. Wouldn't move a muscle. 她也毫不动容 连脚趾头也不动一下。

detached作形容词，表示“不带感情的；超然的；冷漠的”，英文解释为“showing a lack of feeling”举个🌰：

He tries to remain emotionally detached from the prisoners, but fails.

他想尽力保持对囚犯们不掺杂个人感情，却做不到。

She seemed a bit detached, as if her mind were on other things.

她似乎有些心不在焉，好像心思在别的事情上。

🎬电影《愤怒的小鸟》（Angry Birds）中的台词提到：And I don't need any calm, detached, happy birds. 我不需要那些与世无争 神闲气静的鸟。

表示“猛冲，急奔，跑”，英文解释为“to go somewhere quickly”举个🌰：

The dog ran off, and she dashed after him.

狗跑了，我在它后面追。

Within the first six months of 2019, Shanghai recorded 325 injuries and deaths involving food and parcel delivery drivers alone, with Alibaba's Ele.me and Tencent-backed Meituan, the food delivery leaders, accounting for nearly 70% of the accidents.

2019年前6个月内，在上海单单涉及外卖和快递骑手的伤亡事故就有325起，其中阿里巴巴旗下的饿了么和腾讯支持的美团，作为外卖服务的领头羊，占事故的近70%。

“Most people won't care if their order arrives two minutes sooner or 10 minutes late. Platforms can actually be more forgiving of delivery drivers. We are more patient than expected,” said a reader comment with 33,000 likes.

有读者评论说，“大多数人都不是很在乎外卖有没有快那两分钟，也不会因为迟送的十分钟而生气，其实平台可以对外卖员宽容一点，我们真的没有那么着急。”获得了3.3万个赞。

On the flip side it is an enormous market opportunity. The food ordering industry in China is estimated to reach 665 billion yuan ($97 billion) by 2020. A total of 398 million or nearly 45% of China's internet users ordered food online as of March. In contrast, online delivery penetration in the U.S. will reach about 9% by 2020.

另一方面，这是一个巨大的市场机会。到2020年，中国的外卖行业估计将达到6650亿元人民币（970亿美元）。截至3月份，共有3.98亿人，约占中国互联网用户的45％在网上订餐。相比之下，到2020年，美国的在线配送渗透率将达到9％左右。

on the flip side “反过来说；另一方面”，flip side表示“（想法、论点或行动的）另一面，反面，负面”英文解释为“different and less welcome aspects of an idea, argument or action”。

表示“穿透；渗透；进入”，英文解释为“the act or process of making a way into or through sth”，如：the company's successful penetration of overseas markets 公司对海外市场的顺利开拓，举个🌰：

The floor is sealed to prevent water penetration.

地板加了密封涂料防止渗水。

Millions of drivers are powering China's food delivery economy, with nearly 4 million on Meituan by 2019 and 3 million on Ele.me at last count.

数百万骑手正在为中国的外卖经济提供动力，到2019年，美团上有近400万骑手，据最新统计，饿了么上有300万骑手。

This isn't the first time that China has come to grips with safety for food delivery drivers. Following a series of road accidents in 2017, Chinese police ordered on-demand platforms to improve safety standards for drivers. A commentary from China's newspaper at the time called for “more humane” management for take-out couriers.

这并不是中国第一次面对外卖骑手的安全问题了。2017年在发生一系列交通事故后，中国警方责令点餐平台提高骑手的安全标准。当时中国报纸的一篇评论呼吁对外卖骑手进行“更人性化”的管理。

表示“开始理解并着手处理；了解并应付（问题或局面）”，英文解释为“to make an effort to understand and deal with a problem or situation”举个🌰：

I can't seem to get to grips with this problem.

我好像理解不了这个问题。

He has failed to come to grips with the two most important issues of our time.

他没能认识到我们这一时期最重要的两个问题。

🎬电影《几近成名》（Almost Famous）中的台词提到：trying to come to grips with success... 挤破头想成功

表示“应顾客要求即可提供的，随选的”，英文解释为“available when a customer wants or asks for something”举个🌰：

They will sell a voice recognition product as an add-on, on-demand service for their users.

他们会将一个语音识别系统作为附加的随选服务提供给用户。

此处的on-demand platforms结合全文语境，用户请求式，按需随选的平台，可以理解为“点餐平台”。

Alibaba has taken notice of the latest critique. About 12 hours after the article published, Ele.me announced it will add a feature that allows customers to voluntarily extend wait time by five or 10 minutes. It also promised that the platform won't penalize couriers with good credit and service history even when they are occasionally late. Meituan, Ele.me's main rival, has yet to respond to the issues brought up by the widely circulated article.

阿里巴巴已经注意到了最新的评论文章。在文章发表约12小时后，饿了么宣布将增加一项功能，允许客户自愿延长5分钟或10分钟的等待时间。它还承诺，即使外卖骑手偶尔迟到，平台也不会对信用和服务记录良好的快递员进行处罚。饿了么的主要竞争对手美团尚未对广为流传的文章所带来的问题作出回应。

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