A little boy's toy car is missing. He asks his mom where it is, and she tells him to ask his dad. Then he asks his dad, who tells him to ask his mom instead. It's not uncommon that we see two parties shift responsibilities for something to one another. In Chinese, this behavior is … Continue reading pass the buck / 甩鍋 / 踢皮球
Category: Expressions
[usually with negative] find fault with something that has been received as a gift or favor: They did not look a gift horse in the mouth when the opportunity for victory presented itself. [earlier as "look a given horse in the mouth" –– prospective purchasers would often inspect the condition of a horse's teeth.]
Phrases about "hand" – at hand, in hand, on hand, out of hand, and to hand.
Standard of Living vs. Quality of Life: What's the Difference? Amy Fontinelle Source: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-theory/08/standard-of-living-quality-of-life.asp Standard of living refers to the level of wealth, comfort, material goods and necessities available to a certain socioeconomic class or geographic area. Quality of life, on the other hand, is a subjective term that can measure happiness. The two terms … Continue reading Standard of Living / 生活水平 vs. Quality of Life / 生活質量
中文直譯是很多同學在英文寫作時常常採取的策略, 但由此產生的錯誤不勝枚舉. 其中一個重要的原因就是, 英文詞彙和中文詞彙並不是一一對等、一一映射的關係. 中文的「身體」一詞, 本意指生物的「骨頭」「血肉」「器官」等「生理構造」, 抽象意義為「身體的健康狀況」. 本意: 不要碰我的身體! | 人體 (人類的身體) 很複雜. 抽象意義: 她一直身體不好 (不是她的「生理構造」不好, 而是她的「健康狀況」不好). | 喝太多濃茶傷身體 (不是傷害「生理構造」, 而是損害「健康狀況」). 而英文的 body. 本意指生物的「骨頭」「血肉」「器官」等「生理構造」, 引申意為「屍體」, 抽象意義為「事物的主體」. 但並沒有「身體的健康狀況」這層意思. 本意: Don't touch my body. | The human body is very complex. 引申意: The police are trying to identify the (dead) body washed up near the river. 抽象意義: … Continue reading 「好身體」和「身體好」, 是 good body 和 body is good 嗎?
