老外說I was today years old,跟他幾歲沒關係!
圖/pixabay
Jessica和朋友在線上聊天,在臺灣待一段時間了的外國朋友,終於逛了臺灣的夜市,吃到人生第一次的臭豆腐、蚵仔煎。朋友在Line上說道:"I was today years old…."
這話看得Jessica滿頭霧水,「我是今天的歲數」,難道是慶祝生日,去逛夜市嗎?
1.I was today years old.
(X)我是今天的歳數。
(O)一直到今天我才知道/我生平第一次…
“I was today years old.”是這幾年來社交網路的流行語,意思是,搞了這麼久,今天第一次嘗試,好像今天才出生一樣。特別是一件事情,大家都知道,大家都吃過,但你卻今天才體驗到,就可以用這句,是一種幽默的口吻。
"I was today years old" 後面常常會跟着when I learned/when I found out….…。
.I was today years old when I went to the night market. 我生平第一次去逛夜市。
2.Like there is /was no tomorrow.
(X)就像沒有明天。
(O)過分地,瘋狂地,不顧一切地,毫無節制地
“Like there’s no tomorrow.”字面上是「好像沒有明天」,如果沒有明天,所有長遠的打算都不必在意了,引申爲「不顧一切,瘋狂地」。例如:
.They were eating like there’s no tomorrow. 他們狼吞虎嚥地吃,好像沒有下一頓了一般。
.After he won the lottery, he began spending money like there was no tomorrow. 他贏了彩票後,開始拼命花錢。
3.I wasn’t born yesterday.
(X)我不是昨天出生。
(O)別當我是三歲小孩。
老外說I was not born yesterday的時候,不是在討論年紀。這句話有點嗆,我不是昨天才生的,有點像中文裡的,別當我是三歲小孩。也就是,你說的我不信。
.You don't fool me - I wasn't born yesterday. 不要愚弄我——我可不是三歲小孩。
4.I need it yesterday.
(X)我昨天需要。
(O)我馬上就要。
Need it yesterday聽起來不太合理,昨天都過去了,怎麼要?這句話大多用在迴應別人問"When do you need this?"時,回答"I need it yesterday!",意思是早該給了,我現在就要。是強勢的口吻。看一下對話,體驗一下口氣:
Mary: Where's the contract? 合約在哪兒?
Sue: Do you need it now? 你現在要嗎?
Mary: I need it yesterday! Where is it? 早就該給了,在哪兒。