Here are a few comments (up to the one about the house
being struck by lightning.)
---
Chinese Style: Who cooked this salad ?
American Style: Who made this salad ?
Although some of the ingredients may be pre-cooked, the salad itself is never cooked. The ingredients are "tossed" together.
----
Chinese Style: Would you like a drink ?
American Style: Would you like something to drink ?
When you offer someone a drink, it usually implies an "alcoholic beverage."
We made the mistake once of offering a drink to a policeman (what we were thinking of was tea, coffee, water , milk
or juice). He politely turned it down saying "I never drink while I am on the job."
---
Chinese Style: The head office is in Taipei.
American Style: The main office is in Taipei
I don‘t think I agree with this one. I think American do use the term "head office."
---
Chinese Style: Most Westerners have high noses.
American Style: Most Westerners have long noses.
I thought it is "pointed noses." I guess I may be wrong then.
-----
Chinese Style: His temperature went down.
American Style: His temperature came down.
Temperature goes up but comes down.
-------------
Chinese Style: He cannot read and write.
American Style: He cannot read or write.
"Can read AND write" but "cannot read OR write."
---
Chinese Style: My watch doesn’t move at all. I must get it checked up.
American Style: My watch isn’t running, I must get it checked up.
I thought it should be "I must get it checked." Any thoughts on this ?
---
Chinese Style: My room is narrow.
American Style: My room is small
That depends. Surely I can say " Our cabin in the cruise ship is narrow." (Because
it is physically so.)
-----
Chinese Style: Open page 20 of your books.
American Style: Open your books to page 20.
I think "A page" cannot be opened , only a book can.
----
Chinese Style: Give me a phone.
American Style: Give me a phone call.
"Phone" is the physical object: the telephone.
---
Chinese Style: Is there any place for me in the car.
American Style: Is there any room for me in the car.
"Any room" means an available space. "Any place" means "whether you are
allowed or not." (Are you out of place or not.)
---
Chinese Style: I went to the sea.
American Style: I went to the beach.
"To sea" is to the "physical place: the sea" itself or go "off to sea" on a boat such as "I must
go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is
a tall ship and a star to steer her by..."
-----
Chinese Style: His house was struck by thunder last night.
American Style: His house was struck by lightning last night.
Thunder is the sound, lightning is the physical electric discharge.
Chinese Style: The last bus leaves at eleven o’clock. It’s about eleven now, Hurry up !
American Style: The last bus leaves at eleven o’clock. It’s nearly eleven now, Hurry up !
If you change "about" to "just about" that you are fine. If
not "about" means around-- it could be 10:50 or 12:10.
Nearly means almost : it is almost eleven.
--
Chinese Style: I get my salary twice a month.
American Style: I get paid twice a month.
Salary is the actual amont of renumeration you
have been promised with. The action of your boss
giving you the money is a "payment"-- you are being paid.
--
Chinese Style: I know his face.
American Style: I know him by sight.
Hee...hee...You know his face eh ? How about his toes ? Do you know them too ?
---
That reminded me of something. A few months ago
I read something hilarious on the China daily. I forgot
exactly how it went, but it must have been something like this:
(It was about polulation migration) Parts of the people
were sent to Shanghai and other parts were sent to Beijing.
(I made up the names of the cities.) So which part
goes where , may I ask ? The head goes to Shanghai
, the legs go to Beijing, the hands go to Canton....
----
Chinese Style: You’ll have a cold if you sleep with your window open.
American Style: You’ll catch a cold if you sleep with your window open.
I do recall "native speakers saying " "I have a cold." when
they come down with the ailment.
But when you are talking about cause and effect, it is always "catch a cold."
---
Chinese Style: The train was late about an hour.
American Style: The train was about an hour late.
I think if you add the word "for" in the first sentence then
it would be acceptable.
The train was late for about an hour.
Any opinion on that ?
---
Chinese Style: He is fighting for his life.
American Style: He is fighting for his bread.
There is nothing wrong with the "Chinese Style." That
and the American Style mean different things, that‘s all.
E.g. He is very sick, he is fighting for his life.
Fighting for his bread refers to "making living" or
" trying to survive" as the case may be.
---
Chinese Style: What a dirty face ! Look at the mirror.
American Style: What a dirty face ! Look in the mirror.
Here is another example of what I call "technicalities."
Your image is supposed to be "inside the mirror." So
it is look in the mirror and not look at the mirror.
On the other hand, in a stand alone situation,
it is perfectly alright to say: "Do come and have a look at that mirror hanging on the living room wall : It has a very nice frame."
If you can still remember your optics lesson, the image
of you in the mirror is a vritual image formed behind the
mirror.
---
Chinese Style: Is this seat empty.
American Style: Is this seat taken.
Sure it is. Are you blind or what ? If the seat is not empty, someone would be sitting on it right now. However, it may
be empty, but that does not mean it has not been taken. A 100 kg ,6th degree Karateka has taken it already. He has gone to the john. When he comes back and finds you sitting in his seat he is going to bash your head in.
--
Chinese Style: Chang is a popular name in Taiwan.
American Style: Chang is a common name in Taiwan.
Sure it is popular, but is it common (and vise-versa) ?
--
Chinese Style: I’m a public servant.
American Style: I work for the government.
I think the Americans do use the phrase "I am a civil
servant." As to whether they say "public servant", I don‘t
know. I don‘t recall having heard that too often, if at all.
--
Chinese Style: She is pure.
American Style: She is naive.
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发表于 2005-1-24 14:38:00
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