又中又英——let your hair down

　　When the new coronavirus, which started in Wuhan, began affecting our city, Hong Kong people went into a panic. They bought large amounts of bleach, hand sanitizers, facemasks, rice, and even toilet paper. They hunkered down in their tiny apartments after the government closed all schools and employers asked people to work from home. But after several weeks of hunkering down in tiny apartments, many Hong Kong people have started letting their hair down. They are going to country parks, restaurants, and bars. Infectious disease experts have warned that now is not the time for people to let their hair down. Thousands of Hong Kong people living in the US and Europe are returning because they feel it is safer here. Tests at the airport showed many have already been infected by the virus.
　　Medical experts have warned this could cause a second wave of infections in the community. The expression "hunker down" used this way means to take shelter in a safe place to avoid danger. Hong Kong people are used to hunkering down in their homes during typhoons. If you let your hair down, it means you allow yourself to behave more freely and enjoy yourself. The expression "second wave" used this way means a disease infection that affects a group of people, slows for a while then affects many more people in different parts of a community. Even though mainland China says it has controlled the coronavirus epidemic, some people say there will be a second wave.
　　I agree with the experts that it is too soon for Hong Kong people to let their hair down. I still hunker down in my apartment except when I have to do my TV shows. On weekends I go for a quick walk by the seaside near my apartment to exercise. I have avoided restaurants and bars for many weeks. I am lucky because I live alone and have a balcony with a harbour view. I cannot infect anyone and no one can infect me when I am at home. I sit on my balcony and listen to music.
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　　当起源于武汉的新型冠状病毒，开始影响我们的城市时，香港人陷入恐慌。他们购买大量的漂白水、酒精搓手液、口罩、米，甚至厕纸。政府宣布学校停课，雇主叫雇员在家工作后，他们蹲守（hunkered down）在他们那狭小的单位中。然而过了几周在狭小单位中隐忍（hunkering down）的日子后，许多香港人已开始放松自己（letting their hair down）了，他们会去郊野公园、餐厅和酒吧。一众传染病专家已警告说，现在不是人们放松（let their hair down）的时候。数以千计住在欧美的港人回港，因为他们觉得这儿更安全。在机场的病毒检测显示，许多人本身已经感染了疫症。
　　医学专家都警告，这会导致社区内的第二波（second wave）感染。习语“hunker down”在这里是指在躲藏在安全的地方中避难。香港人惯于在台风期间沉潜在（hunkering down）家中避难。若你 let your hair down，意即你容许自己放开些，尽情享受。习语“second wave”在这里是指一个疾病的传播影响一批人，放缓了一会后又再度在社区各处影响更多的人。虽然中国内地指，它已控制了新冠病毒的疫情，但一些人说将会有第二波（second wave）爆发。
　　我认同专家们的看法，香港人全然放松自己（let their hair down）实在言之尚早。除了去录制我的电视节目，其余日子我仍会沉住气、窝在（hunker down）家中。在周末我会去家附近的海滨来个快步走，锻炼一下身体。我已多周避免去餐厅和酒吧了。我很幸运，因为我独个儿住，有一个有海景的露台。我在家的时候，不会传染任何人，也没有任何人可以传染到我。我会坐在露台上，静听音乐。
中译：七刻

Michael Chugani 褚简宁