3H English Studio

諧音字與同音字

2012-02-01T22:51:00.000+08:00

homophone 指的是同音字,
例如 bare/bear, fair/fare, night/knight, light/lite? ...

那諧音字的英文是什麼?

quasi-homophone?

Brussel/brothel
fatal/veto
April/apple
Newt Gingrich/new linguage

樓梯間的英文

2012-01-29T22:15:00.000+08:00

樓梯間英文怎麼說?
網路上找了幾次發現兩個說法
stairwell : 頗符合從樓梯間往下望的感覺
staircase : 想想 briefcase, treasure case

stair 是台階,
台階連成的路就是'樓梯' stairway / staircase

stairway to heaven/hell

go upstairs 上樓
go downstairs 下樓

那樓梯扶手英文怎麼說?
--> handrail, railing, rail

hold the handrail
hold to the handrail
hold on to the handrail
grasp the handrail

台北捷運常廣播:
"When taking the escalator, please stand on the right and hold the handrail firmly..."
//===
a flight of stairs 一段階梯
After climbing up a flight of stairs, i found the temple over the hill.

為何用'flight'?

就像
a cup of coffee
a glass of water
一匹布, 一頭牛, 一碗飯, ...

[ref]
http://som.twbbs.org/klee/notebook/note106.htm

諧音字

2012-01-17T18:00:00.000+08:00

中文字常出現諧音的情形
棗子/早生貴子
蘋果/平平安安
...

英文裡的諧音字
不雅的例子 : sheet/shit

spreadsheet -> spread shit
cheatsheet -> cheat shit

Normally cheatsheet is not cheating but cheat shit?

The student's spreadsheet is just created for spreading shit?

Obama job insourcing

2012-01-13T23:24:00.000+08:00

美國也快要大選了?
最近聽NPR radio, 常聽到job insourcing 這個詞彙

相對job insourcing 就是常說的 job outsourcing
job outsourcing 本意泛指(大)企業將工作 '外包'
給其他(小)公司/工作室/個人 , 雙方為契約關係而非勞雇關係
有著彈性, 節省勞健退等人事開支的優點

但對美國企業而言outsourcing 通常指
跨國外包(job outsourcing overseas)
除了考量他國薪資水平較低兼顧在地服務之外
主要是為了節稅(tax saving)?

不過美國失業率近幾年都在高檔
Obama 在選舉的壓力下提出了 job insourcing 的口號/政策?
希望透過租稅假期(tax holiday/tax break)
鼓勵企業將外包至國外的工作轉回美國國內
...
repatriation 這個字就是歸國/重回祖國懷抱/被遣送回國...
repatriation tax
repatriation holiday
repatriation tax holiday
repatriation tax break
tax break

其實2004年美國國會(Congress) 就曾通過
repatriation tax holiday(稅率可從35%降到5%?)
鼓勵企業將國外收益匯回國內但須依規定用於特定用途
不過有法有洞事後看來似乎沒能達到提振就業市場的效果
政府減徵的賦稅流到了企業的荷包裡 ...

Obama 此番提出job insourcing 與相應的賦稅配套措施
能否奏效? 或者根本就是口號一方面拉攏大企業
一方面討好選民 ...

[ref]
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203633104576623771022129888.html

http://www.local10.com/news/The-Latest-Headlines-from-CNN-Radio-and-the-CNN-Wire/-/1717324/7815792/-/tvf9o6z/-/

http://cdict.net/?q=repatriation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsourcing
http://money.cnn.com/2012/01/11/news/economy/obama_jobs_insourcing/index.htm

Stupid is as stupid does

2011-12-24T23:41:00.000+08:00

在某個線上英語補習班的廣告看到這句話,
上網找了一會兒
發現是電影阿甘正傳(Forrest Gump)裡的名言，
Q："Are you stupid or something?"
A："Stupid is as stupid does."

The mother teaches her slow-witted son how to respond to others' teasing.

Stupid is as stupid does.
Pretty is as pretty does.
Beauty is as beauty does.

[拙譯]
蠢因蠢行
美由美舉

//===
除了以"行為"來判斷一個人
也有以"動機"/"心"來判斷
像是其心可誅/蛇蠍心腸/不懷好意 ...
英文該怎麼說呢?

[ref]
http://www.wretch.cc/blog/becareful/6248727
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_meaning_of_the_saying_'stupid_is_stupid_does'

showdown and dog run

2011-11-15T23:22:00.000+08:00

google finance news 列出了數則關於 Obama 推動的美國健保法的新聞
發現兩個關鍵詞 : showdown 與 dog run(dog-run)

"Supreme Court: Pre-election health care showdown"
"Obama health law case could dog run"

showdown 攤牌/亮出底牌決勝負
(從撲克牌遊戲來的辭彙, 指最後時刻將覆蓋的底牌(down cards)掀開(show off) 決勝敗)

dog run : "a fenced off area where dog can get exercise and be kept confined"
指圍籬圈起來讓狗狗運動的區域 ...
那 "Obama health law case could dog run" 到底何意?

[ref]
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-dog-run.htm
http://www.smh.com.au/world/obama-health-law-case-could-dog-run-20111115-1nh7y.html

黑色星期五與Black Friday

2011-11-09T18:30:00.000+08:00

當看到 Black Friday 時直接聯想到13號星期五還有股市大跌的星期五,
不過看了 http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/11/04/unemployed-and-eager-to-shop-on-black-friday-for-you/ 的上下文之後發現應該另有所指.
google 搜尋發現 Black Friday 指的是感恩節的隔天
傳統上象徵了聖誕節購物旺季的開始.

Laurice Black, a striving single mother, posted ad on Craigslist to promote her shopping services hoping to gain more customers in the coming Black Friday and Christmas shopping season.

那 Craigslist 是什麼呢? 跟 Cray computer 沒關係

摘錄自 http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/craigslist :
"
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free online classified advertisements – with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services,
...
"

簡單來說 Craigslist 就是一個可以免費貼廣告的網站?
其中關於 Personals 的廣告已變成尋找約會/艷遇/性/... 的線上管道

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/11/04/unemployed-and-eager-to-shop-on-black-friday-for-you/
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/craigslist

rooster, rookie, root

2011-10-21T23:15:00.000+08:00

//===
rooster : 公雞 === cock
cockerel : 未滿一歲的小公雞

//=== rookie :
菜鳥, 初入行者, 剛入伍者?
第一年打NBA/MLB/NFL/... 的球員
This year, NBA rookies are unlucky.
Because of the lockout, they have no game to play
and no salary ?

The first overall pick/ The first pick overall (選秀狀元)

//===
root : 根

Where there is root, there is leaf.
Root and leaf rely on each other
just like light and dark.
火影

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_first_overall_NBA_draft_picks

RIP

2011-10-14T22:25:00.000+08:00

RIP : Rest In Peace
RIP : Routing Information Protocol

rip
(n) 巨浪, 裂痕
(v) 撕開, 切開

[ref]
http://cdict.net/q/rip

Reverse split

2011-10-13T23:01:00.000+08:00

"...
A reverse stock split is also called a stock merge
...
A reverse split is the opposite of a stock split.
...
"

stock split 就是把股票分割, 例如一百股變兩百股, 股價就會減半;
reverse split 就是相反, 兩百股變一百股, 股價變兩倍.

Reverse stock split 可能是為了提高股價, 有些雞蛋/水餃股(penny stock)
為了讓股價回升會採此方法; 也有可能為了集中籌碼將一些零股(?)洗出來 ...

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_stock_split

Obituary for Steve Jobs on Apple.com

2011-10-06T23:15:00.000+08:00

[ http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/ ]
『
Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.
Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend
and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built,
and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.
』

//=== 拙譯
世界殞落一位驚才絕豔
頻果失去兼具遠見與創意的天才

有幸與Steve共事相識者同悲摯友明師之逝

哲人遠行留下非他不成的頻果傳奇
精神長存永為頻果基石

Koala, Kangaroo

2011-10-02T11:40:00.000+08:00

Koala : /ko 'al./ 無尾熊
Kangaroo : /kaen g. r'oo/ 袋鼠
Australia: />s tr'ae lia/

Koala與kangaroo 兩者的重音都不在第一音節, 跟 Australia 一樣

Koala and kangaroo are famous animals from Australia.
Neither koala nor kangaroo has accent/stress on the first syllable.

Kiwi is a famous fruit from New Zealand.

import, export and deport are important

2011-09-21T23:03:00.001+08:00

明年美國也要選總統歐巴馬面對幾項難題
首先是舉債上限(debt ceiling)問題
僵持數月終究如外界預期的通過了提高debt ceiling的法案 ...
還有
赤字問題
失業/就業問題
非法移民問題
...

考量非白人族群選票及移民族群帶來的經貿活動
包含了進出口 import/export
使得歐巴馬放寬了對非法移民的驅逐政策(deportation policy)?

import 除了指'進口'外, 也指'重要'
所以就衍生出形容詞 important?

//=== port 的聯想
port 中文可翻成埠 (音'布' 而非 '舖')
'行走的雞毛撢子'中有幾個關鍵詞香溪,七里埠,水碼頭, 撢子, ...

passport : the certificate to pass the port(airport / seaport?)

portable: 前些年3C產品滿流行的詞,指輕巧,可攜式的裝置, 像是PDA, 小筆電,
這兩年變成了mobile, pad, tablet ;
在軟體上則指程式庫可轉換到另一種作業平台, 轉換的動作叫porting,
如果程式庫是跨平台(cross-platform) , 理想的狀況是不需porting 就可正常動作 ...

電路學上則常見 two-port circuit model

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-port_network
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Circuit_Theory/Two_Port_Networks

//===
"...
President Obama's new policy on deporting illegal immigrants won't just help those immigrants without criminal records. It could help Obama as well
...
"
[ http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2011/08/obamas-deportation-policy-smart-politics-/1 ]

"
... said Tuesday that President Barack Obama's uncle Onyango Obama should be deported from the United States after being arrested last week on drunk driving charges.
...
"
[ http://www.drudge.com/news/148129/brown-deport-obamas-uncle ]

董事長的英文

2011-08-26T15:48:00.000+08:00

這兩天頻果的Steve Jobs 辭去執行長（CEO, chief executive officer）職務
但仍續任頻果董事長（chairman of the board),
CEO 將由原來的營運長（COO, chief operating officer）Tim Cook 接任.

board 此處指董事會： board of directors,
director 指 "董事" , 直譯就是指揮別人辦事者.
一群想指揮別人辦事的人湊在一起開會就變成董事會,
董事會裡坐大位的（chairman, chairperson）就是董事會主席也就是董事長.

那總裁（president）跟董事長有何不同呢？

Steve Jobs stepped down from the position of CEO of a sudden？ also of a legendary success
in IT industry. He will still serve as chairman of the board.

*董事是 director, 那監事呢？ --> supervisor, 監事湊在一起 board of supervisors

*比較特別的是委員會英文用committee, 委員則是"委員會的成員" -> member of a committee
是否可以用 delegate 指委員呢？委員會是否就變成 board of delegates?

[ref]
http://www.macrumors.com/2011/08/24/steve-jobs-resigns-as-apple-ceo/
http://www.nciku.cn/search/zh/detail/%E8%91%A3%E4%BA%8B%E4%BC%9A/1303409

不發音的b,t

2011-08-24T21:37:00.000+08:00

//=== 以下字中及字尾的b不發音
debt
dumb
womb
tomb
pumb
bomb

//=== 以下字中的t不發音
often
fasten

//=== 但以下字中的b,t要發音
debit
bombard
after
enlighten

debt ceiling 舉債上限

2011-08-24T18:16:00.000+08:00

前一陣子新聞常提到的辭彙 : debt ceiling 舉債上限
聯想到NBA/MLB ... 的薪資上限 : salary cap
salary cap 有針對單一球員也有限制整個球隊的
主要是避免某些球隊用銀彈策略高薪挖角例如Y隊 ...

說到ceiling , 原意指天花板
相反詞就是地板 : floor
數學裏有兩個取整數值的函數就叫ceiling 與 floor

職場裏看不見的天花板 : glass ceiling
The glass ceiling is invisible but will hurt those people
who dare jump to hit it.

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salary_cap
『
In professional sports, a salary cap (or wage cap) is a limit on the amount of money a team can spend on player salaries. The limit exists as a per-player limit or a total limit for the team's roster, or both. ...
』

Disclaimer (免責聲明 )

2011-08-16T23:05:00.004+08:00

Disclaimer

免責聲明

hangout, handout, printout

2011-08-06T18:43:00.000+08:00

//=== hangout
Google+ Hangout
hangout Hotel
hangout music festival
...
hangout 是個俚語 : 相聚消磨時光放輕鬆 ; 邊走邊喝/吃 ...

hang (v)
有個嚴肅的用法就是處以絞刑/把..吊死;
一般則指懸掛

to hang the murderer : 將殺人犯處以絞刑
The murderer was "hanged" in the morning at the market?

to hang a flag on sth.
The flag has been "hung" on the wall for the past few weeks.

//=== handout, printout
100 copies of printout were taken to the conference for handout.

The charity organization accepts handout from various channels including internet donation.

//=== fallout
After the longsome standoff of debt ceiling, it falls out that the stock index falls off as soon as Obama announce the deal ...

//=== fadeout == phase-out ?

//=== bailout, leave out, ...

[ref]
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hang%20out

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hang+out
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/fall+out

七夕情人節

2011-08-04T00:15:00.000+08:00

七夕情人節: 中國的情人節 , Chinese Valentine's Day
牛郎與織女因觸犯天條受罰每年只有七夕能夠相見
藉著喜鵲成橋渡銀河相聚

喜鵲 :magpie, pica?
銀河: the Milky Way (: 從英文直接翻回來就變成 "奶道"/"乳化道" :)
銀河系: Galaxy
銀河 == 銀河系?

//===
鵲橋相會悲喜交集
情深緣淺還君明珠

Yearly meeting on Pica bridge
Mixing tears and smile on lunar July 7
Deep love but no matching karma
Return pearl without a word but my heart

//===
中國有七世夫妻的傳說
牛郎織女為其中一世 (第一世?)
The cowboy and the weaving maid are said as the first generation of
the seven times of reincarnation.

十年修得同船度
百年修得共枕眠
七世夫妻得修七百年!

怎麼修?
很多佛教團體都在修
為何修?
大部分說解脫輪迴離苦得樂

個人沒聽過說要修七世夫妻的 ...
不過沒說未必不想想了未必會作
做了不一定能成成了搞不好就想解脫
這就叫輪迴? ...

望生生世世結髮相伴
wanna be hinged with you "life after life."

//=== Samsara and Nirvana(梵文譯音) 輪迴和涅槃
"
Samsara and nirvana are nothing but different

manifestations of a basic continuum.
So this continuity of consciousness is always present.
~The Dalai Lama
"

//=== 修行的英文 :
to practice Buddhism or Taoism according to the (religious) doctrines
似乎和中文的"修行" 不太一樣
或許該說中文的"修行"二字比較廣義/模糊
英文的解釋比較明確可能也比較貼近佛教的本意 ...
帶髮修行的英文:
to practice Buddhism without tonsure

[ref]
http://taiwanpedia.culture.tw/web/content?ID=11709
http://blog.udn.com/meatball2/2574566
http://www.english.com.tw/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=24699
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/spring-9801942/article?mid=191&sc=1

輪迴
http://www.english.com.tw/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2544&forum=22&post_id=9298
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=497465480024
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/buddhism-english/article?mid=139&prev=142&next=139

修行
http://www.nciku.cn/search/zh/detail/%E4%BF%AE%E8%A1%8C/47581
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tonsure

outpatient , inpatient and impatient

2011-07-07T13:01:00.000+08:00

///== patient, patience
patient /p'ei sh.nt/ 當名詞(n) 指病患, 當形容詞(adj) 指有耐心的
outpatient /'aut -/ 門診病患
inpatient /'in-/ 住院病患
impatient /im p'ei sh.nt/ (adj) 沒耐心的

inpatient (n) 重音在第一音節
impatient (adj) 重音在第二音節
重音轉換顯現實用的目的 ...

[example]
The impatient outpatient went to the clinic , became an inpatient later
and finally lost all his patience to death.

//=== ward 可以指病房
outwards
inwards

//=== let
outlet
inlet

let it be

canoe

2011-07-01T18:27:00.000+08:00

canoe /k.n'u/ : 獨木舟
發音有點像可怒

oe 讓我聯想到
manoeuver == maneuver

kayak /k'ai aek/ 也是獨木舟?

[ref]
http://www.tpecanoe.com/news
www.kayaker.org.tw

unintention and inattention

2011-07-01T18:25:00.001+08:00

"
Increasingly, it's the chief financial officer (CFO) who has direct oversight of the IT department and IT-related spending, but it turns out the CFO has a low opinion of the CIO and the entire IT group.
...
CIO wannabees told to think outside the box
...
"
[試譯]
越來越多的公司由財務長(CFO)直轄資訊長(CIO) 也就是資訊部門的經費/預算
是由財務長說了算不過調查顯示財務長對所轄資訊部門及資訊長CIO的績效
評價不高 ...

想成為資訊長的人三思? ...

//=== oversight 這個字有多重意義: 勘漏, 督導, 失察, 分權, ...

uninentional omission ? 失察
supervision
separation of power

//=== wannabe
wannabe : slang for "want to be"

貶意, 有點畫虎類犬的意思

//===

unintention : 無意, 不是故意
inattention : lack of attention, carelessness, 沒注意, 不小心

"Inattention is one of the aspects of ADHD that sometimes goes unnoticed."

"Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioral and developmental disorder."

[example]
The agent made a mistake with intentional inattention to gain extra commission.

The programmer made an unintentional mistake due to inattention
which leads to the malfunction of applications and the afterward
punishment from his overseeing director.

[ref]
http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=3D4B9014-1A64-6A71-CE5FF10B6F769DB4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wannabe
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/oversight
http://psychology.about.com/od/psychotherapy/f/faq_wadhd.htm

recession, repression, regression and depression

2011-06-12T12:00:00.000+08:00

recession /ri c'e sh.n/ 經濟衰退
repression /ri pr'e sh.n/ 壓抑抑制

regression /ri gr'e sh.n/ 迴歸

During the economic recssion caused by the world-wide financial crisis,
the poor man's little desire had gone under extreme repression which led
to the regressive depression of his later life.

//===

『... Repression is the unconscious hiding of uncomfortable thoughts.
...』

公視瑰寶1949
劇情中香君因無法承受某種痛苦選擇性的遺忘了年輕時
在南京及渡海來台之初的一段歲月。。。

The actress shows typical repressed memory syndrome which is sometimes
accompanied by false memory syndrom to cover the lost/hidden part of the
painful times.

[ref]
http://changingminds.org/explanations/behaviors/coping/repression.htm
http://www.pts.org.tw/treasure1949/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repressed_memory

公視瑰寶1949

瑰寶1949 主題曲 MV

塑化劑起雲劑乳化劑

2011-06-12T10:30:00.001+08:00

塑化劑 plasticizer
起雲劑 cloudy agent
乳化劑 emulsifier /i 'm^l s.f ai 2r/, xxx emulgent

[Q] emulgent 指利尿劑似乎不是指乳化劑？

＊ Emulsifier is 『 a surface-active agent that promotes the formation of an emulsion 』 --> 那 emulsion 又是指什麼呢？

＊ Emulsifier is a food additive 『 that prevents separation of sauces or other processed foods 』

＊ surface-active agent 就是『介面活性劑』, 聽說沙拉脫也是一種 surface-active agent？

＊ food additive 泛指食品添加物/劑

＊食物要原味的但原味通常平淡無味所以要加 food additive or relish(調味料)
food additive可能為了增味 /增色 /混香 /營養 /...
還是要天然的好
那 emulsifier(乳化劑) 這種fook additive 要達成什麼功能呢？
增加黏稠度？像太白粉勾芡？

天然的乳化劑 : natural emulsifier --> egg

人造的乳化劑 : artificial emulsifier
化學合成的乳化劑 : synthetic emulsifier
複方乳化劑 : composite emulsifier

『... Nature's emulsifiers are proteins and phospholipids (lipids means fat soluble phosphate is water soluble). Egg is commonly used as an emulsifier ...』

[ref]
http://www.fda.gov.tw/content.aspx?site_content_sn=2507
http://vovo2000.com/phpbb2/viewtopic-346349.html
http://chuvivian.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Emulsifiers
http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/emulsifiers.html

MO , Joplin

2011-05-30T22:28:00.001+08:00

美國密蘇理州(MO, Missouri State), 賈斯柏郡(Jasper County), 賈柏林市(Joplin city)
2011.05.22 發生龍捲風(tornado) 造成重大傷亡

Joplin 市出產鋅(zinc)礦, 2009年人口五萬餘人
...

Joplin 的發音使人聯想到默劇大師 Chaplin
Charles Spencer Chaplin

tornado, tsunami, typhoon, ...

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joplin,_Missouri

spooky and spoofy

2011-05-28T16:41:00.001+08:00

spooky 從 spook 這個字來
spook 可以指鬼魂(ghost)/間諜(spy)/ 黑人(俚語輕視/貶抑的用法)
spooky 指的就是讓人感覺毛毛的陰森森的 ...

spoof (n,v) 指嘲弄式模仿通常是開玩笑或為了戲劇效果
在資訊安全中則類似 the man in the middle
指駭客透過竄改 TCP/IP 封包的來源位址或標頭(header)
來瞞騙接收方 ...

不過 spoofy 似乎不是從spoof來而是從 spiffy 來?

『... A word used to exclaim something awesome and unique.

... "By GOD that is the most spooftacular thing I have ever seen, it's SPOOFY" ...
』

[ref]

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=spoofy

relative, relation, relatioship

2011-05-28T16:08:00.001+08:00

這三個字都與原形(型?)動詞relate有關
relative 當形容詞時指相關的/相對的(而非絕對的)/對應的/...
當名詞則指親戚/相關性/相對性

relative 衍生出另一個很有名的字彙
relativity
愛因斯坦的相對論
...

relate -> relative -> relativity
的轉變是一個典型的詞類變化模式
在這個過程中其重音也發生變化
...

我始終搞不清楚
relation和relation-ship 的關係
...

[重音規則]
原型動詞詞類變化轉為形容詞/名詞時
常會發生重音移位或者重音字母發音改變的現象 ...

[v] relate /ril'ei t/
[a] relative /r'e l.tiv/ 重音移位到第一音節改發反3的ㄟ音
[n] relation /ri 'lei sh.n/ , relationship

[v] derive /d.r'ai v/
[a] derivative /d.r'i v.tiv/ 重音位置未變但改發短音的一
[n] derivation /der.'v ei sh.n/

[v] alter /'>lt.r/ 重音在第一音節
[a,n] alternative />l 't3r n.tiv/ 重音在第二音節
[n] alternation />lt.r 'nei sh.n/ 重音在第三音節

Sex scandal

2011-05-23T22:35:00.000+08:00

最近國外有兩件性醜聞(sex scandal)
新聞報的頗大
[沒搜尋到有人用sexual scandal]
一是IMF(International Monetary Fund) 主席
Dominique Strauss-Kahn [ Strauss-Kahn 是他的姓 ]
因涉嫌性侵在紐約被捕以高額保釋金交保

The IMF chief/chairman lost his chair because of the sex scandal.

另一位就是以魔鬼終結者(Terminator)系列電影走紅
曾任加州州長(governor of California)的
Arnold Schwarzenegger
傳出與前任女管家私通並育有一個14歲的兒子
...

//=== 之前比較大條的性醜聞
Tiger Woods 前高爾夫球王
Kobe Bryant 湖人隊主將數枚NBA總冠軍戒指
Michael Jordan 前公牛隊主將多枚NBA總冠軍戒指

...

Suffocating defense in NBA

2011-05-23T22:14:00.000+08:00

今年2011 NBA東區決賽出現久違的高潮
後喬丹時代
頂著史上季賽[regular season]最年輕MVP頭銜的
Derrick Rose 領軍
聯盟最佳戰績的公牛隊
在季後賽[playoff] 過關斬將
帶著主場優勢進入東區決賽[Eastern Conference Final]

第一戰出人意外的以超過20分的差距
澆熄了熊熊熱火

志在總冠軍戒指 BJW 三王連線的熱火
第二戰展開了所謂的suffocating defense
(其實公牛也是)
靠著板凳奇兵Haslem 建功
熱火以85:75 在公牛主場扳回一城
...

suffocate (v) 的原意是"使窒息"
suffocating defense 可翻作窒息性防守或者壓迫性防守?

聯想到另一個兒童不宜的辭彙
suffocation sex / erotic asphyxiation
有部電影 "正面全裸"?
描述演藝圈的複雜混亂
其中有個角色就因 erotic asphyxiation 死翹翹了
...

[ref]
http://espn.go.com/nba/standings
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derrick_Rose
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/03/12/bulls.celebration.ap/index.html
http://www.nba.com/2011/news/05/03/mvp-award/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_NBA_champions

agent, header, get 的發音

2011-05-06T20:53:00.001+08:00

為什麼會談 agent, header, get 的發音呢?
因為這幾個字在 HTTP 通訊協定(protocol) 中
頗常出現 ,
agent -> user-agent
get -> get/post
header ...

昨日聽一年輕正妹講師教程式設計
正妹口齒清晰聰穎靈敏寫程式易如反掌
令人佩服;
但幾個英文字的發音似乎有德文腔

像是
get, header, agent ...
[2011.06.12, 最近塑化劑污染事件受到關注
其中起雲劑/乳化劑常被提到
起雲劑的英文 cloudy agent
乳化劑的英文 emulsifier/emulsifying agent /xxx emulgent ?) ]

agent, 重音在第一音節而非第二音節
發起來像 'ㄟ怎忒'

header 重音也在第一音節
發起來像 '黑的而'

一般 e / ea 如果發反3的音比較像是 'ㄟ' 的音

開口沒有 '一' 那麼扁
例如: head, header, dead, 的 ea 發'ㄟ' (kk音標反3)的音

多數的ea 發 '一'的長音
例如: eat, heat, beat, meat, neat, leader
那 lead 呢?
v. /i:/
n. /e/

[example]
The agent headed for the port walking along the river to get transaction done
before sunset.

unboxing

2011-04-27T18:11:00.000+08:00

最早學到 unboxing 這個字是因為學習C#
在C#中所有的型別(type) 都是繼承 object 而來
包括基本型別(value type) 的整數浮點數字元 ...
將基本型別轉成 object 需要打包(boxing)
從object 將真正的value type 抽取出來
則需要unboxing

最近發現unboxing 則是想買一些小東西
到網路上搜尋別人的經驗有所謂的開箱文
想到外國人不知如何用英文來描述開箱文
...
就是用unboxing 這個字
也許中文的用法是翻譯unboxing 而來?

[ref]
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/yz2be5wk.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unboxing

Tax Day

2011-04-19T09:53:00.001+08:00

昨天NPR 反覆出現 tax 這個字
原來04.15 是美國人個人所得稅報稅
(individual income tax returns )的截止日.

如果遇到週末或其他國定假日(Emancipation day?) 則順延

報稅英文叫做 "tax returns", 通常作名詞使用
The incomoe tax returns were due on 2011.04.18.

報稅的截止日則叫做"Tax Day"

另外有兩個關於 tax 常見的辭彙
1. payroll tax : 薪資稅 (payroll 指的是薪資明細表或給薪人員名單 )

雖然名為薪資稅但內容可能包含了

所得稅 (income tax)
社會保險/醫療保險(social security/medicare tax)
失業救濟(unemployment tax)

2. withholding tax : 扣稅(為了繳稅預扣的金額?)

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withholding_tax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Payroll_tax

pledge, 2011.04.09

2011-04-09T11:54:00.000+08:00

pledge, 最近常在NPR 廣播上聽到這個字
感覺有點印象似乎之前有註記過

在自己的blog 搜尋一下發現2009.03.10 的舊文 [稍作刪節重新publish]
http://3heng.blogspot.com/2009/03/pledge.html

google 搜尋發現

$10 pledge donation
double my $35 dollar pledge to $75?

"
...
If the “public” really wants them they’ll be able to stick around with Soros money or $10 pledge donations in bulk. NPR isn’t going anywhere as I do believe people will prop them up — I just don’t think it should be the government.
...

" [digest from moonhowlings.net]

[ext]
嘲諷NPR Pledge Drive 的連結
http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/a7afc51283/npr-pledge-drive?rel=featured
http://waltermooresays.blogspot.com/2011/04/better-than-npr-pledge-drive-and-hes.html

為NPR Pledge Drive 辯護的連結
http://www.npr.org/blogs/ombudsman/2009/03/why_do_you_listen_to_the_pledg_1.html

比較客觀的連結?
http://www.slate.com/id/2212340/
http://www.moonhowlings.net/index.php/2011/03/19/congress-goes-on-break/

廣告裏學到的

2011-04-01T10:01:00.000+08:00

//=== 在網路上某家補習班廣告的自我測試裏
學到的一句話 :

忘了帶錢包可以先幫我墊一下嗎?
[o] Can you spot me?

[x] Can you help me pay this?

Can you spot me a few bucks? (one buck: 美金一塊錢)
墊 == 臨時性暫借

//=== 健身器材廣告裏學到的
push-up : 伏地挺身
pull-up : 引體向上(拉單槓)
sit-up : 仰臥起坐

[ref]
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/spot

Hifree 看電影學英文

2011-03-11T16:58:00.005+08:00

上週末在Hifree 看了部黑色幽默電影
-- "脫線名模生死鬥 ", Death to the Supermodels
可能有點兒童不宜 ...

... 學到幾個關鍵字 ,

perky : 快活的? lively and light-hearted
但在這部電影裡卻有貶抑之意

wood : the erected penis
在一般的字典裡比較難發現這個意思
但在看電影的過程中很容易猜到
此時wood 不是指木材而是另有所指 ...

super special :
You are so super special that you deserve the super special treatment ...

Emule and donkey

2011-02-06T11:00:00.003+08:00

過年到老友家拜年
幾年不見老友無甚改變
老友的弟弟頭髮卻已發白

看著從網路下載的新片
請教他們使用的軟體
老友的弟弟說是用
Emule /. m'jul/
當下覺得應該唸 /'e mjul/
[rule: 名詞的重音大多在第一音節
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/emule 的發音檔也是在第一音節]

回家上網搜尋一下

mule /m'jul/ 是騾子
donkey , ass 是驢子

eMule 翻作電騾
eDonkey 翻作電驢
eMule 和 eDonkey(已停止服務) 都是所謂的 peer-to-peer file sharing (同儕檔案分享軟體)

[ref]
Emule的發音
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/emule

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EMule
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EDonkey2000

Caesar and Caesarea 的發音

2011-01-30T16:50:00.002+08:00

Caesar /'sih z.r/ 音譯應該像"夕者" , 但是一般都譯為凱撒
Caesarea /sihz. r'ih./ or /kes.r'ih./ 一般譯為該撒利亞

圍巾與披肩

2011-01-24T20:35:00.002+08:00

一般的圍巾用的是 scarf 這個字
至於女士們美美的披肩則常用 shawl

在網路上搜尋找到以下的網頁
中英/圖文介紹了各式的披肩頗值得參考

[延伸閱讀]
☆戀愛邁阿密☆的部落格
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/miamiamor-amormiami/article?mid=616

shower gel and soap

2011-01-23T22:47:00.004+08:00

//=== shower gel, 昨天(2011.01.22) 在Happy English Club 學到的

與其他字彙的比較

沐浴露 : shower gel
洗髮精 : shampoo
洗手乳 : liquid soap / soap cream? (seems no one use this term)
肥皂 : soap/ soap bar / a bar of soap (一塊肥皂)
洗面乳 : ?
刮鬍泡: shaving cream/ shaving foam?

cream soup and cream soap ?

whipped cream soap

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap

DADT ("don't ask, don't tell" ) repeal

2010-12-21T22:35:00.005+08:00

"don't ask, don't tell" -- 最近在NPR常聽到的一個名詞

根據wikipedia的解釋:
"
... is the term commonly used for the policy restricting the United States military from efforts to discover or reveal closeted homosexual or bisexual servicemembers or applicants,
while barring those who are openly gay, lesbian, or bisexual from military service.

The restrictions are mandated by federal law Pub.L. 103-160 (10 U.S.C. § 654). ...
"
大意是說美國聯邦法律明文限定了美國軍方不可以設法發覺或洩漏
服役與應徵人員的私密同性戀或雙性戀性向;
也限定公開的同性戀或雙性戀者不得進入軍方工作.

這幾天新聞一直報導的原因是美國國會眾議院與參議院都已通過廢止該項規定
(The House and the Senate both approve the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" policy.)

//=== repeal and appeal

An urgent appeal from Wikipedia founder ...
The repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" had stalled because of Senate Republicans' block
but passed finally on 2010.12.18.

//=== 最近台灣新聞非常熱門的話題校園霸凌(campus bully)
桃園某國中校長就因為處理不當遭到許多老師連署要求卸除校長職務 ...

The principal adopts a "don't ask, don't tell" policy to ignore the campus bullying events,
which accumulate so overwhelmingly that the furious teachers who are frightened by unleashed students finally stand up together to "repeal" him.

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/21/us-senate-republicans-block-bill

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/dont-ask-dont-tell-senate-advances-repeal-ban-gays-military/story?id=12429640&tqkw=&tqshow=WN

sticky IED

2010-12-04T23:07:00.003+08:00

最近聽NPR新聞反覆聽到一個縮寫詞 IED ,

G一下的結果 :

IED: improvised explosive device (不是 improved 喔)
IED: Institute of Economic Development
IED: international design educational network
IED: Institution of Engineering Designers
...

跟中東有關的應該是 improvised explosive device

IED 勉強可以翻作土製炸彈
improvise 有就地取材的意思
最早知道這個字是因為"馬蓋先"

sticky IEDs :
"homemade bombs attached to powerful magnets and stuck to the bottom of cars."

透過強力磁鐵將土製炸彈吸附在車子上. (通常為了要刺殺政要/軍警 ...)

[ref]
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131774133/Iraqi-Insurgents-Use-IEDs-To-Target-Iraqis

不宜用完成/進行式的動詞?

2010-11-28T11:43:00.003+08:00

//=== 她從小就喜歡音樂.
[a] She loved music since childhood(she was a kid).
or
[b] She has loved music since childhood(she was a kid).

翻成[a]或[b] 何者較合適呢?

//=== 當警方發現該名嫌犯時他已死亡多日.

[a] The suspect had (already) died for many days when the police found him.

[b] The suspect had (already) been dead for many days when the police found him.

[c] The suspect (already) died many days before the police found him.

翻成[a]或[b]或[c] 何者較合適呢?

QE2 and Currency debasement

2010-11-07T10:59:00.003+08:00

最近 QE2 這個名詞滿火的
財經新聞週刊 ...

* QE2: the second quantitative easing
quantitative easing
wikipedia 的解釋："a monetary policy used by some central banks to increase the supply of money ... generally through buying of the central government's own bonds to stabilize or raise their prices and thereby lower long-term interest rates."

翻成中文：央行透過買入中央政府公債來壓低長期利率達到貨幣量化寬鬆的效果.

* currency debasement/debasing:
wikipedia 的解釋： "Debasement is the practice of lowering the value of currency. "
翻成中文：讓貨幣貶值的措施
是相對什麼東西貶值呢？國內的生活用品食衣住行 -> commodity
(commodity 變貴有啥好處呢?)

若是相對其他國家的貨幣貶值(匯率貶值) 英文用 depreciate

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantitative_easing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Debasement

從 "美國影集都在說啥" 學到的俚語

2010-11-02T23:05:00.003+08:00

same old, same old : 老樣子 -> so so 普普
比較完整的說法: I've been doing the same old thing.

shit me: 唬弄我
shit not: 不是在唬爛

Are you shitting me?
No, i shit you not.

[ref]
"美國影集都在說啥" , Paul Sherrard, Beta Multimedia Publishing

2010.10.16 在快樂英語協會學到以及聯想的幾個單字

2010-10-17T21:42:00.006+08:00

//=== [Emily]
bungalow -> 半閣樓 -> 平房

//===
biped : bi -ped

tripod: tri-pod

ipod: from Walkman to ipod

//===
strap: a loop of leather suspended from the ceiling of a bus or train for passengers to hold onto it.

strap -> MRT/Train/Bus
strap -> strip
grip -> grasp
Grip the strap when you stand on/in a bus.

//=== [Linda]
tooth bracket == tooth brace == 牙套
(not "tooth mask")

//===
spot == speckle == 斑點
pimple == acne == zit == 青春痘 / 毛囊炎/ 皮脂炎?
nevus== mole == 痣
(照字典上的說法 nevus 是天生的? mole 則常含有毛囊會發出毛髮來?)

皮脂腺痣(Nevus Sebaceous):
皮脂腺(sebaceous gland)構成的一種錯構瘤(Hamartoma)/器官樣痣(organoid nevus)

ransom, Ransome

2010-10-09T00:07:00.000+08:00

ransom
(n) 贖金
(v) 付贖金以贖回人質; 要脅贖金

The pirates hold the hostage to ransom(v)/to demand a ransom(n) of 1 million dollars.
The hostages' family pay money to ransom the kidnapped persons.

ransom的意義是贖金讓我聯想到電影/電視劇中兄弟的跑路費
ran -> run
som -> some money
跑路需要的"所費" 常常來自贖金
The gangster threaten the victim to pay some money as his "ransom".

G 一下
"... Ransom. 片長：121分由梅爾吉勃遜主演，朗霍華執導的精彩動作片，根據1956年的同名電影所改編 ..."

//===
Ransome 人名
handsome 英俊的

It is hard to keep yourself handsome if you are demanded a ransom for your kids.

翹課與槍手

2010-09-16T20:23:00.000+08:00

今天的新聞報導了大學生翹課怕點名
於是上網徵求工讀生當槍手
代替點名抄筆記甚至代考 ...

網路上還有 "今天我應否翹課" 的試算程式 http://www.skipclasscalculator.com/
來幫助學生們決定是否要翹課

G一下 "skip class" 會出現以下的關鍵句 :
"Should I Skip Class Today" Calculator
How to Skip Class - wikiHow
How to Skip Classes in College
How to skip class without getting caught?
Learn when it's Ok to skip class ...

//===
翹課: to skip class
缺課: to be absent from class

那 leap class 是甚麼?

比翹課更嚴重一點的就是逃學了(整天都沒去學校上課) -- to play hooky
to play hooky 也可以當翹班 == 曠職 ?

intern, internal, internship

2010-09-13T21:15:00.001+08:00

C# 中的字串(String) 有個蠻特別的靜態函數/方法(static function/method)
public static string String.Intern(string s) ;
intern 的本意是拘留限制活動範圍, 此一方法取名Intern 的用意 ...

intern /int '3rn/
(v) detain, confine, 拘禁, 圈禁, 拘留, 限制活動範圍
(n) 實習生, 初入職場的在職實習人員

[Example]
0. 說到圈禁就想到十三爺, 康熙的十三皇子允祥, 在康熙晚年時受圈禁十年,
直到胤禎(雍正)登基才得釋放並予重任 ...

The thirteenth prince had been interned for ten years ...

1. The president had an affair with a white house intern ...
Do you remember who's that president?

[derived]
internal (a)

internship (n)
Some companies, e.g. Google/Microsoft/Intel/IBM ...
offer positions of summer internship for graduate/undergraduate students.

又發現一個練習英文聽力的好網站

2010-09-02T22:53:00.000+08:00

http://www.eetimes.com/ 首頁右下方的EETimesVideo

或者直接連結
http://www.eetimes.com/brightcove_video/

Tiny monster and Scottish Highlands

2010-07-29T20:36:00.000+08:00

經過網友推薦發現了BBC的六分鐘學英文
已將其Podcast置頂

在 Tiny monsters of the Highlands 這篇文章中
有個關鍵字 Highlands -> the Highlands -> the Scottish Highlands
在網路上搜尋之後發現還滿複雜的
Roughly speaking, the Scottish Highlands is the north-west region of the Scotland.
To say it another way,
the Scotland is divided into Highlands and Lowlands geographically and historically.

[ref]
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/general/sixminute/2010/06/100624_6min_highlands.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Highlands

Region, Legion, religion, pigeon,

2010-06-30T09:20:00.000+08:00

//===
region:
legion: large number of people, large military force, ...

religion:
pigeon: dove

//===
pigeon pair : 龍鳳胎
pigeon hole:
pigeon hole principle: 一山得容二虎如果全世界只有一山的話
--> drawer principle/shelf principle

[ref]
http://www.nciku.com/search/all/pigeon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pigeonhole_principle

in my favor

2010-04-27T14:19:00.000+08:00

in my favor
in my personal favor

in my opinion
in my personal opinion

in our favor
in your favor

in favor of somebody

my favorite
my favorites

benign

2010-04-27T13:43:00.000+08:00

benign 這個字一直記不太起來
發音/b.n 'ai n/
benign == kind
benignity == kindness ?
beneficial , benevolent , ... -> ben 開頭有正面的意思?

//=== benign neglect
"... This "benign neglect" policy[1] was designed to ease tensions following the American Civil Rights Movement of the late 1960s ..." [ref] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benign_neglect

//===
a benign tumor : 良性腫瘤
a malign tumor : 惡性腫瘤

malign -> malignant

censor, census, consensus, consent

2010-04-20T23:10:00.000+08:00

That Google stopped censoring the search results meets the consensus of the humanitarian.

consent
(v) == agree
(n) == agreement

census: 普查統計
traffic census: 交通流量普查
population census: 人口普查
domicile census:戶口普查

clamber, climb and cripple

2010-04-20T22:59:00.000+08:00

The crippled president clambers to meet the demand of the Congress.

The mental cripple suffer clambering in the mind while the physical cripple does climbing the mountain.

dude and duke

2010-04-12T15:09:00.002+08:00

dude, duke /- ju -/, /- u: -/

The grand duke from the medieval castle and
the young dude from the modern city come across
during the one-piece tour.

consulate and embassy

2010-04-08T18:02:00.001+08:00

consulate: 領事館
embassy: 大使館 (正式邦交?)

辦事處?

turmoil, tumult, tumultuous, tumor

2010-04-08T17:56:00.003+08:00

turmoil /'t3r m >i l/
tumult /'tju m^l t/
tumultuous /tju 'm^l tch u.s/

tumour
tumor

tomb and grave

2010-04-03T22:38:00.002+08:00

今天聽Studio Classroom 說到關於tomb 與 grave的差異,
以前沒學過
用google 找一下

[說法一]
tomb 比較正式 , grave 比較常用

[說法二]
tomb 指的是墓穴或下葬後墓地上方的建築
grave 則指所挖的洞或泛指墓地
--> grave == 墳, tomb== 墓 /墓碑 /墓園 ???

[說法三]
其實兩者常被混著用

"...
A tomb is something that is built over a place where a body has been laid, or perhaps a room carved into rock in order to receive a body.

A grave is the hole in the ground into which the body is placed.
...
"

"... not everybody makes that distinction..."

[ref]
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=1347941

1,2,3,4

2010-03-05T13:15:00.002+08:00

one of a kind: unique === one of the kind???

two of a kind: two birds of a feather

three of a kind: 三條 , trips,

four of a kind: 四枝鐵枝?, quads

one pair, two pair, flush(同花), straight(順),

同花順 : straight flush
同花大順 : royal flush == ace-high straight flush

ace-high straight === Broadway

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_poker_hands

sue, suit, suite, xuite

2010-02-04T09:18:00.003+08:00

sue: 控告

suit /sut/: 整套西裝
suit jacket 西裝的外套(上半身)
card suit : there are four suits in Poker cards

suite /swit/: 套房整組的器具
A suite of toolkits to do sth...

xuite: Hinet 的 blog

font , fountain, and spring

2010-02-02T09:04:00.002+08:00

font:

字型
泉源

fountain:

噴泉

spring:

噴泉
彈簧
春天

The ranking minority member

2010-02-01T22:50:00.003+08:00

The ranking minority member(sometimes the vice chairperson of a committee)

The ranking majority member(usually the chairman of a committee)

bipartisan: 兩黨政治?
the majority : 多數黨
the minority: 少數黨
the ranking member: 大老

pray and prey

2010-01-26T12:37:00.002+08:00

You become a prey when you pray.

透天厝

2010-01-23T20:31:00.003+08:00

在網路上搜尋透天厝的英文發現"丁丁飆英文"部落格有篇文章
介紹關於房屋的一些英文詞彙頗值得參考

透天厝:

townhouse ?
to-tein house !?

[ref]

http://tingtingenglish.blogspot.com/2008/07/our-castles.html

http://etds.ncl.edu.tw/theabs/site/sh/detail_result.jsp?id=082CYCU0222005

重視

2010-01-23T20:15:00.003+08:00

重視: attach importance to , put emphasis on, set much value on

Parents in china attach importance to their kids' examinations.

The company puts emphasis on its new product.

[ref] http://www.nciku.com.tw/search/zh/detail/%E9%87%8D%E8%A6%96/88006#zh

chai == 茶

2010-01-17T20:51:00.001+08:00

drinking cups of chai and chatting with friends ...

crack, crack up, crack up to be

2010-01-17T17:53:00.002+08:00

crack :

crack a book as snacks
The glass cracked. (broken partially but still connected?)
The cracked cake is crispy and tasty.
The poor programmer tried hard to crack a code to gain success, but failed.

crack up:

break down
burst out (laughing)

crack up to be:
The out-of-date actress is not the beauty she was cracked up to be anymore.

[ref]
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/crack

beat around the bush and the other way around

2010-01-16T20:16:00.002+08:00

beat around/round the bush: 說話拐彎抹角繞圈圈
"HERE WE GO ROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH" : a famous song
the other way around/round

neutral

2010-01-16T20:10:00.001+08:00

neutral
castrate
sterilized

What's on your mind?

2010-01-16T20:08:00.001+08:00

What's on your mind?
on your mind or in your mind?

on your soul or in your soul?

furor, furious, furore

2010-01-16T18:31:00.001+08:00

furor == fever
furor == rage == strong anger
furor == passion

又學到兩個重音在第一音節的字

2010-01-16T18:24:00.002+08:00

Another two words having accent in the first syllable learned in the Taipei101 EnglishStudyGroup:

caricature
ignorance

zest

2010-01-12T18:49:00.003+08:00

從 "廚房裡的人類學家" 學到這個字
原意是辛辣的香料或把柑橘類的果皮刨絲讓香味散發出來
引申為鮮活強烈的滋味

love is a zest for life, so is the loss of love?

zest: vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment[WordNet]

acrophobia and Arachnephobia

2010-01-12T18:44:00.001+08:00

從空中英語教室學到的

acrophobia : 懼高症

Arachnephobia == Arachnophobia? : spider phobia

dub and a million air-heart

2010-01-12T18:25:00.003+08:00

從空中英語教室學到的

The press dubbed her "Queen of the air". == The press called her "Queen of the air". ==
She was dubbed "Queen of the air" by the press.

Who's she?
A million air-heart?

oh, no, she is Amelia Earhart.

//===
dub 還可以指電影後製的音效工作或配音

purchase 的重音

2010-01-11T09:52:00.003+08:00

purchase /p3r tch.s/的重音在第一音節

research , pedicure 也是

purchase = purse chase = 追逐著錢包

oral care , pedicare, and medicare

2010-01-11T09:50:00.002+08:00

oral care: 口腔保健
pedicare?: 足部保健
pedicure : 足部治療/護理 , 足部美容修剪腳趾甲

medicare: 醫療保險老人健康保險?

口頭上的關心: oral care?

Law school and law institute

2010-01-04T21:24:00.002+08:00

一位網友想到美國進修關於智慧財產權的法律課程
拿個 Bachelor degree in Law
The Bachelor of Laws ( LLB?) is a bachelor degree in law.
"LL.B." stands for Legum Baccalaureus in Latin?
-> J.D.

Yale Law School
Cornell Law School
Harvard Law School
...

//=== After googling "Law Institute" , i found that
Law Institute is not meant to be the graduate school of Law.

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school_rankings_in_the_United_States#Schools_that_consistently_rank_in_the_top_14
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_Doctor

Izzie and Elizabeth

2010-01-04T21:09:00.002+08:00

從一位網友的代號得知

Izzie/Lizzie is a nickname derived from Elizabeth.

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elizabeth_(given_name)

in turn, by turn, your turn

2009-12-30T23:33:00.001+08:00

in turn, by turn, your turn

dran

pupil

2009-12-27T11:27:00.003+08:00

pupil: 瞳孔, 學生

This little pupil has a pair of round and deep pupils.

//===
a pair of glasses

隱形眼鏡?

restrict, constrict, confine, bound

2009-12-27T11:13:00.003+08:00

restrict: limit, restrain oneself from sth -> sb abstain from sth

constrict: limit, inhibit, -> confine sb to a certain region

//===
bound: (polymorphism)
0. (pt/pp)(past tense/past participle) of bind
1. (n) boundary, limit
2. (a) be bound to some place, be ready for sth
3. (v) jump, bounce, reflect back

bind, bound, boundary
region

catch on and march on

2009-12-21T09:09:00.002+08:00

catch on: 理解; 找到工作; 學會做事; 投合人心
sth catches on : sth becomes popular or fashionable

"Trade-Off: Why Some Things Catch On, and Others Don’t"

//===
march on :

[ref]
http://www.nciku.com.tw/search/en/detail/catch+on/89300
http://www.books.com.tw/exep/prod/booksfile.php?item=F011713787

Besides, Moreover, Furthermore

2009-12-19T09:56:00.002+08:00

今早的空中英語教室提到了這幾個字有些許的不同:
besides: (adv) 何況況且
moreover: 此外
furthermore == moreover

what's more == besides

"moreover" is a more general term than "besides",
"besides" should be used in certain confined context in more precise way than moreover.

//===
beside and besides
beside 只能當介系詞(preposition)

besides 可以當介系詞也可以當副詞(adverb)
(prep) : 除了... 之外
(adv): 何況況且

Xmas Eve, New Year's Eve

2009-12-17T08:26:00.003+08:00

Christmas
Xmas
??? X'mas

Christmas Eve
??? Christmas's Eve

New Year's Eve
Old Year's Night

//===
Date of observance

observe
observation
observance

//===
" ... Xmas的X的起源並不是英文的X，而是希臘文的X。希臘文的「基督」為Xristos。

... 而mas是mass，也就是彌撒(天主教會的聖餐)的意思。

因此Xmas的意思就是「基督的彌撒」
"

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_Eve
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year's_Eve
http://tw.myblog.yahoo.com/water-blog/article?mid=-2&prev=12482&l=f&fid=70

The religious left and the left religious

2009-12-16T22:14:00.002+08:00

The religious left: the leftists who are religious (who have religion)

The left religious: the religious who are leftists(who belong to the left politically)

The religious left == The left religious ???

Esther and Thomas

2009-12-15T09:36:00.002+08:00

Esther 與Thomas 的 th 發音都是 /t/ 而非/θ/

theater/θi.t.r/ 在德文的發音也變成/t3 'at.r/

brazen

2009-12-12T23:17:00.001+08:00

//==
braze
bronze

brazen
brazier

//===
blaze
blazer

//==
brave, blaze, and lazy --> brazen

elite, Pelosi, constituent 的重音

2009-12-12T22:23:00.006+08:00

下午參加Eng. StudyGroup

elite, Pelosi, constituent的重音都在第二音節
constituent的發音有點像"康似 '提取恩t"

但是
constitute, epoch, pious, Protestant /'pratist.nt/ 的重音都在第一音節

The pious hope of happiness supports me to live through
the sad loneliness or the lonely sadness which is now a constituent of my soul.

//===
Houston /hjust.n/
House /haus/

//===
sea change: dramatic change, 滄海桑田
how about "earth change", "sky change"???
earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust

//===
guide-cum-meditation
a kitchen-cum-dining room

//===
the religious left or the left religious???
the religious left == the religious leftists ?

"Ped" prefix or suffix

2009-12-10T21:13:00.003+08:00

今天的空中英語教室學到的
ped, pod : related with foot

//===
pedestrian (n)(a)
pedal:踏板
pedlar:(v) 沿街叫賣 (n) 攤販
peddle (v)
pedometer: 計步器

tripod
centipede, millipede: 節肢動物

[href]
http://www.betterendings.org/homeschool/Words/Root%20Words.htm

Just my 2 cents

2009-12-09T23:45:00.002+08:00

從老友的email 學來的片語, for showing politeness and humility
中文可譯為 "個人的一點淺見"

If you don't put your two cents in, how can you get change?
若不表達意見　如何能促進變革？

發表個人的一點淺見　== to put in my two pennies worth ==
to put in my tuppence worth== to put my two cents in

A Penny for Your Thoughts?

[ref]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_two_cents_(idiom)

今天在華視的空中英語教室Studio Classroom學到的片語

2009-12-09T23:42:00.001+08:00

on the team, 介系詞用on 不是用in

team up with sb

team player

teamwork

celestial 的發音

2009-12-05T20:45:00.007+08:00

下午參加Tapiei101 StudyGroup

討論 celestial 中 "tial" 的發音
聯想到 initial中 "tial" 的發音
個人的印象及感覺 s+tial 若發 /s-sch-l/ 十分抝口
應該轉音發 /s -tsch-l/
也就是此時 "tial" 的發音變成像actual中的"tual"的發音

//=== 還有以下這些字的重音:
apotheosis : 第四音節 os

apolitical : 第三音節 li- [tic 的前一個音節]
politics:第一音節 po /pa/
politician: : 第三音節 ti- [cian 的前一個音節]
political: : 第二音節 li- [tic 的前一個音節]

apocalypse : 第二音節 poc
apocalyptic : 第四音節 lyp- [tic 的前一個音節]

analyst: 第一音節 an
analysis : 第二音節 nal
analytic : 第三音節 ly- [tic 的前一個音節]

bureau : 第一音節 bu
bureaucrat: 第一音節 bu
bureaucracy: 第二音節 reau /ra/
bureaucratic: 第三音節 cra- [tic 的前一個音節]

epoch : 第一音節 ep, /3p.k/ /i:p.k/
epochal :第一音節 /3p.k.l/

//===
天籟== celestial sound ?
天香國色== celestial beauty ?

//=== 還學到
alter
alteration
alter ego

grade school == elementary school != gradudate institue

胡適托風波的"胡適托" 指的是 Woodstock

電腦介面卡的插槽

2009-11-29T12:19:00.001+08:00

電腦介面卡的插槽：slot, expansion slot(擴充槽)

介面卡: interface card, expansion card(擴充卡)

cervical cancer screening

2009-11-26T14:45:00.001+08:00

cervical cancer screening :子宮頸癌篩檢

cervix: 子宮頸頸子 ?頸狀物

cervix and neck

原則規則原理圓規規矩

2009-11-26T14:39:00.003+08:00

principle: 原理, 原則
principle of uncertainty: 測不準原理

as a matter of principle: 原則問題 , 依原則來說
a man of principle: 有原則的人

rule: 規則, 規矩
ruler: 尺
圓規:compass -> 羅盤

What's the difference between principle and rule?

Principle comes from reasoning but
Rule comes from powering

Do you have the time?

2009-11-04T17:54:00.001+08:00

看公視大家說英語又學到一句
Do you have the time?
=== Do you know what time it is?
=== ?Do you have the clock?

Do you have the time? != Do you have time?
Do you have time to talk with me? 妳有空和我說話嗎?

訂金與定金

2009-10-27T14:35:00.000+08:00

advance payment
initial payment(頭期款)
down payment?

deqosait?

deposit, deposite, earnest, subscription

subscription == 訂金(取消訂單還可以退回?)
earnest == earnest money == 定金(取消訂單就要被沒收?)
deposite? == 保證金

[ref]
http://bbs.fobshanghai.com/viewthread.php?tid=699359

commitment

2009-10-24T23:22:00.000+08:00

週末拜訪老友
看電影台重播第一滴血4
聽到了這兩句

"You made the commitment"
"Live for nothing or die for something!"