症结（名词）

(noun) The central, most critical feature of something, such as a problem.

EXAMPLE: The lack of fertile soil for sustainable agriculture is the crux of the remote mountainous region’s chronic economic difficulties.

缺乏发展可持续农业的肥沃土壤是这一遥远山区经济长期困难的症结所在。

pester power

儿童消费力（小孩缠着父母买东西的能力）（俚语）

(SLANG) The ability of children to pester their reluctant parents into doing something, such as buying a particular toy.

EXAMPLE: Several times a day the boy mentioned the expensive video game to his poor mom, hoping that pester power could convince her to buy it for him.

这个男孩一天好几次向他可怜的妈妈说起这款昂贵的视频游戏，希望用他的纠缠能力逼妈妈为他购买。