英文一字之差,經常謬以千里。
網路上盛傳一則笑話,日本首相用錯了一個who和how,意思差了好遠,也鬧了大笑話:
Prime Minister Mori was given some Basic English conversation training before he visits Washington and meets President Barack Obama...
日本首相森總理在訪問華府會見歐巴馬總統前,先做了基礎英語談話訓練。
The instructor told Mori Prime Minister,” when you shake hand with President Obama,” please say” how are you ". Then Mr. Obama should say," I am fine, and you? “Now, you should say” me too ". Afterwards we, translators, will do the work for you."
翻譯官告訴森總理,當你與歐巴馬總統握手時,請說「你好嗎」(how are you), 歐巴馬會回答「我很好,你呢? 」這時你必須回答「我也是」(me too),接下來就是我們翻譯人員的事了。
It looks quite simple, but the truth is...
看起來很簡單,但實際情況卻是…
When Mori met Obama, he mistakenly said “who are you?” (Instead of "How are you?".)
"當森總理會見歐巴馬時,他誤說成「你是誰?」(who are you,他把who和how誤用了)
Mr. Obama was a bit shocked but still managed to react with humor: “Well, I'm Michelle's husband, ha-ha...
歐巴馬有點驚訝,但仍幽默以對︰「我是蜜雪兒的老公,哈哈….」(蜜雪兒是歐巴馬的太太)
Then Mori replied” me too, ha-ha....”
森總理回答:「我也是,哈哈....」
Then there was a long silence in the meeting room…
然後,會議室裡長長一陣沈默...