Donny 在北京学中文。他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词,就会来请教他。今天是杨琳要问的:忙。
Donny:Hi 杨琳,what's up? I haven't seen you in ages.
YL:别提了,我最近特别忙,I am really busy! 忙得四脚朝天,怎么说…… four feet up!
Donny:four feet up? I can imagine. But in English, we don't say that ... You can say I'm up to my neck in work.
YL:I'm up to my neck... in work ? 工作太多,堆到和脖子一样高?被工作压得喘不过气来。这个说法太形象了! 还有别的吗?
Donny:There is another expression that also has to do with body parts. It is "I've got my hands full".
YL:I've got my hands full。我明白了,就是说两手都没闲着。
Donny:Exactly. Oh, I just thought of another one—"I have a lot on my plate".
YL:I have a lot on my plate? plate, p-l-a-t-e, plate 不是盘子么?说盘子里有很多东西,那一定是……忙着吃呢吧?
Donny:That's possible! Anyway, when you say you have a lot on your plate, it means you're busy.
YL:我知道了。哎呀,我快迟到了,快,再教最后一个。
Donny:Okay, this one will be easier to remember—I've got a million things to do!
YL:太夸张了吧! I've got a million things to do! 有一百万件事情等着我去做。
Donny:Right! Now, Yang Lin, tell me what you've learned today!
YL:今天学到的还真不少。形容特别忙可以说,I'm up to my neck in work,工作堆到脖子了;I've got my hands full, 两手都占着呢;I have a lot on my plate,盘子里堆得满满的。哎呀! 我得赶紧走人了,I've got a million things to do!
这次的“美语怎么说”就到这里结束了。如果你也有不会说的词,请写信给Donny, 电邮请寄meiyu@voanews.com
A:现代人的生活总是这么忙碌,这不是,之前有好几起年轻人猝死的事件,就是因为压力太大,工作太累了!
B:Yeah, I heard those reports too. That's a reminder for us, 杨琳! In the interest of our health, we should definitely take it easy with all this serious hosting and take a break to go have some fun!
A:哈哈,我只好听你的喽! 好,这次节目时间就到这里。同学们,如果你对我们的节目有什么建议,或者想提什么问题,请发电子邮件到meiyu@voanews.com.
B:Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!
A:See you next time!