Jessica 在北京學漢語,她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞,就會來請教她。今天是于苗要問的:贅肉。
Jessica: 于苗! You look so cute in this red dress!
YM: 真的么?難道你不覺得這件連衣裙有點瘦么?
Jessica: Ah....it's....a little tight. Just a little!
YM: 唉,我去年買這條裙子的時候,穿著還有點肥呢,今年居然緊成這樣,看來我這贅肉真是沒少長啊!
Jessica: Don't be upset, Yumiao. You may have a little extra meat on your bones, but trust me, you still look good!
YM: extra meat on my bones?骨頭上有多余的肉?這在中文里就叫"贅肉"。唉,I really want this "extra meat" gone! 尤其是這腰上的贅肉,真是討厭的“救生圈”啊!
Jessica: I know! No one wants that "spare tire". It's our worst enemy!
YM: spare, s-p-a-r-e, spare; tire, t-i-r-e, tire, spare tire 不是指“備用輪胎”么?原來,中國人把腰上的一圈贅肉比喻成“救生圈”,美國人則把它比成“spare tire”備用胎。
Jessica: That's right! We also call the extra fat around your waist line "love handles".
YM: 腰上的贅肉還可以叫 love handles? love 愛情;handle, h-a-n-d-l-e, handle 把手。這肥肉也能跟愛情掛上鉤嗎?
Jessica: Well, think about it. When your boyfriend wraps his arms around you, he can hold on to these like handles?!
YM: ???太可怕了。我可不想要 love handles. I'm going to the gym, starting TODAY!
Jessica: Well, before you go, tell me what you've learned today!
YM: 第一“贅肉”在美語里叫 extra meat on the bones; 第二,形容腰上的贅肉,可以說 spare tire; 第三,腰間肥肉的另外一種說法是 love handles.