又中又英 | Highway robbery | 褚简宁

　　By the time you read this, I will be back in Hong Kong. I could already be chowing down fish ball noodles by the time you read this! The slang word “chow” means food. To “chow down” means to eat, especially in an informal way, like at home or at a cha chaan teng. I often see people gobble down food at buffets. To gobble down or gobble up food means to eat it very quickly and greedily. Or you can simply say “gobble food”. I never gobble food, preferring to eat and drink at a leisurely pace. To eat at a leisurely pace means to eat slowly and in a relaxing way.

　　I like being in Hong Kong, but friends have told me it’s become very expensive now. One friend told me a well-known Chinese restaurant chain charges over HK$140 just for take-out stir-fry noodles with beef. That’s highway robbery.  The expression “highway robbery” is used when businesses charge too much for something to increase profits. The same stir-fry noodles and beef dish costs less than half of that in Taipei even if I dine in rather than do take-out. No wonder so many Hong Kong people go to the mainland during weekends and holidays where they get better value for their money.

　　While in Hong Kong, I will make a side trip to Penang. I like the leisurely pace (relaxed and unhurried lifestyle) and affordability of Penang. I was there last year and stayed at the Penang Club, a beautiful heritage building with just a few guest rooms overlooking the sea. My friend is a club member and has arranged for me to stay there again.

　　当你读到这里的时候，我便已经身处香港了。你读着的当儿，或许我已经在尽情地吃着（chowing down）鱼蛋面呢！俚语“chow”是指食物；to“chow down”是非正式的用语，是指在家或茶餐厅这些地方大快朵颐。我不时见人们吃自助餐时狼吞虎咽（gobble down）。To gobble down或gobble up food是指大口大口、狼吞虎咽地吃；又或者你可以简单地说“gobble food”。我就从不会狼吞虎咽（gobble food），情愿悠闲地（leisurely pace）吃喝。To eat at a leisurely pace是指缓慢而悠闲地吃。

　　我喜欢待在香港，但朋友们都告诉我现在香港的物价变得高昂。一个朋友跟我说，在一间知名的连锁中餐馆外卖牛肉炒面，盛惠140元！那真是highway robbery—习语highway robbery是当商舖为了增加利润而开天杀价，就像「公路抢劫」。在台北，同样的一碟牛肉炒面，即使我堂食而不是外卖，也还不到一半的价钱。无怪乎有那么多香港人在周末和假期期间到内地游玩，那里消费更物有所值。

　　我在香港时，会顺道去一趟槟城。我喜欢槟城的休闲（leisurely pace）和容易负担的物价。我上年在那儿，住在槟城俱乐部，那是一幢美丽的历史建筑，只有几个能眺望大海的套房。我朋友是俱乐部的会员，已经安排了我再度入住。

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Michael Chugani褚简宁
中译：七刻