錯誤的「X'mas」離譜的「X''mas」

早先非基督徒對「耶穌基督」並不是稱呼CHRIST 而是以「X」符號代之，所以就用「Xmas」代替了正式的「Christmas」，根本就是一種蔑視的寫法（之前還有人為文，稱使用「X」，是一種尊稱，那絕對是錯誤的！）。

可是因為CHRIST的希臘文是「Xristos，XΡΙΣΤΟΣ」，其第一個字母大寫也是X，基督徒也認為「Xmas」的寫法較簡單，於是就勉強接受了「Xmas」的寫法。

重音符號非縮寫符號

在台灣有些字辭典標出了其重音符號「▍」，寫成「X▍mas」。在台灣（到底是不是日據時代就遺留下來，不可考），不明就裡的就一直誤為是縮寫符號「'」（ 如同of the clock 縮為o'clock，oh! Smile縮寫為o'smile，rock and roll 縮寫為rock'n'roll），於是在台灣就一直流傳著錯誤的「X'mas」。

幾年前有一家汽車公司，於其周年慶時竟然依樣話葫蘆把錯誤的「X'mas」翻版為「＊＊＊＊＊＊'mas」（字尾mas表示節日、節），真是匪夷所思！

近二十年來（第一次發表於《中國時報》75年12月24日）筆者多次呼籲更正，也一直告訴同學以及認識的親朋，社會上雖已逐漸在改正中，不過還是有很大的比例使用錯誤的「X'mas」，尤其是商店的裝飾品、雜誌、報紙上的祝賀詞，以及學生製作的相關賀節資料！

錯誤的「X'mas」不打緊，更有甚者，最近有某節慶晚會海報上，又再多了「'」，變成「X''mas」，就如同畫了一條有四足的蛇，而後又長了兩隻角。

正式場合用Christmas

古之學者求學問的態度是「博學、審問、慎思、明辨、篤行」，時下我們的很多學生凡事不求甚解，真的需要再加把勁了！

「Xmas」的寫法才是正確的，請不要再誤為「X'mas」了！不過「Xmas」的寫法，主要用於商業書信、廣告文宣中，正式場合仍應使用Christmas！


作者為中華技術學院教師 楊禮義

靠幹譙學英文 網友分享吵架必備百句

【高琇芬╱台北報導】學英文方式很多，罵人也是其中之一。台灣大學批踢踢站上有網友分享「英文吵架必備一百句」，不但簡單易學，還有美式俚語的趣味性，引發不少迴響。英文教師說，只要找出有興趣的主題，日常生活隨時都可學英文。

另類學習
張貼網友聲稱，這是美國電視影集《六人行》主角吵架常用句，後雖有網友指正應非出自該影集，仍有不少網友大感興趣，接力補足中文翻譯。這一百句都很簡短有力，如drop dead（去死吧）、get lost（滾開），也有you're just a good for nothing bum（你一無是處）此類帶俚語的趣味句子。網友小美受訪時說：「多學幾句，以後跟男友吵架或許用得上。」

具美式俚語趣味性
看完這一百句後，台灣翻譯學會理事長蘇正隆說，中文翻譯都很好，但嚴格說來，有些不宜用字面直譯，否則會少了美式俚語的趣味性。如what's wrong with you字面意思確是「你怎麼回事」，但可用「你哪根筋有問題」；另如you're a jerk，與其翻成「你是個廢物、混球」，不如改為「你真蠢得可以」。有些則應字面直譯，如you're a joke翻成「你真是個笑話」比「你真是個小丑」更貼切。

漢堡包裝紙當教材
世新大學新聞系講師林紫玉說，學英文吵架句子效果不錯，因有趣而容易記憶；學英文最好方式就是隨時隨地學習，如招牌、看板、捷運路標甚至麥當勞包裝紙上都有中英對照，可隨處學習。
政治大學英語系教授吳信鳳說，學英語最重要的是興趣，如喜歡《哈利波特》，就把英文版分頁影印後攜帶閱讀，喜歡舞蹈或外國明星，就上英文網站閱讀資訊，看英文電影、聽英文歌也都不錯。

英文吵架必備100句舉例
Don't talk to me like that.　別那樣和我說話
Who do you think you are？　你以為你是誰
Don't bother me.　別煩我
How dare you.　你敢
You're a disgrace.　你真丟人
It's none of your business.　關你屁事
You have a lot of nerve.　你臉皮真厚
You're way too far.　你太過分
網友討論網址：台大批踢踢share版（telnet://ptt.cc）

平日學英文的有趣技巧

用餐：如麥當勞漢堡包裝紙就有中英對照，可邊吃邊學。
走路：仔細看招牌、看板上的英文單字，隨時學習。
搭車：把喜歡的中英翻譯對照書或國外明星網站資料列印出來，搭車有空就讀。
看電影：先邊看字幕邊聽對話，再試著不看字幕。
出國旅行：累積基本字彙量，出國旅遊時多與外國人會話。

資料來源：政大英語系教授吳信鳳、世新大學新聞英語講師林紫玉
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
作者: Estrelita (La Solitudine) 看板: share
標題: [趣味] 六人行吵架必備英文一百句
時間: Fri Sep 8 15:20:32 2006

大家可以好好參考一下，
下次跟男女朋友吵架來點新花樣吧!!
----------------------------------------------------------

1. You make me sick! 你真讓我噁心！
2. What's wrong with you? 你怎麼回事？
3. I'm very disappointed. 真讓我失望。
4. You shouldn't have done that! 你真不應該那樣做!
5. You're a jerk! 你是個廢物/混球！
6. Don't talk to me like that! 別那樣和我說話!
7. Who do you think you are? 你以為你是誰？
8. What's your problem? 你怎麼回事啊？
9. I hate you! 我討厭你！
10. I don't want to see your face! 我不願再見到你！

11. You're crazy! 你瘋了!
12. Are you insane/crazy/out of your mind? 你瘋了嗎？（美國人絕對常用）
13. Don't bother me. 別煩我。
14. Knock it off. 少來這一套。
15. Get out of my face. 從我面前消失！
16. Leave me alone. 走開。
17. Get lost.滾開！
18. Take a hike! 哪兒涼快哪兒歇著去吧。
19. You piss me off. 你氣死我了。
20. It's none of your business. 關你屁事！

21. What's the meaning of this? 這是什麼意思？
22. How dare you! 你敢！
23. Cut it out. 省省吧。
24. You stupid jerk! 你這蠢豬！
25. You have a lot of nerve. 臉皮真厚。
26. I'm fed up. 我厭倦了。
27. I can't take it anymore. 我受不了了！（常用）
28. I've had enough of your garbage. 我聽膩了你的廢話。
29. Shut up! 閉嘴！
30. What do you want? 你想怎麼樣？

31. Do you know what time it is? 你知道現在都幾點嗎？
32. What were you thinking? 你腦子進水啊？
33. How can you say that? 你怎麼可以這樣說？
34. Who says? 誰說的？
35. That's what you think! 那才是你腦子?想的！
36. Don't look at me like that. 別那樣看著我。
37. What did you say? 你說什麼？
38. You are out of your mind. 你腦子有毛病！
39. You make me so mad.你氣死我了啦。
40. Drop dead. 去死吧！

41. Don't give me your sh*t. 別跟我胡扯。
42. Don't give me your excuses/ No more excuses. 別找藉口。
43. Nonsense! 鬼話！
44. You're a pain in the ass. 你這討厭鬼。
45. You're an asshole. 你這缺德鬼。
46. You asked for it. 你自找的。
47. Get over yourself. 別自以為是。
48. You're nothing to me. 你對我什麼都不是。
49. It's not my fault. 不是我的錯。
50. You look guilty. 你看起來心虛。

51. I can't help it. 我沒辦法。
52. That's your problem. 那是你的問題。
53. I don't want to hear it. 我不想聽！
54. Get off my back. 少跟我囉嗦。
55. Give me a break. 饒了我吧。
56. Who do you think you're talking to? 你以為你在跟誰說話？
57. Look at this mess! 看看這爛攤子！
58. You're so careless. 你真粗心。
59. Why on earth didn't you tell me the truth? 你到底為什麼不跟我說實話？
60. I'm about to explode! 我肺都快要氣炸了！

61. What a stupid idiot! 真是白癡一個！
62. I'm not going to put up with this! 我再也受不了啦！
63. I never want to see your face again! 我再也不要見到你！
64. That's terrible. 真糟糕！
65. Just look at what you've done! 看看你都做了些什麼！
66. I wish I had never met you. 我真後悔這輩子遇到你！
67. You're a disgrace. 你真丟人！
68. I'll never forgive you! 我永遠都不會饒恕你！
69. Don't nag me! 別在我面前嘮叨！
70. I'm sick of it. 我都膩了。

71. Don't you dare come back again! 你敢再回來！
72. Stop screwing/fooling/ messing around! 別鬼混了！
73. Mind your own business! 管好你自己的事！
74. You're just a good for nothing bum! 你真是一個廢物！/ 你一無是處！
75. You've gone too far! 你太過分了！
76. I loathe you! 我討厭你！
77. I detest you! 我恨你！
78. Get the hell out of here! 滾開!
79. Don't be that way! 別那樣！
80. Can't you do anything right? 成事不足，敗事有餘。

81. You're impossible. 你真不可救藥。
82. Don't touch me! 別碰我！
83. Get away from me! 離我遠一點兒！
84. Get out of my life. 我不願再見到你。/ 從我的生活中消失吧。
85. You're a joke! 你真是一個小丑！
86. Don't give me your attitude. 別跟我擺架子。
87. You'll be sorry. 你會後悔的。
88. We're through. 我們完了！
89. Look at the mess you've made! 你搞得一團糟！
90. You've ruined everything. 全都讓你搞砸了。

91. I can't believe your never. 你好大的膽子！
92. You're away too far. 你太過分了。
93. I can't take you any more! 我再也受不了你啦！
94. I'm telling you for the last time! 我最後再告訴你一次！
95. I could kill you! 我宰了你！
96. That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard! 那是我聽到的最愚蠢的事！
97. I can't believe a word you say. 我才不信你呢!
98. You never tell the truth！ 你從來就不說實話！
99. Don't push me ! 別逼我！
100. Enough is enough! 夠了夠了！

<網站介紹>The Fruit Book

介紹數十種水果，有圖也有該水果的簡介。

裡面沒有wax apple.

<網站介紹>英語動畫文法

Guess a lot of people here knew the site.

Mouse potato

這個字已出現好一陣子了，但因為這陣子剛好教小朋友們couch potato，所以到韋氏網路字典查字時，才被這個名詞吸引住。

定義: a person who spends a great deal of time using a computer

Although I don't spend a lot of my time in front of the computer as much as I did a year ago, I still consider myself a mouse potato. I really cannot live without it.

這個名詞的中文翻譯有蠻多種的，有的是直譯為「滑鼠馬鈴薯」，或有人翻成「網蟲」，而將couch potato譯為「電視蟲」。我個人較喜歡「電腦迷」，和「電視迷」。

哈啦雙語週報 #294--表達「鼓掌」、「歡迎」的十句話

englishbaby有一期slang介紹了第五種用法(要看前期的詳細內容需成為超級會員)，我還依稀記得俚語的解釋內容，大意是說他小時候常聽到老師講give it up for xxx，然後隨之而來的即是一堆掌聲，長大之後才知道是鼓掌的意思。

表達「鼓掌」、「歡迎」的十句話

1. Let's give him a big hand!
讓我們給他一個熱烈的掌聲！

2. Let's have a nice round of applause for our hero!
給我們的英雄一個熱情的掌聲！

3. Let's hear it for our special guest!
讓我們用掌聲歡迎我們的特別來賓！

4. Put your hands together for our superstar Jay Chou!(Felicia:常聽到Local King Mr. 吳講"Put your hands together"，以為是亂說的……。)
掌聲歡迎我們的超級巨星周杰倫！

5. Let's give it up for Queen of Pop Madonna!
讓我們以熱烈的掌聲歡迎流行天后瑪丹娜！

6. Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the wonderful Mr. Brown.
各位先生女士，請歡迎了不起的伯朗先生。

7. Let's show our warmest welcome to our dear friends.
讓我們向親愛的朋友們展現最熱誠的歡迎。

8. Let's give him a great ovation.
讓我們給他一個熱烈的歡迎。

9. Ladies and gentleman, B. B. King!
各位先生女士，比比金！

10. Let's show our appreciation to our special guest here today.
讓我們向今天的特別來賓表達我們的謝意。

[TIMEasia]Asia's Overscheduled Kids

現在的小孩子真的很忙，學這個學那個，是啊，到底父母親是為他們的成功預做準備還是給他們排山倒海的壓力呢？

Asia's Overscheduled Kids

Forget about playtime. Children today are caught up in an endless race of extra tuition sessions, tennis classes, piano lessons, late-night homework and much, much more. Are we preparing them for success or overloading them with stress?

BY LIAM FITZPATRICK

The "E.M.B.A." program that kicks off on a Sunday morning in the heart of Shanghai's financial district is much like any other curriculum designed to train the future business leaders of China. "We give students the tools they need to build up their confidence," says Vivian Liu, general manager of the popular two-year-old program, which has seen 1,500 participants pass through its doors. But the difference between Liu's course and others is this: when the demands of subjects like economics or communications get too taxing, her students might just respond by having a good cry and asking for their mommies. How so? They're children. The e in this E.M.B.A. program stands not for executive but early, and the oldest student in the class is age 6. Civil servant He Jiachen sends his 3-year-old, He Xingzhen, to the E.M.B.A. course while he and his wife pursue their own adult M.B.A.s. "My son is developing well," he says. "In class, he isn't afraid of giving speeches, and he likes to be a team leader in group activities."

High expectations for children are nothing new in China, where the need to master the thousands of characters necessary for basic literacy?oupled with the educational legacy of Confucius?as turned many an inquisitive, bright-eyed student into a sullen rote learner. But the pressure on even the youngest children is intensifying as their parents embrace the notion that education is a primary driver of the kind of upward mobility that was previously unthinkable in China. Eager to provide their kids with a head start, Chinese parents are signing them up for everything from weekend prep courses for under-sixes to boarding schools for toddlers. And we mean toddlers: for $700 a month parents can send children as young as 3 years old to the Hualan International Village Kindergarten in the port city of Tianjin, where they live full-time in landscaped villas outfitted with 42-inch plasma TVs and pianos.

But given that roughly 60% of Chinese families in major cities now spend one-third of their income on children's education, parents are expecting results, not just luxurious surroundings. Li Hongbin's 5-year-old daughter, Xu Yunqiao, attends a private nursery school in Beijing, where she studies from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., five days a week. It isn't enough. Concerned that their children weren't being prepared for the admissions tests at the city's better elementary schools, Li and other parents recently campaigned for play times to be trimmed to make way for more study?nd got their wish. Li also started sending her daughter to after-school and weekend classes in reading, math and music. A generation ago, few Chinese 6-year-olds knew how to read or do basic arithmetic. Today, top primary schools expect matriculating students to know at least 1,000 characters and their multiplication tables. Her daughter "has 100 math problems to do a week," marvels Li. "She can do rapid calculations in her head." But she worries that these skills may come at an emotional cost. "It's really terrifying," Li says, of Yunqiao's packed schedule. "We don't know if this makes sense, but we have no choice."

.......More

英語吉祥話

新年新氣象:All the best for the coming new year.
心想事成:May all your dreams come true for the coming new year.
願你新年夢想成真:Best wishes for the new year.
願你有個超級好年:Wish you have a superb new year.

年菜中翻英
鮑魚 Abalone
魚翅 Shark fin
蚵乾 Preserved oyster
海參 Sea cucumber
干貝 Dried scallop
蓮子 Lotus seeds
竹笙 Bamboo shoots

Update:有網友來信:"英語吉祥話中的竹笙好像應該是bamboo fungus"。這篇文章是年初時，蘋果日報邀候佩岑教大家英語吉祥話的內容(右下方有此篇文章來源，但蘋果日報改版，已經不能瀏覽該篇文章了）。


http://www.inu.org/meiwah/page37.htm

The next two characters (竹笙) are not actually bamboo shoots but bamboo fungus - an edible fungus. (This omission may have been deliberate; "fungus" on a menu scares the Western customers away.)