又中又英——zoomplomacy and Covidiot

　　Some weeks ago, while reading a magazine article, I came across the word “zoomplomacy”. It is a made-up rather than a proper word but it was not hard to guess its meaning. The word “zoomplomacy” is a combination of two words – zoom and diplomacy. Since the coronavirus started late last year in China and spread to the world, social distancing made it difficult for people to have face-to-face meetings. Many companies and even world leaders used the Zoom app for meetings. The word “diplomacy” means the management of relations between countries through their leaders or their overseas representatives, known as diplomats. The new word “zoomplomacy” means world leaders or diplomats using Zoom to discuss relations between their countries.
　　I am not sure if dictionaries will classify “zoomplomacy” as a proper word but my guess is the word won’t be used much when there is a vaccine for the coronavirus because face-to-face meetings will then become normal again. The expression “face-to-face” means actually seeing each other instead of using apps like Zoom. Many other words aside from “zoomplomacy” have been invented since the coronavirus pandemic started. The word “webinar” has become popular since the virus started. It is a combination of the words “web” (internet) and seminar. One of the funniest is “covidiot”. This word is a combination of the words Covid -19, the scientific name for the coronavirus, and idiot. It means a person who disobeys social distancing rules.
　　Hong Kong's tourism industry now often uses the word "staycation". This is a combination of the words "stay" and "vacation". Summer vacations have become impossible because of the pandemic. Most countries have closed their borders to tourists. Hotel rooms in Hong Kong are almost empty because foreign tourists who visit must go through quarantine. The tourism industry believes Hong Kong people can still have a good time staying here for their summer vacation. Many hotels have very affordable “staycation” offers. I was recently at the Hong Kong Disney Hotel to see friends. The hotel has affordable “staycation” offers. I plan to try it.
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　　几个星期前，我读着一篇杂志的文章时，遇到了“zoomplomacy”这个字。这是一个新造而非正统的字，但也不难猜得出它的意思。“Zoomplomacy”是zoom和 diplomacy这两个字的合成体。自从新冠病毒上年年尾于中国内地爆发，再蔓延至全世界，社交距离令人难有面对面（face-to-face）交流的会议。Diplomacy是指国与国之间，透过元首或其驻外地的代表，即外交官（diplomats），所进行的外交事务。新字“zoomplomacy”就是世界领袖或外交官（diplomats），运用Zoom这个软件，去商讨国际关系事宜。
　　我不确定各大字典可会将“zoomplomacy”归类为正统的字，但我估计，当有针对新冠病毒的疫苗面世时，这个字就不会那么常用，因为面对面（face-to-face）的会议又再恢复正常。习语face-to-face是指面对面交流，而非用Zoom这类的软件。新冠肺炎全球大流行疫情爆发以来，在“zoomplomacy”以外也新创了许多其他字词。自病毒出现以来，“webinar”一字就开始流行，它是“web”（互联网）及 seminar（研讨会）的合成字。“Covidiot”也是其中一个很有趣的字，它是新冠病毒的学名Covid -19及 idiot的合成字，意指不服从社交距离规则的白痴。
　　香港旅游业现在就常用到"staycation"这个字，它是"stay"和"vacation"的合成字。因着这全球大流行疫症，到外地放暑假已变得不可能；大部份国家也已封关，不容许游客入境。香港的酒店房间十室九空，因为外地游客访港一定要接受隔离检疫。旅游业相信，香港人仍然可以在这儿放暑假，享受美好的时光。许多酒店都推出非常超值实惠的「宅度假」（“staycation”）推广计划。我最近就到了香港迪士尼酒店见见朋友。酒店也有实惠的「宅度假」（“staycation”）推广，我打算一试。
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中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁