又中又英——“gobsmacked”

　　Every morning I listen to English and Chinese radio news, watch English and Chinese TV news, and read English newspapers. I wish I could read Chinese newspapers but I can’t read or write Chinese. I chose to learn another language during my school days. My bad. While reading English newspapers last week I came across a word I have not used in a long time. The word was gobsmacked. I don’t think many Hong Kong people know this word. It is a British slang word. I like this word because it sounds funny but has a simple meaning. The expression “my bad” is an American slang expression.
　　I don’t think many Hong Kong people know this expression too. It sounds like bad grammar but grammar is not important for slang words or expressions. The expression “my bad” is used when people accept they are wrong or something is their fault. I was wrong not to have learned Chinese. It was my bad but I can’t change that now. The British slang word “gobsmacked” sounds complicated but it simply means you are so surprised or astonished that you are lost for words. The expression “lost for words” means you are so surprised or shocked you don’t know what to say.
　　For example, some people are lost for words or gobsmacked at award ceremonies when they win even though they didn’t expect to win. As a Hong Kong-born, I am lost for words at how the national security law has changed Hong Kong. There are many things I admit were my bad. I didn’t join gatherings with school friends because I was busy with work. But I was gobsmacked when they said they understood I had a busy schedule. I have said many times before Hong Kong teachers and people should not regard learning English as learning grammar. Britain’s royal family members use correct grammar but Hong Kong people are not part of Britain’s royal family. Learn grassroots English, especially if you decide to emigrate to Britain.
＊＊＊＊＊
　　每天早上我会收听英文及中文电台新闻报道，收看英文及中文电视新闻报道，也读英文的报章。我希望我能阅读中文报章，但我不懂读和写中文。于在学时期，我选择了学习另一个语文——是我的错（my bad）！上星期读英文报纸时，遇到一个我已很久没有用到的字。那个字是gobsmacked。我不认为许多香港人知道这个字，它是一个英式俚语。我喜欢这个字，因为它听起来很有趣，却有着一个简单的意思。习语“my bad”则是一个美式俚语。
　　我也不认为许多香港人知道这个习语。骤耳听来它像有着糟糕的文法，但其实对于俚语字或俚语的习语来说，文法不是那么重要。当人要承认自己做错，或某事是自己的过失时，便会用到习语“my bad”。我那时候不去学中文，实在是做错了决定。那是我的错（my bad），但我现在亦不能改变过去的决定。英式俚语“gobsmacked”听起来好像好复杂，但它的意思很简单，就是你感到意外或惊讶得lost for words。习语“lost for words”表示你很意外或震惊，以至说不出话来。
　　譬如在颁奖典礼上，即使有些人没有预计过自己会拿奖，但当知道自己得奖的一刻，还是会惊喜得说不上话来（lost for words），或是目瞪口呆（gobsmacked）。身为在香港出生的人，我对于《国安法》怎样改变了香港，亦是哑口无言（lost for words）。有许多事情，我不得不承认是我不好（my bad）。我没有参与旧同学的聚会，因为过往我总是忙于工作，但当他们说他们明白我的日程安排忙碌，对此我亦惊讶得说不上话来（gobsmacked）。我从前说过无数遍，香港的教师与香港人都不应将学习英语视为学习文法。英国皇室成员会用上正确的文法，但香港人不是英国皇室家族的一员。去学草根的英语吧，尤其是你决定要移民英国的话。
中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁