又中又英——“a far cry”
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
2021-02-11 04:17 HKT
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Today is Lunar New Year’s Eve. Some prefer to call it Chinese New Year. Others call it the Spring Festival because the New Year is celebrated not only in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan but also in places such as Vietnam, where it is called Tet. Restaurants and homes are normally bustling with family gatherings on New Year’s Eve. But this year is a far cry from previous years. Restaurants won’t be bustling because the government has ordered they must close at 6pm to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Many restaurant owners say this is silly because the virus spreads all day, not only after 6pm.
Closing restaurants at 6pm means there will be more end-of-year dinner gatherings at home today. I think conversations at some family dinners will be subdued (quiet, sad) because of the pandemic but other dinners will have spirited discussions about Britain’s offer to allow British National (Overseas) passport holders to live there. The word “bustling” means very busy, crowded, or full of activity. The expression “a far cry” means very different from something else. This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations will be very different, or a far cry, from previous years. The word “spirited” used this way means very lively, full of energy, or determination. I think some family dinners on New Year’s Eve will have lively discussions on using the BNO passport to move to Britain.
I usually go to the bustling Victoria Park flower fair on New Year’s Eve but won’t go this year because government restrictions will make it far less busting. Instead of having an enjoyable New Year’s Eve, I have to go to my dentist in the late afternoon for a crown. The word “crown” has several meanings. The most common is something worn on the head by a king or queen made of expensive metal with diamonds and other precious jewels. But a crown can also mean an artificial covering for a damaged tooth. I don’t mind doing a crown on New Year’s Eve because my dentist is a nice guy.
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今天是年三十晚，农历新年前夕。有些人会叫它做中国新年，另一些人则会叫它为春节，因为不止中国内地、香港、澳门和台湾会庆祝新年，另一些地方如越南，也会庆祝他们称为元旦节（Tet）的新年。在年三十晚，食肆与每家每户通常都是热热闹闹的（bustling），有许多家庭团聚。然而，今年的农历年跟往年的大相径庭（a far cry）。食肆都不再是熙来攘往的（bustling），因为政府已下令，晚上六时后不得经营晚市堂食，以防止病毒散播。许多餐厅的东主都说，这实在愚蠢之至，因为病毒不是六时后才散播，而是全天候的。
六时后就没有晚市堂食，意味着今天会有更多人在家吃团年饭。我认为，在团年饭桌上，一些议题会因为疫情而变得沉寂（subdued），但另一些家庭聚餐将有热烈的（spirited）讨论，是关乎英国开放给英国国民（海外）护照的持有人可以居英。“Bustling”是指繁忙、热闹、熙来攘往的。习语“a far cry”则指相距甚远、大相径庭的。今年的农历新年跟往年相比将会非常不同，或说“a far cry”。“Spirited”字在这里是指非常活跃、热烈、充满活力又或决心的。我相信，年三十晚的一些家庭团年饭，在透过BNO护照移英的议题上会有热炽的讨论。
我通常会在年三十晚去逛熙来攘往的（bustling）维园花市，但今年不会去了，因为政府的规限措施会令它变得远远不及往年般热闹（bustling）。我在年三十下午稍晚时候，要往牙医处做牙套（a crown），而非享受一个愉快的除夕。“Crown”一字有几个意思，最常见的就是国王或王后头上戴的皇冠，是用名贵金属镶嵌钻石和其他珍贵珠宝所造的。然而，crown也可以指修复受损牙齿的人工牙冠或牙套。我不介意在年三十晚做牙套（crown），因为我的牙医是个好人。
[email protected]
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
Closing restaurants at 6pm means there will be more end-of-year dinner gatherings at home today. I think conversations at some family dinners will be subdued (quiet, sad) because of the pandemic but other dinners will have spirited discussions about Britain’s offer to allow British National (Overseas) passport holders to live there. The word “bustling” means very busy, crowded, or full of activity. The expression “a far cry” means very different from something else. This year’s Lunar New Year celebrations will be very different, or a far cry, from previous years. The word “spirited” used this way means very lively, full of energy, or determination. I think some family dinners on New Year’s Eve will have lively discussions on using the BNO passport to move to Britain.
I usually go to the bustling Victoria Park flower fair on New Year’s Eve but won’t go this year because government restrictions will make it far less busting. Instead of having an enjoyable New Year’s Eve, I have to go to my dentist in the late afternoon for a crown. The word “crown” has several meanings. The most common is something worn on the head by a king or queen made of expensive metal with diamonds and other precious jewels. But a crown can also mean an artificial covering for a damaged tooth. I don’t mind doing a crown on New Year’s Eve because my dentist is a nice guy.
＊＊＊＊＊
今天是年三十晚，农历新年前夕。有些人会叫它做中国新年，另一些人则会叫它为春节，因为不止中国内地、香港、澳门和台湾会庆祝新年，另一些地方如越南，也会庆祝他们称为元旦节（Tet）的新年。在年三十晚，食肆与每家每户通常都是热热闹闹的（bustling），有许多家庭团聚。然而，今年的农历年跟往年的大相径庭（a far cry）。食肆都不再是熙来攘往的（bustling），因为政府已下令，晚上六时后不得经营晚市堂食，以防止病毒散播。许多餐厅的东主都说，这实在愚蠢之至，因为病毒不是六时后才散播，而是全天候的。
六时后就没有晚市堂食，意味着今天会有更多人在家吃团年饭。我认为，在团年饭桌上，一些议题会因为疫情而变得沉寂（subdued），但另一些家庭聚餐将有热烈的（spirited）讨论，是关乎英国开放给英国国民（海外）护照的持有人可以居英。“Bustling”是指繁忙、热闹、熙来攘往的。习语“a far cry”则指相距甚远、大相径庭的。今年的农历新年跟往年相比将会非常不同，或说“a far cry”。“Spirited”字在这里是指非常活跃、热烈、充满活力又或决心的。我相信，年三十晚的一些家庭团年饭，在透过BNO护照移英的议题上会有热炽的讨论。
我通常会在年三十晚去逛熙来攘往的（bustling）维园花市，但今年不会去了，因为政府的规限措施会令它变得远远不及往年般热闹（bustling）。我在年三十下午稍晚时候，要往牙医处做牙套（a crown），而非享受一个愉快的除夕。“Crown”一字有几个意思，最常见的就是国王或王后头上戴的皇冠，是用名贵金属镶嵌钻石和其他珍贵珠宝所造的。然而，crown也可以指修复受损牙齿的人工牙冠或牙套。我不介意在年三十晚做牙套（crown），因为我的牙医是个好人。
[email protected]
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁
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