Fire goes up
By Kako (from Japan)
Picture by Zhu Lijun



Ms Satoh from Japan loves Pringles, the world's most popular potato chips. She was very happy to find that she can get Pringles in China, too. The problem is that once she starts eating them, she literally "can't stop".

One day, Ms Satoh was watching a new DVD whilst eating sour-cream and onion Pringles (her favorite). She was very happy until her Chinese husband, Li-san (Mr. Li) asked her not to eat so much. He then added, "If you eat that stuff a lot, well, how can I say, fire goes up." Ms Satoh became speechless. What the hell does he mean by "fire goes up"? She imagined fire rising up from her Pringles-filled stomach and exploding out of her mouth like Godzilla.

Li-san tried to explain how in "shang-huo", "shang" means "going up" and "huo" means "fire". He just gave the literal translation. In China, it is believed that some food causes fever in your body, and it attracts many kinds of health problems. The common symptom of "shang-huo" could be pimples on the face. That's why many Chinese girls avoid eating the "Shang-huo" foods, such as potato chips, cookies and cakes. Ms Satoh was also told that the symptoms of "shang-huo" differ in each person. Some may have a throat pain; some catch a cold, etc.

In Japan, there is no concept of "shang-huo". Ms Satoh found it very interesting, so she started thinking about her "shang-huo" symptom. She felt excited to find that her long-plaguing(困扰) rash on her hands seemed to have something to do with what she eats. To make sure, she stopped eating what is called "shang-huo", then her rash got better. Redoubtable(令人敬畏的) Chinese food philosophy!

"I have to stop eating Pringles." Ms Satoh said to her husband. She looked a little sad. Li-san wanted to cheer her up and he said to her, "you love ice creams, too. Ice creams are not 'shang-huo'." Ms Satoh's face sparkled. She sprang out of the house and bought some delicious vanilla(香草) and chocolate ice creams to eat while watching another new DVD.

 

 

Say Cheese
By Suky

在旅游区几乎都是人手一台相机.甚至有人手上拿一台,脖子上还要挂一台.不但每一个景点都不肯错过照相的机会,有时还要变换各种不同的姿势以增加上相的几率.(来学校参观的外宾也受到了Suky这样的礼遇.)

1. Take a picture. It lasts longer.
照张相吧, 这样可以保存比较久.
这句话其实有两种意思.第一种是当你觉得某个地方风景真的不错,非常值得留念的时候,可以这么说.但事实上,老美说这句话通常都是另一种意思--请不要一直看我! 比如说一个ppmm上街被人呆呆地看,这个时候就可以恶狠狠地对那个花痴说,Take a picture. It lasts longer.

2. Do you know how to do this timer thing?
你知道怎么用这个定时器吗?
Timer 就是定时器,用在照相机上就专指相机的定时自拍功能.通常在拍团体照 (group picture) 的时候都会用到定时器 (timer) 和三角架 (tripod).这句话我觉得老美说得很漂亮.我可能会用 how to use this timer ,但他用的是, how to do this timer thing? 像这种话一听就知道不是出自老中之口,也是我最鼓励大家去模仿的句型.

3. Okay. You can pull the trigger now.
好, 现在你可以按下快门了.
提到"按下快门", 我们很少会正经八百地说, pull the trigger.通常就说 press the button 或是有时强调用力按下去会说 press the button all the way down 就完事了.所以我一向不知道快门正式的英文名称原来叫shutter.

4. Do you know where I can develop my films?
你知道哪里可以洗相片吗?
"洗相片"不知有没有人说成 wash my films?如果有的话那就太离谱了一点.附带一提,底片的英文是 film,一卷底片就是 one roll of film.至于 negative 则是 "负片"的意思,指的是底片冲洗之后得到的胶卷.

5. I want it to be 4", double prints.
我想要洗 4 英寸 (4 * 6), 双份的照片.
许多人不知道 3 * 5 和 4 * 6 的相片英文要怎么说.其实老美不说 3 * 5, 而说3 inches,4 * 6 则是4 inches.这是很大的不同.

6.You are very photogenic.
你非常上相.
大家在欣赏照片之余总是不免要互相拍一下马屁.其中有一句话对女生来讲最受用,就是You are photogenic. 当然上相无关美丑, 美的人可以上相, 丑的人也可以上相, 所以You are very photogenic. 这句话也就无关诚实了.

 

 

Ask the Chef
By the Chef

Chef's Profile: This chef is not just any chef, not only does he know everything there is to know about cooking, but also he is an absolute guru in Engish writing. Therefore, if you ever feel hungry or stuck in your English writing, you should go ask the Chef!

Last week's assignment:
You are a project manager and you have led some of your colleagues to successfully complete a project. Please write a short email to thank them all for their hard work and invite them to a celebration of a BBQ party.

My dear colleagues, (1)
To begin (2)with,glad to tell you that the project we (3)had been doing the last 2 months has passed through the inspection of the company board.
That is to say,we completed it successfully. So,as the chief project manager,I write this letter to thank you for your cooperation,for your effort,for your supports,without which I do not think we can complete it so successfully. Let me thank you for your hard work again. (4)In honour of the success,we are going to have a (5)celebrating - a BBQ party.All of you are invited.Please (6)attend on time.
Your(7) sincerely,
Manager

Chef commented:
(1)在工作中,细节往往是一个人价值的重要体现:一件事, 一次发言,一封email, 都非常重要.不管你是老板经理,还是一般员工,如果能在细节上处理得更好一些,你的popularity就会轻而易举胜人一筹.这封信写得有些潦草,劝你在我帮你改好之前,千万别发出去.
(2)　在英文中,逗号之后要加上一个空格,这点和汉语不一样.
(3)　在这里不应该用过去完成式.
(4) "In honor of the success"?"在胜利的荣誉下"? 显然有些不通顺.
(5) 请注意在英文中,不是所有的动名词都可以做单词的名词形式用.
(6)别忘了告诉大家具体时间.
(7)Yours.

Chef revised:
My dear colleagues,
To begin with, I am very glad to tell you that the project we have been working on during the last two months turned out to be a great success.
Therefore, as the chief project manager, I am writing this letter to thank you for your cooperation, efforts, and support, which allowed us to succeed. In order to celebrate this you are all invited to a BBQ at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow (5th). Please be on time.
Yours sincerely,
Manager

This week's assignment:
Today is the birthday of the company. Please write an email to encourage your colleagues on such a special occasion. Please send your assignment to thecommonchef@yahoo.com with your Chinese name.

 

 

Crossword Puzzle



Across
3. A form of liquid.
5. Human-like animal.
6. To criticize harshly.
8. People living at the North pole.
11. Article.
12. To destroy, to finish.

Down
1. Not common.
2. Deeply earnest and serious.
3. To confess.
4. To get up or stand up.
5. The world's largest continent.
6. A pleasing aromatic fragrance.
7. To enjoy oneself in the sun.
9. A modern devise used for communication.
10. A prep.

The following people have won free movie tickets:黄秋福,陈雯琦,花云,郑诗冲,陈巧瑜,陈玲玲,吴丽莎,杨娟,卓岚,俞艳婷. Please go to the Jinying Cinema (世贸金鹰影院) within two weeks. 欲知上期答案,请登录http://www.common-talk.com

 

 

《假如给我三天光明》
By 王鸽鹏



19世纪,当"海伦·凯勒"这个名字从地平线上崛起时,全世界的人都为之震撼.这位又聋又哑又盲的残疾女孩,凭着自己对生命的挚热追求和坚忍不拔的意志力,创造出一个属于人类的奇迹.
"让我看看这一切吧,仅仅摸一摸便给了我如此巨大的欢乐,如果能看到的话,那该是多么令人高兴啊!"海伦在心中呐喊着,她为那些有视力却视而不见的人类感到悲哀.她幻想着倘若有三天时间可以看到世界,她将希望看到什么.周围的亲人朋友,自己的家,森林的壮丽景色,地球缩影的历史博物馆,城市的街道,人群,景观...这些在常人眼中司空见惯的事物,对于海伦来说,却是一笔永生永世也取不尽,用不竭的财富.
在心灵的震撼中读完这本书,对生命有了全新的理解和感悟.明天,我要重新开始生活!有同感的请到市内新华书店碰面.