「騎呢」、「另類」、「硬耳」和「似樣」的英文

 Cast:

• Hugh Grant as William Thacker

• Rhys Ifans as Spike

So the story goes:

The following is one of Bella's favourite scenes from the movie.

This is the immediate scene after William’s opening monologue where we come to meet the funniest character of the film – Spike.

(William has just returned home and calls out to his offbeat and rather eccentric Welsh flatmate, Spike, who appears in an extremely tight pair of shorts obviously too small for him, at least one size smaller than his measurements. Spike's helpless but eager eyes greet William as he enters the hallway.)

Spike: Hey, you couldn't help me with an incredibly important decision, could you?

William: (Busy fixing himself a quick breakfast without giving Spike a single glance, obviously too used to his friend's alternative style and grotesque ideas.) This is important in comparison to, let's say, whether they should cancel Third World debt?

Spike: (Seriously, short of breath) That's right. I am at last going out on a date with the great Jenine and I just wanna be sure I've picked the right T-shirt.

William: (Still quite indifferently, obviously not taking him seriously) What are the choices?

Spike: Well, wait for it.

(William puts two slices of bread into the toaster, turns and waits for Spike.)

Spike: (Making his way down the stairs at a slightly hurried pace in his first T-shirt reading "I love blood") First, there's this one. [Growls] (Quite confidently, seeking approval) Cool, huh?

William: (Confused & struggling to tell him the truth tactfully without hurting his feelings by first showing his agreement to make his remark easier/ less hard on the ear.) Yeah, it might make it hard to strike a really romantic note.

Spike: (Not discouraged, still on a positive note) Point taken. Don't despair. (Scurrying upstairs again.) If it's romance we're looking for, I believe I have just the thing. (Coming down in the second T-shirt reading "Get it here" with an arrow pointing down at his -- you know what.)

William: Yeah, well, there again, she might not think you had true love on your mind.

Spike: (A shade of disappointment crosses his face. Smile disappears.) Right. Just one more.

(William walks away from the foot of the staircase, back to the open-plan kitchen, with an amused smile on his face, wondering what a cute flatmate he has.)

Spike: True love, here I come. (Appears in the third T-shirt printed with the words "You're the most beautiful women in the world" and hearts and an arrow over his left chest.)

William: (So surprised at the decent T-shirt which finally comes before him that he runs out of words at a stage, just looking for the right word to say) Well, yeah, yeah, that's -- that's, um, (sincerely) perfect.

Spike: (Relieved) Great. Thanks. Wish me luck.

William: Good luck.

(Just when all of us feel that Spike is really serious about his date this time, the following shot jolts us into laughter -- as Spike turns, his back reveals the words ' Fancy A Fuck?'.)

這是男主角 William 開場獨白後的第一幕戲, 對手正是電影中最搞鬼的角色—Spike。William 一進門, 他那「騎呢」又古怪的同屋馬上光著上身, 以無助而熱切的眼神歡迎他回家, 明顯有事相求。

Spike向來行徑怪異, 頭腦簡單, 做事直接, 故一開腔招呼也不打便老實不客氣地找William 幫忙。 (Spike 的問題運用了英語中的question tag, 前半句選用否定詞couldn’t, 心中已有答案, 預期友善的William 必會幫忙, 意思是「你能替我做個極之重要的決定, 是吧?」, 而非普通問句「你能否替我做個決定?」Could you help me with a decision?)

William 早已習慣他這個朋友的另類作風和奇怪主意, 沒有看他一眼, 逕自給自己做早餐, 幽Spike 一默, 問他那決定是不是跟取消第三世界債項與否同樣重要。怎料Spike 卻認真得上氣不接下氣地說, 就是了, 他正煩惱約會心儀對象時該穿哪件T-shirt 才好。William 明顯不當他一會事, 冷淡地問他有什麼選擇。接著Spike 的「另類」T-shirt 便逐一出場, William為人厚道, 為了不傷害朋友的感受, 竭力委婉進諫, 回應時先同意再說真話, 使不哪樣忠言逆耳(「冇咁硬耳」), 例如說「這樣很難造就浪漫的感覺」。

那邊廂頭腦簡單的Spike總是語帶積極, 叫自己別灰心, 快步跑上樓, 再接再厲。可是, 選擇二還是遭到同樣的命運, Spike面上也略過一抹失望。

正當William退回開放式廚房，給逗樂了發出會心微笑時，Spike終於穿著一件像樣（「似樣」）, 走到William 的跟前。William感到驚喜，一時說不出話來，最後由衷地說句「這時最好不過了」。Spike終於鬆了口氣，謝謝老友。豈了Spike一轉身才叫我們笑個人仰馬翻...

By the Way...

1. 最近Bella 學習說話的藝術, 看電影時嘗試多留意戲中人的表情動作(non-verbal language) 和遣詞造句, 從而透視說話者的思想心理, 順道練習寫作。在這裡和大家分享我的學習筆記, 希望你們喜歡。
2. 由於篇幅所限, 不能把字詞逐一介紹, 我把值得學習的都highlight 了, 你們自己在中英文裡對號入座查看解釋吧。
3. 我把好些英文字連結至Cambridge Online Dictionary , 大家有時間可click 來看看例句, 學習詞語的用法。

看《摘星奇緣》學英語 (1)

The film Notting Hill is a 1999 romantic comedy set in Notting Hill, London, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts. It portrays the unlikely but lasting romance between an average Englishman and a Hollywood superstar . The "surreal-but-true" love story is truly a modern-day cinderella tale.

Notting Hill is definitely one of our all-time favourites. First, we have a preference for Hugh Grant, who also starred in Nine Months (btw, does the title ring any bell to you?), the movie we first watched together on our first date on the X'mas Eve 12 years ago.  Second, Brother Yeung loves Notting Hill for its subtlety and wonderful, subdued sense of humour.

Let's first watch the opening of the film featuring its theme song, 'She', and see if you can resist Anna's (Julia Roberts) captivating charisma.

《摘星奇緣》是 1999 年出品的愛情喜劇，由曉治格蘭和茱莉亞羅拔絲領銜主演。故事以英國倫敦的Notting Hill為背景，講述一名平凡的英國男子如何巧遇荷里活大明星，譜出虛實交疊的摘星奇緣，十足現代男版《灰姑娘》。

論我和楊大哥歷年來最愛的電影，《摘》片肯定榜上有名。一來我倆對曉治格蘭本來就有情有獨鍾（12 年前的平安夜，我們初次約會看電影，看的就是曉治格蘭的《九月之癢》，你們對它有印象嗎？），二來楊大哥愛《摘》片細膩中隱含幽默。

我們先來欣賞電影的序幕，聽聽主題曲 , 看你能否抵擋女主角的攝人魅力。

知多一點點

相關網誌: 看《英女皇》學英語(一), 看頒獎禮學英語(一)

整篇分享太長，我把練習部份移到這裡。Enjoy!

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練習園地

以下讓我們來一些實戰練習,看看電影《英女皇》的兩組對白來感受一下English speakers 是如何運用Yes 和 No交談, 鞏固今天所學。Bella把每組Yes/No問答的關鍵字highlight了,幫助大家理解。

試試看, 你能解釋得到每句中為什麼用Yes 或 No嗎?

[News in the background]

Q: Have you voted yet, Mr Crawford?

C: Yes, Ma'am. I was there when they opened, first in line (排第一), at 7 o'clock... I don't mind telling you (我不介意告訴你)... It wasn't for Mr Blair. (我並非投貝理雅)

Q: You're not a moderniser then? (那你不支持現代改革嗎?)

C: Certainly not... We're in danger of losing too much, that is good about this country, as it is.

[News in the background]

Q: I envy (羨慕) you being able to vote. Not the actually ticking of the box, although... it would be nice to experience that once. But the sheer (純粹) joy of being partial (偏袒).

C: Yes...Of course one forgets that as Sovereign (君主; 統治者), you're not entitled to vote (無權投票).

Q: No... [女皇無奈地搖頭]

C: Still, you won't catch me feeling sorry for you. (但我不會替你感難過) You might not be allowed to vote, Ma'am...but it is your government.

Q: Yes. I suppose that is some consolation. (我想那算是一點安慰吧。)

練習（二）

I: Do you think you'll ever be Queen?

I: Why do you think that?

D: I'd like to be a Queen of people's hearts, in people's hearts. But I don't see myself being Queen of this country.

————————————

總結 

由此可見,

1. 英語裡的Yes/No 取決於前一句的動詞有沒有not 字

2. 記著, 任何情況下只會說Yes, I do. 或 No, I don't.  

六月份的時候拜讀過蕭Sir 的「Yes 定 No」, 他說 --

英文對話中的 yes 和 no 並非取決與是否認同對方。

多謝蕭Sir 的分享。哈哈，這真是個有趣的現象！不知你們有沒有發現，中文的是非題無論你答是或否，理解都一樣的，要看講者的神情語氣和上文下理推論。

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1. 否定問句

甲： 你唔鍾意佢？

乙：喺呀，我唔鍾意佢！/唔吖，我唔鍾意佢！(意思完全一樣!!)

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2. 雙重否定問句

我們做傳譯時，這是個棘手嘅問題之一。前輩教我們，遇到double negative的時候，可以先跟講者澄清意思，也可將是或否用Correct或Incorrect來表示，費事搭錯線。

甲:你唔係唔食牛肉o既咩? (兩個"唔"字叫雙重否定句, double negative)

[假如乙真係唔食牛肉,佢可以作出以下回答]

乙: 係呀(表示同意甲的說法)/唔o架(表示唔食牛肉,指事情本身)

乙: You're right!(表示同意甲的說法)/No, I don't. (表示唔食牛肉,指事情本身)

再給一個例子, 以下是來自Prison Break的一組對話:

A: So you have no further evidence?
B: Yes...but...

前兩天跟網友討論「客氣」一詞的英譯。

中國乃禮義之邦，日常對話包含不少客套話，「客氣」一詞經常出現。究竟「客氣」英語該怎樣說？

所謂「客氣」，就是像客人般守禮，因而顯得拘謹或謙遜。這個詞語一般有兩種用法：(一)不用客氣。(款客時用,叫對方別拘謹)(二)你真客氣。(用於道謝、回應讚許等場合,指對方謙虛、守禮等)

今天先看第一種。

朋友來你家，你第一句說的便是「隨便得ｏ架啦，唔駛客氣。」意思是叫朋友別拘束，隨隨便便可以了。英文的說法是Make yourself at home (正是廣東話的「唔好客氣，當自己屋企得o架喇。」)、Make yourself comfortable或Be my guest，用法大同小異。

還記得多年前由尊尼特普(Johnny Depp)主演的那套《幻海奇緣》Edward Scissorhands (1990) 嗎？It’s one of Bella’s all-time favourites! 男女主角真心相愛,卻遭眾人棒打鴛鴦,使這個現代版的《青蛙王子》最終只有遺憾收場。讓我們看看其中的一段對白，學習Make yourself at home的用法。

故事中「鉸剪手」機械人Edward 來到了人類的世界﹐給心地善良的Peg 收養了。Peg 帶Edward回到家裡﹐向他介紹家中大小事情： 

Here we are. So, oh, this is the living room and back here, the bedrooms. you want to see the pictures? All right. Well, this is my husband, Bill. He's a bowling champion. 〔…Peg 繼續介紹家人〕 That's my family. Now, go on, dear. I'll show you the rest of the house. Then you can just freshen up and make yourself at home. (唔好客氣，當自己屋企得o架喇。)Okay? That's the kitchen over there. You help yourself to anything you want to eat or drink.（要吃什麼喝什麼自己拿吧。）

下篇再談「客氣」另一用法的英譯﹐密切留意「客氣英文怎樣說?(二)」。(待續)

相關網誌: 影視英語遊, 生活英語角

今天繼續看《英女皇》學英語！

上回我們見識過Queen’s English, 今回我們來欣賞金球及奧斯卡影后Helen Mirren 如何運用精湛演技演釋同一番講話, 把英女皇扮得維肖維妙!

故事發展下去，貝理雅對英女皇越加尊敬，欣賞之情與日俱增。(As our story unfolds, Tony Blair’s respect and admiration for the Queen grows day by day.)

這卻使同屬工黨、支持現代改革的 貝利雅 夫人大感不滿。讓我們學習一下他們的對白:

[1]  Go weak at the knees

引自Cambridge Dictionaries Online 的釋義和例子:

If you go weak at the knees, you lose your strength and feel you are going to fall over, usually because of seeing or talking about either someone you are very attracted to or because of something unpleasant or frightening:
e.g. The thought of kissing him made me go weak at the knees. 光是親他這個念頭已叫我為之神魂顛倒。

原意指被某人或某事物深深吸引或嚇倒而感到全身乏力, 神魂顛倒, 無力招架或屈服, 這裡我配合劇情及女皇和貝理雅的君臣關係, 把它翻為「俯首稱臣」。

[2] gaga (IN LOVE)

引自Cambridge Dictionaries Online 的釋義和例子:

having a strong but usually temporary love for someone:
e.g. She's totally gaga (= crazy) about/over him! 她完全瘋狂迷上他!
      Just standing near her makes him go gaga! 光是站近她已叫他神魂顛倒。

原指人短暫地迷戀某人, 這裡我也是按劇情、二人身份和貝的表情, 把它翻為奉若神明。

好, 今天先談至此, 下回再續。（待續）

相關網誌：

看《英女皇》學英語 (一)

看《緣份精華遊》學英語 (一)

看《緣份精華遊》學英語 (二)

影視英語遊

   

早陣子看了電影《英女皇》The Queen (2006)，寫下了一些筆記，在這兒和大家分享一下。電影中純正清晰的英式英語，是學習英語的好材料。

本片主要透過描述貝利雅上任和戴安娜王妃死後皇室、官員、傳媒和人民的反應，細膩刻劃女皇的心理變化，從而正面描述及側面烘托出她的執著和對皇室的忠貞。

今天選來英女皇在戴妃死後一星期透過電視全國直播對戴妃的悼文，今天先看真人版。留意事件的背景是：戴妃死後以來，儘管全國人民陷於一片愁雲慘霧，人們絡繹不絕前往悼念戴妃，皇室仍堅稱戴妃已非皇室成員，故不會對外作任何表示。皇室的冷漠惹來人民和傳媒的激烈不滿，甚至有指事件對皇室造成政權的威脅。因此，英女皇這番悼詞意義重大，除了表示哀悼外，還得向大眾解話，表揚戴妃，挽回民望。

文中可以學到英文弔唁詞，不可不知，以免貽笑大方，甚或對死者不敬。

注意： 學習時不要只記隻字片語，應以有用的短句為單位（請留意highlight部份），特別要留意介詞（prepositions）的運用，日後才能學以致用，不會用錯。邊聽邊跟著唸，多讀幾遍，自然能記熟，讓這些用語成為你詞彙的一部份。

 

相關網誌：

看《緣份精華遊》學英語 (一)

大家最近有沒有留意一個電視廣告, 有一對男女用法語交談, 然後他們被電視的畫面吸引住了：碧海藍天青草地，出海暢遊，寫意無限（當然少不了住洋樓，養蕃狗！），末尾畫面寫著“Moments away. A world apart. The Gxxxxny X喬”。這是樓盤廣告，賣點是只消片刻車程，你便可遠離繁囂，豁然開朗，過著悠然自得的生活。

正所謂天下無不散之筵席(All good things come to an end)，追了四十集的《溏心風暴》終於曲終人散。其實《溏》劇之所以受歡迎，除了因為香港人喜歡看爭產案及一眾演員(the cast) 演技精湛(good acting)外，劇中的家庭糾紛頗能引起觀眾共鳴，這也是成功的主要原因之一。

昨天逛商店時，幾位太太正好在店內談論《溏》劇。甲太太問：“呢套劇真係咁好睇咩？”乙太太感慨地說：“好，等啲人反省下吖嘛！”沒錯， 家家有本難唸的經，家醜不出外傳，家事實不足為外人道，有時惟有啞忍，“收埋喺心”，有苦自己知。

Every family has its own problems and a sad tale to tell. Nobody wants his or her family’s skeleton to fall out of the cupboard. You don’t want to let out a word of it and others simply have no idea what you’ve been going through. Sometimes, all you can do is to live with it and keep all the suffering to yourself.

家醜 – A skeleton in the cupboard (= an embarrassing secret of the family)

唔想講出去 – You don’t want to let out a word of it.

接受、容忍，甚至啞忍、無奈接受- To live with sth (= to accept a difficult or unpleasant situation. E.g. You can’t change the situation so you’ll have to learn to live with it.)

將啲事收埋喺心- to keep things to oneself

看電影．練翻譯—《緣份精華遊》The Holiday (二)

昨天我向大家交待了些少故事的背景，今天我們來看看電影中的一段對白。以下中文翻譯（普通話口語）是小妹的劣作，見笑了，若有不善之處，請多加提點！

Here we have Iris, Miles (Jack Black) and Arthur having dinner with some of his retired friends. They are talking about each other’s love life (感情生活).

Notes:

1.        a lady’s man (or a ladies’ man) – a man who takes advantage of women or one who enjoys and attracts the company of women 花花公子或有女人緣

另一類似的字是womanizer (a man who likes many women and has short sexual relationships with them, 即 “大滾友”) – e.g. He was a gambler, a womanizer and a drunk. 「佢又嫖又賭又飲。」或「佢嫖賭飲,樣樣齊。」

2.        a man about town – a sophisticated, socially active man who frequents fashionable places 愛泡族[愛泡(pao4)夜店一族]; “蒲精”。從上文下理,我認為這裡是換個方式問Miles是否 “鐘意泡”的花花公子。

3.        類似的說法還有to have one foot in the grave (行將入木;一隻腳在棺材裡)

Got a chance to listen to Stef Sun’s latest album. Oh! She did take me by surprise! How wonderful she sings! How great an English speaker she is! This album is a collection of the singer’s all-time favorites: Hey Jude!, Silent All These Years (Original of Faye’s adaptation “冷戰”), Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough, 橄欖樹, etc. Her reinterpretation’s just fantastic! Impeccable voice… subtle singing… unforgettable melodies… Not to be missed!