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当前位置： Language Tips> Columnist 专栏作家> Zhang Xin
This question from Jerry in Beijing:
"I enjoy your column, especially the examples. I get a thorough understanding of some words from the examples you give. I wonder where you get them from. My question is in regard to the word 'tip'. When one pays for the taxi, they say "keep the change". That is a tip. That much I understand. 'Tip' can also mean 'advice', right? Please give me an example on that."
This question from Ruby:
What do you mean by saying “In short, aside from those who should’ve known better, the older are generally wiser”? I have never seen “should’ve” before. Is it widely used in English-speaking countries?
Question:
"Many times I'm faced with the same problem - I encounter a new phrase, know all the words in it individually but not when they are put together. I want to look it up in the dictionary, but do not know which word in the phrase to look up for.......
I'm not surprised that a discussion of the F-word is a favorite topic of you all, when you're in the right frame of mind.
Question:
"In the news, I've come across the phrase "expletive deleted" quite a few times recently. Example: '[expletives deleted], Jack, I know how to run my office.' It's from the conversation between a state governor in the United States and another public office holder. The Longman dictionary defines "expletive" as a rude word you use when you're angry or in pain, such as damn. I don't quite get it. Please explain."
Answer:
I'm essentially asked to speak the unspeakable here, a tough task if not an altogether impossible one......
A reader asks:
"In a poll of 18 nations, the Gallup Organization discovered that Icelanders are the happiest people alive. Eighty-two percent say they are satisfied with their personal lives. The United States ranked fifth at 72 percent; Japan came in seventh with 42 percent…"
Minutes ago, Yao Ming took part in his fourth All-Star Game. He ended up on the losing side as the All-Stars from Eastern Conference came back from 21 points down to beat the team from the West 122-120.This is, however, a good time to gauge Yao's growing popularity, in answer to a question from a Chinese basketball fan.
Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao claimed China's first-ever Olympic figure skating silver medal along with a gold for courage on Monday following a display of bravery seldom seen on an ice rink (Reuters, February 13, 2006).The "display of bravery" in this Reuters story refers to the heavy fall Dan suffered less than a minute into their program.
I was once asked by a young friend to translate for him the Chinese idiom "qu gao he gua" （曲高和寡）into English.
"Too highbrow to have many company", or "too highbrow to be popular" were answers I came up with.
As Trainer at chinadaily.com.cn, I get a lot of questions asked about the English language, especially on how to build one's vocabulary.
Yes, vocabulary. That's what people are worried about, "my vocabulary is not big enough" being a constant refrain.
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