A Misunderstanding
一场误会
In general, spoken statements are the major way of communication, but body language and facial expressions also have such kinds of function. For example, yawning means being not interested and turning one’s back to someone or swinging your fist shows your anger. But what those gestures really mean is subjective in different cultures. Thus, misunderstandings happen now and then in today’s world of cultural crossroads.
Once, representing the Adults’ Education Association, I went to the airport to meet an official of high rank from Columbia and take him to his dormitory and then to the canteen. After the flight arrived, I saw a man looking around curiously. So I approached to greet him. He suddenly dashed to hug me and kissed me on both cheeks. As a young girl, I felt truly embarrassed and put up my hands to defend myself. His false smile told me that he had lost face.
Later, I received a cassette from him, in which he recorded his apology. On hearing that Columbians were more likely to kiss others, I soon felt at ease.
通常说来,口头表达是人们交流的主要方法,但是肢体语言和面部表情也有这种功能。例如,打哈欠意味着不感兴趣,背对别人或向其挥舞拳头表达的是愤怒。但是在不同的文化中那些手势表达的真正意思是很主观的。由此,误会就时不时地发生在今天这个文化交叉碰撞的世界里。
有一回,我代表成人教育协会到机场去接一位从哥伦比亚来的高级官员,我得带他到宿舍和食堂。当他的航班到达时,我看见一名男子好奇地东张西望,于是走上前去和他打招呼。他突然猛冲过来拥抱我,还亲了我的脸颊。还是个年轻姑娘的我感到真尴尬,不由自主举起手来保护自己。他的假笑告诉我他感到丢了面子。
后来,我收到他送来的一盒磁带,里面录了他的道歉。当听到这只是因为哥伦比亚人更倾向于见面时互相亲吻时,我很快就感到轻松安心了。
Take part in, join in, participate, attend 四个表示“参加”的单词或短语
Labour, labourer, workforce, worker 与“工作”相关的四个单词
Burn a hole in your pocket 一有钱就想花
Teenager, adolescent, kid and child 英语中“孩子”的几种说法
Improving your vocabulary 增加词汇量
Strapped for cash 手头紧
Pay through the nose for something 出高价,花大价钱
Dictionary and other words 与“词典”相关的近义词
Shopping for ‘shoes’ 不同种类的“鞋”
Different types of hats 各种帽子的英文说法
Shade or shadow? “阴”和“影”的区别
Barrier, hurdle, impediment, hindrance 四个表示“障碍”单词的区别
Talk nineteen to the dozen 说话很快,喋喋不休
Work your socks off 拼命干活
Football and soccer 两个词的区别
Knock your socks off 叹为观止
At sixes and sevens 乱七八糟
Armed to the teeth 全副武装
Butterfly numbers drop a mystery, say experts 英国蝴蝶数量下降现象令专家费解
Lose one's shirt 输得一干二净
Revise and review 的区别
Practical and pragmatic “实用的”两个词的区别
Accountability, liability and responsibility 的区别
Emperor/empress 和 king/queen 的区别
Been to vs gone to 语法辨析
Have egg on your face 狼狈不堪
Parcel, sack, box 包裹类词语
So far 的用法
Under someone's thumb 受人控制
Passion and enthusiasm 两个词的区别
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