Donny在北京學漢語,他的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞,就會來請教他。今天是吳瓊要問的:菜鳥。
WQ: Donny! 我買了最新的 iPhone耶!
Donny: Wow, you got the latest iPhone? How do you like it?
WQ: 很喜歡啊!就是不太會用。我還是個菜鳥。咦?菜鳥英文怎么說?
Donny: 菜鳥的英文是 newbie.
WQ: Newbie? New是新的,所以newbie就是菜鳥的意思。
Donny: That's right. But don't worry. Everyone has to start out as a newbie.
WQ: 我需要有個人指點我一下, give me...eh....give me....
Donny: A few pointers?
WQ: 沒錯,就是這個詞。pointer is spelled p-o-i-n-t-e-r, pointer 是指點,建議的意思。I need someone to give me a few pointers on how to find the coolest iPhone apps. 我想知道怎么去找最酷的iPhone應用。
Donny: I have an iPhone. I can show you the ropes.
WQ: 你就有iPhone?太好了。不過,你剛剛說 You can show me the ropes. 意思是你可以教我對不對?
Donny: You guessed right! To show someone the ropes means to explain to someone how to do a job or activity.
WQ: 可是,這跟 rope 繩子又有什么關系呢?
Donny: A long time ago sailors had to learn how to control the ropes to set sail. Learning the ropes was a beginner's lesson for sailors. So to show someone the ropes means to show someone the basics of doing something.
WQ: 我明白了,以前新水手第一個要學會的就是如何操控繩子。所以,to show someone the ropes 就是教導新手做某件事情。
Donny: Yup! OK, now let's see what you've learned today.
WQ: 第一,菜鳥叫 newbie;
第二,指點某人是 to give somebody a few pointers;
第三,教初學者做某事可以說 to show someone the ropes!