竞争让市场更健康
Competition makes the market more efficient
StartReading
The story of the 'Catfish Effect' and its application in business and management.
36 new words
沙丁鱼shādīngyúsardine
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
运输yùnshūto transport, to convey
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
岸ànbank (of a river, lake, etc.), shore, coast
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
商品shāngpǐngoods, commodity
商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。
Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy.
延长yánchángto prolong, to lengthen
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
存活cúnhuóto survive, to exist
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
改善gǎishànto improve, to make sth. better
商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。
Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy.
无意wúyìaccidentally, inadvertently
他们本无意研究鱼的行为，却在一次装箱时注意到：放进一条鲶鱼后，鱼群的状态有了变化。
They were not trying to study fish behaviour, but during one packing they noticed that adding a catfish changed the state of the group.
巧妙qiǎomiàoingenious, clever
巧妙的安排也要有分寸。
实用shíyòngpractical
这个看似残酷的安排，的确有实用的效果，也让运输者重新思考怎样照顾活物。
This apparently harsh arrangement does have a practical effect and makes transporters rethink how to care for living things.
天敌tiāndínatural enemy
对于沙丁鱼，鲶鱼像天敌，会追赶靠近它的小鱼。
For sardines, a catfish is like a natural enemy and chases the small fish near it.
鲶鱼niányúcatfish
他们本无意研究鱼的行为，却在一次装箱时注意到：放进一条鲶鱼后，鱼群的状态有了变化。
They were not trying to study fish behaviour, but during one packing they noticed that adding a catfish changed the state of the group.
设备shèbèiequipment, device; (referring to a container in this text)
商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。
Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy.
和平hépíngpeaceful
和平并不总等于没有挑战，落后的状态有时正需要新的推动；最好的环境未必是毫无波动的环境，管理者要找到合适的分寸，选择最佳方案，而不是套用固定比例。
Peace does not always mean no challenge, and a backward state sometimes needs a new push; the best environment is not necessarily one without any movement, and managers must find the right measure and choose the best approach rather than apply a fixed ratio.
构成gòuchéngto compose, to form, to pose
它的核心不是让谁受苦，而是说明适度压力能构成改变的力量。
Its core is not making anyone suffer, but showing that moderate pressure can create change.
逃避táobìto escape, to evade
沙丁鱼为逃避这种刺激而不停游动，鱼群的活力便保持得更旺盛。
The sardines keep swimming to avoid that stimulus, and the group's energy remains stronger.
不断búduàncontinuously, unceasingly
商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。
Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy.
旺盛wàngshèngexuberant, vibrant
沙丁鱼为逃避这种刺激而不停游动，鱼群的活力便保持得更旺盛。
The sardines keep swimming to avoid that stimulus, and the group's energy remains stronger.
比例bǐlìproportion, scale
和平并不总等于没有挑战，落后的状态有时正需要新的推动；最好的环境未必是毫无波动的环境，管理者要找到合适的分寸，选择最佳方案，而不是套用固定比例。
Peace does not always mean no challenge, and a backward state sometimes needs a new push; the best environment is not necessarily one without any movement, and managers must find the right measure and choose the best approach rather than apply a fixed ratio.
感想gǎnxiǎngimpressions, thoughts
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
体会tǐhuìfeeling, understanding
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
概念gàiniànconcept, notion
人们由这个故事提炼出一个概念，常被称作鲶鱼效应。
People draw a concept from this story, often called the catfish effect.
核心héxīncore, kernel
它的核心不是让谁受苦，而是说明适度压力能构成改变的力量。
Its core is not making anyone suffer, but showing that moderate pressure can create change.
刺激cìjīto stimulate, to excite
沙丁鱼为逃避这种刺激而不停游动，鱼群的活力便保持得更旺盛。
The sardines keep swimming to avoid that stimulus, and the group's energy remains stronger.
活力huólìvigor, vitality
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult.
落后luòhòuto fall behind, to lag behind
和平并不总等于没有挑战，落后的状态有时正需要新的推动；最好的环境未必是毫无波动的环境，管理者要找到合适的分寸，选择最佳方案，而不是套用固定比例。
Peace does not always mean no challenge, and a backward state sometimes needs a new push; the best environment is not necessarily one without any movement, and managers must find the right measure and choose the best approach rather than apply a fixed ratio.
本质běnzhìessence, nature, intrinsic quality
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
员工yuángōngstaff, employee
在公司里，员工若只重复熟悉的做法，潜力可能被埋住。
危机wēijīcrisis
危机太大只会伤害团队，得当的管理应当给人支持、资源和清楚目标，而不是制造恐惧。
有利yǒulìbeneficial, advantageous
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
挖掘wājuéto dig, to unearth
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
潜力qiánlìpotential
在公司里，员工若只重复熟悉的做法，潜力可能被埋住。
决赛juésàifinal, final match
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
接近jiējìnto approach, to be close to
商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。
Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy.
佳jiāgood, fine
和平并不总等于没有挑战，落后的状态有时正需要新的推动；最好的环境未必是毫无波动的环境，管理者要找到合适的分寸，选择最佳方案，而不是套用固定比例。
Peace does not always mean no challenge, and a backward state sometimes needs a new push; the best environment is not necessarily one without any movement, and managers must find the right measure and choose the best approach rather than apply a fixed ratio.
的确díquèindeed, really
这个看似残酷的安排，的确有实用的效果，也让运输者重新思考怎样照顾活物。
This apparently harsh arrangement does have a practical effect and makes transporters rethink how to care for living things.
Listen to the text
沙丁鱼被捕捞上岸后，运输时间一延长，就容易失去活力，甚至难以存活。商人不断改善设备，希望把鲜活商品送到市场；运输船接近港口时，鱼还得保持活力。他们本无意研究鱼的行为，却在一次装箱时注意到：放进一条鲶鱼后，鱼群的状态有了变化。
shādīngyú bèi bǔ lāo shàng àn hòu， yùnshū shí jiān yī yáncháng， jiù róng yì shī qù huólì， shèn zhì nán yǐ cúnhuó。 shāng rén búduàn gǎishàn shèbèi， xī wàng bǎ xiān huó shāngpǐn sòng dào shì chǎng； yùnshū chuán jiējìn gǎng kǒu shí， yú hái dé bǎo chí huólì。 tā men běn wúyì yán jiū yú de xíng wèi， què zài yī cì zhuāng xiāng shí zhù yì dào： fàng jìn yī tiáo niányú hòu， yú qún de zhuàng tài yǒu le biàn huà。
Once sardines are caught and brought ashore, a long transport time can make them lose energy and even make survival difficult. Traders kept improving their equipment, hoping to bring fresh goods to market; even as the boat neared the harbour, the fish had to retain their energy. They were not trying to study fish behaviour, but during one packing they noticed that adding a catfish changed the state of the group.
对于沙丁鱼，鲶鱼像天敌，会追赶靠近它的小鱼。沙丁鱼为逃避这种刺激而不停游动，鱼群的活力便保持得更旺盛。这个看似残酷的安排，的确有实用的效果，也让运输者重新思考怎样照顾活物。
duì yú shādīngyú， niányú xiàng tiāndí， huì zhuī gǎn kào jìn tā de xiǎo yú。 shādīngyú wèi táobì zhè zhǒng cìjī ér bù tíng yóu dòng， yú qún de huólì biàn bǎo chí dé gèng wàngshèng。 zhè gè kàn shì cán kù de ān pái， díquè yǒu shíyòng de xiào guǒ， yě ràng yùnshū zhě zhòng xīn sī kǎo zěn yàng zhào gù huó wù。
For sardines, a catfish is like a natural enemy and chases the small fish near it. The sardines keep swimming to avoid that stimulus, and the group's energy remains stronger. This apparently harsh arrangement does have a practical effect and makes transporters rethink how to care for living things.
人们由这个故事提炼出一个概念，常被称作鲶鱼效应。它的核心不是让谁受苦，而是说明适度压力能构成改变的力量。和平并不总等于没有挑战，落后的状态有时正需要新的推动；最好的环境未必是毫无波动的环境，管理者要找到合适的分寸，选择最佳方案，而不是套用固定比例。
rén men yóu zhè gè gù shì tí liàn chū yī gè gàiniàn， cháng bèi chēng zuò niányú xiào yīng。 tā de héxīn bù shì ràng shuí shòu kǔ， ér shì shuō míng shì dù yā lì néng gòuchéng gǎi biàn de lì liàng。 hépíng bìng bù zǒng děng yú méi yǒu tiāo zhàn， luòhòu de zhuàng tài yǒu shí zhèng xū yào xīn de tuī dòng； zuì hǎo de huán jìng wèi bì shì háo wú bō dòng de huán jìng， guǎn lǐ zhě yào zhǎo dào hé shì de fēn cùn， xuǎn zé zuì jiā fāng àn， ér bù shì tào yòng gù dìng bǐlì。
People draw a concept from this story, often called the catfish effect. Its core is not making anyone suffer, but showing that moderate pressure can create change. Peace does not always mean no challenge, and a backward state sometimes needs a new push; the best environment is not necessarily one without any movement, and managers must find the right measure and choose the best approach rather than apply a fixed ratio.
在公司里，员工若只重复熟悉的做法，潜力可能被埋住。一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。管理者还可以安排公开交流，让不同经验的人彼此学习。
zài gōng sī lǐ， yuángōng ruò zhǐ zhòng fù shú xī de zuò fǎ， qiánlì kě néng bèi mái zhù。 yī gè néng lì xiāng dāng de xīn tóng shì， jiù xiàng yùn dòng yuán yù shàng juésài qián de duì shǒu， huì ràng rén ná chū píng shí méi yòng shàng de běn shì， yě huì chǎn shēng xīn de gǎnxiǎng； jīng guò fǎn fù shí jiàn， cái huì yǒu gèng shēn de tǐhuì： jìng zhēng yǒulì yú wājué běnzhì shàng yǐ yǒu de néng lì。 guǎn lǐ zhě hái kě yǐ ān pái gōng kāi jiāo liú， ràng bù tóng jīng yàn de rén bǐ cǐ xué xí。
In a company, employees who only repeat familiar methods may leave their potential buried. A capable new colleague is like the rival an athlete meets before a final: they draw out ability that normally goes unused and can create fresh thoughts. Only repeated practice brings deeper understanding: competition can help uncover abilities that already exist in essence. Managers can also arrange open exchange so people with different experience learn from one another.
当然，压力的程度必须合适。危机太大只会伤害团队，得当的管理应当给人支持、资源和清楚目标，而不是制造恐惧。巧妙的安排也要有分寸。大家有机会说明困难，才会把压力变成动力。这样，竞争才能成为成长的工具，而不是彼此消耗的借口。
dāng rán， yā lì de chéng dù bì xū hé shì。 wēijī tài dà zhǐ huì shāng hài tuán duì， dé dāng de guǎn lǐ yīng dāng gěi rén zhī chí、 zī yuán hé qīng chǔ mù biāo， ér bù shì zhì zào kǒng jù。 qiǎomiào de ān pái yě yào yǒu fēn cùn。 dà jiā yǒu jī huì shuō míng kùn nán， cái huì bǎ yā lì biàn chéng dòng lì。 zhè yàng， jìng zhēng cái néng chéng wèi chéng zhǎng de gōng jù， ér bù shì bǐ cǐ xiāo hào de jiè kǒu。
Of course, the degree of pressure must be appropriate. A crisis that is too large only harms a team. Sound management should provide support, resources, and clear goals rather than create fear. Even a clever arrangement needs the right measure. When people can explain their difficulties, pressure can become motivation. Then competition can be a tool for growth instead of an excuse to wear one another down.
Tap a marked word for its meaning. Tap a line to see the English.
Grammar
他们本无意研究鱼的行为，却在一次装箱时注意到：放进一条鲶鱼后，鱼群的状态有了变化。They were not trying to study fish behaviour, but during one packing they noticed that adding a catfish changed the state of the group.
无意+中+ Verb Phrase
无意. Accidentally, inadvertently (adverb indicating lack of intention)
后来一位渔民无意中发现了一种奇妙而实用的方法。
Hòulái yí wèi yúmín wúyì zhōng fāxiàn le yì zhǒng qímiào ér shíyòng de fāngfǎ.
Later, a fisherman accidentally discovered a wonderful and practical method.
一个能力相当的新同事，就像运动员遇上决赛前的对手，会让人拿出平时没用上的本事，也会产生新的感想；经过反复实践，才会有更深的体会：竞争有利于挖掘本质上已有的能力。
Subject +有利于+ Object
有利. Beneficial, advantageous (adjective)
适度的压力有利于我们保持良好的状态。
Shìdù de yālì yǒulì yú wǒmen bǎochí liánghǎo de zhuàngtài.
Moderate pressure is beneficial for us to maintain a good state.
不至于+ Verb
不至于. Go so far as to (adverb indicating extent)
在市场中积极参与竞争而不至于落后。
Zài shìchǎng zhōng jījí cānyù jìngzhēng ér bù zhìyú luòhòu.
Actively participate in competition in the market without going so far as to fall behind.
Which word means “to improve, to make sth. better”?
Culture
鲶鱼效应 - The Catfish Effect
The catfish effect is used to explain how moderate competition can sometimes bring energy. If a team stays in an unchanging environment for a long time, members may become used to old methods and stop improving on their own. Competition, however, should not become mutual harm, and it should not pursue only short term results. A healthy environment should give people both pressure and support, and place shared progress above individual winning and losing.
Write the new characters
0 of 12 written
丁 from 沙丁鱼 · sardine
Practice
8 questions · about 4 minutes
Pick the meaningListenFill the gapMatchWord order
Finish
Finish the practice to complete this lesson.