又中又英——Say Namaste without shaking hands.

　　Don't shake hands. Say Namaste instead. Or say Howdy. Both are more hygienic than shaking hands. I have said before I don't like shaking hands. Researchers say there are about 500 germs on a human hand. It is often impossible to avoid shaking hands at social events such as cocktail receptions. By the time someone shakes your hand at a cocktail reception, that person will have already shaken hands with many other people. Germs are passed from hand to hand. People then use their hands to eat finger food. Most cocktail receptions have finger food. Eating finger food after shaking hands numerous times is a recipe for disaster. That's why I always make a beeline for the toilet to wash my hands after shaking hands with people at cocktail receptions.
　　In India, people say "Namaste" to greet others, in the same way Westerners say "hello". It means "I respect you" or "I bow to you", which is similar to Japanese people bowing when they greet others. Indians don't shake hands when they say "Namaste". They put their two palms together. The word "howdy" means "hello" or "how do you do". It is mostly used by Americans living in western and southern states. When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi went to Texas last September to attend a rally with US President Donald Trump, the event was informally called "Howdy, Modi". When Trump went to India last week, the visit was informally called "Namaste, Trump". Finger food is food eaten without knives or forks.
　　The expression "recipe for disaster" means doing something that will cause trouble or have negative effects. It is a recipe for disaster if you eat finger food after shaking hands many times. You will likely catch the coronavirus. To "make a beeline for" something means to go quickly towards something. I go quickly towards the toilet to wash my hands every time I shake hands at cocktail receptions. We should all avoid shaking hands nowadays. Say "Namaste" or "howdy" without shaking hands.
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　　不要握手了。取而代之，说Namaste吧；又或者说Howdy。两种都比握手更为衞生。我从前已经说，我不喜欢握手。研究人员指，一只人手有超过五百颗细菌。在社交场合例如鸡尾酒会，要避免握手，几乎是不可能的。当某人在酒会上跟你握手的时候，那人已经跟许多其他人握过手了，细菌就由一只手传到另一只手。然后人们会用他们的手去吃手抓小食（finger food）。大部份酒会都会有手抓小吃（finger food）。在无数次握手后去吃手抓小吃（finger food），真是后患无穷（recipe for disaster）。因此我跟酒会各人握过手以后，总是会直奔去（make a beeline for）洗手间洗手。
　　在印度，人们互相问好的时候会说“Namaste”，就像西方人说“Hello”。它的意思是「我尊敬你」或「我向你鞠躬」，就跟日本人打招呼时躹躬相似。印度人说“Namaste”时不会握手，他们会将双掌合十。“Howdy”则指「哈啰」或「你好吗」，住在西岸或南部州份的美国人就最常用。印度总理纳伦德拉．莫迪上年九月到访德州，与特朗普出席一个集会，那个活动的非官方名称就是“Howdy, Modi”；而当特朗普上周到访印度时，那次欢迎会的非官方名称就叫“Namaste, Trump”。Finger food就是不需用刀叉吃的手抓食物。
　　习语“recipe for disaster”是指做某事就会带来灾祸或负作用。若你握过许多次手之后吃手抓小食（finger food），那将会后患无穷（recipe for disaster）。你很可能就会感染到新冠肺炎。To“make a beeline for”something意即直奔去做某事。你每次在酒会上握过手之后，我都会快快冲去洗手间清洁双手。
　　今时今日，我们更应避免握手。不握手而说“Namaste”或“Howdy”吧。
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁