世界各地的人都会通过讲故事来消遣、教育孩子、铭记人或事，或是单纯地打发时间。

People everywhere have told stories to amuse, to teach, to remember, and just to pass the time.

youdao

你可能会发现一部电影、一个游戏、一本书都可以作为很好的消遣，来打发一个漫长的午后。 但是如果某小说作家是你的朋友，那你定会去读他的书来打发时间。

You might find a film, a game, and a book to be equally usefuldiversions on a slow afternoon, but if the novel’s author is a pal of yours, that’s the one you’ll pick.

youdao

我们通过无聊的消遣打发时间表。

We killed our time by those frivolous pastimes.

youdao