Greetings‏

East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet.”
At least, that’s what English writer Rudyard Kipling said. Truth is, nowadays Easterners and Westerners meet quite often. And when they do meet, naturally, they have to find an appropriate greeting. Aye, there’s the rub. What’s culturally appropriate for people in one culture may be completely out of line in another culture. So the best approach is to follow the well-known maxim,“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
「東方是東方，西方是西方，兩者是
不會相會的。」至少，英國短篇小說家
吉普林是如此認為。事實上，當今東方
人與西方人時常碰面。當他們會面時，
自然而然地必須找出一種合適的問候方
式。唉，這就麻煩了！在某個文化裡可
能恰到好處的事，到另一個文化裡，就
可能過分踰矩。因此，最佳的做法就是
遵守這個耳熟能詳的行事準則：「入境
隨俗」。
So what’s an appropriate salutation for Americans? Maybe you already know how to say, “How are you?” You might even know the customary response, “Fine, thanks, and you?” Is that all there is to greeting people American-style? Well, Americans do often use this trite greeting, and they generally expect nothing but the standard answer. (If you want to shock an American friend, the next time he greets
you this way, tell him how you're really doing.)
那麼，對美國人而言，什麼才是適
當的問候語？可能你已經懂得怎麼說
「How are you?」（你好嗎？）你甚至也知
道一般常用的回答「Fine, thanks, and you?」
（我很好，謝謝，你呢？）用美國的方式
來問候別人，就僅僅如此而已嗎？其實
美國人的確常用這老套的問候方式，而
他們所期待的，也只是一般的標準回
答。（你如果想讓你的美國朋友吃驚，
下一次他如此問候你時，你就把你真正
的感覺告訴他。）
But most Americans enjoy a little variety now and then. In informal settings, you might hear Americans say,“How’s it going?” (which doesn't mean, “What’s your destination?”) or “What’s up?” (which isn’t an inquiry about the stock market). Formal situations, on the other hand might call for expressions like “Good morning” or “Hello, it’s nice to see you.”
但是，多數的美國人
偶而會喜歡有些變化。在非正式的場合
裡，你可能聽到美國人說「How's it
going?」(它不是在問「你的目的地是哪
裡？」)或者是「What's up?」(它也不是
詢問股市的動態) 而在另一方面，一個正
式的場合所使用的問候語，則可能是
「Good morning」（早安），或是「Hello, it
is nice to see you.」（哈囉！很高興見到
你。）
After the initial “hello,” what kind of comments are appropriate to kick off a conversation? You might engage in small talk and make a remark about the weather, your job or current events. Or you could ask your American friend about his recent activities or his upcoming plans.
說了開場的「Hello」之後，用什麼
話來適當地打開話閘子呢？你可能與對
方閒聊，提及天氣、你的工作或是時
事。或者，你可以問你的美國朋友他最
近做了什麼，或是再來的計劃有哪些。
If you know that he’s been under the weather, you might ask him how he’s feeling. But don’t make use of personal comments or questions like “Boy, you’ve put on weight!” or “What are all those bumps on your face?” or “How much money did that necklace cost?”Americans might take offense at questions or comments about money or their appearance.
如果你知道他一直身體不適，你或許可
以問他感覺如何。但千萬不要用牽涉個
人的評語或問題，像是：「唷！你體重
又增加了！」或是「你臉上一粒一粒的
是怎麼來的？」或是「那條項練你花了
多少錢？」美國人可能會對於有關金錢
以及個人外表的問題或批評，感到反
感。
One other caution: In some social contexts, particularly in an office or a professional setting, greetings between the sexes should be very conservative. If you’re a man, greeting a woman with a statement like “Wow! You look beautiful today!” may be construed as a come-on. So when you’re giving a compliment,
the key is to use discretion.
另一項值得注意的：在某種社交場
合，尤其是在辦公室或專業場合裡，兩
性之間的問候應該非常保守。如果你是
男性，而問候女性時你說：「哇！你今
天真漂亮！」這可能會被誤解為一種挑
逗行為。因此，讚美他人時，仔細斟酌
非常重要。
What about overt displays of affection, like hugging and kissing? Contrary to some stereotypes, Americans don’t go around hugging and kissing everyone they meet. Of course, girls might give each other a squeeze as a friendly gesture, and in some high society circles, a little peck on the cheek is a common courtesy. But except with family members and close friends, Americans usually don’t give out wholesale hugs. Besides that, not all Americans are inveterate huggers anyway. So don’t wrap your arms around the next American you see. He or she might be just as uncomfortable as you are.
那麼，公開地表示感情，例如擁抱
以及親吻，又該如何呢？美國人與一般
人所認定的典型不同，他們並不會到處
擁抱、親吻遇見的每一個人。當然，女
性們可能會在見面時彼此緊抱一下以示
友好；而且在某些上流社交圈裡，輕吻
對方的面頰是很普遍的禮節。但除了對
家人與好友外，美國人通常不會經常隨
便擁抱他人。此外，並不是每一位美國
人都習慣擁抱他人。因此，不要隨便把
手臂環住下一個你碰到的美國人。他可
能會跟你一樣地不自在。
A more common form of greeting in America is the handshake. Generally,
handshaking is expected in more formal settings, such as when making business contacts or coming face-toface with an important personage. But friends (especially men) often pump hands and slap each other on the back. And when people are introduced, they may shake hands (or at least nod their heads) as a sign of cordiality.
握手是美國較普遍的問候方式。一
般而言，人們會在較正式的場合握手，
例如商場往來，或與重要人物見面時。
但朋友之間（尤其是男性），通常都會彼
此猛握手和拍打對方的背部。當人們被
介紹給他人認識時，可能互相握手（或
至少點點頭），以示誠意。
A more common form of greeting in America is the handshake. Generally,
handshaking is expected in more formal settings, such as when making business contacts or coming face-toface with an important personage. But friends (especially men) often pump hands and slap each other on the back. And when people are introduced, they may shake hands (or at least nod their heads) as a sign of cordiality.
握手是美國較普遍的問候方式。一
般而言，人們會在較正式的場合握手，
例如商場往來，或與重要人物見面時。
但朋友之間（尤其是男性），通常都會彼
此猛握手和拍打對方的背部。當人們被
介紹給他人認識時，可能互相握手（或
至少點點頭），以示誠意。
And if all else fails, smile. A smile is a universal language. No matter how far east or west you go, it’s the one greeting that’s almost always welcome. Cheshire cat grins, however, are another matter. When you’re armed with a smile, and your heart is open, cross-cultural barriers quickly fall down. As Rudyard Kipling’s verse concludes, “There is neither East nor West, border, nor breed, nor birth, When two strong men stand face to face, though they come from the ends of earth!”
如果所有方式都不管用，你就微笑
吧！微笑是世界性的語言。無論你多深
入東方或西方，微笑幾乎總是一種受歡
迎的問候（但無緣無故地露齒假笑則另
當別論）。當你用微笑裝備自己，敞開心
胸，跨文化障礙便迅速瓦解。正如吉普
林詩詞結尾時說：「兩名強者面對面相
遇時，縱然他們是來自地之兩極，即沒
有所謂的東方或西方、國界、種族、與
地位之差異。」（意即人與人若友善相
對，一切的障礙都不是問題。）
?Word Bankbe out of line (idiom) 不合適
maxim (n) 準則；格言
salutation (n) 問候語；寒喧
trite (adj) 平凡普遍的；老套的
inquiry (n) 詢問
kick off (v phr) 開始
under the weather (idiom) 身體不適
construe (v) 解釋；推斷
discretion (n) 謹慎
overt (adj) 公然的；公開的
wholesale (adj) 大批的；不分對像的
inveterate (adj)（習慣、疾病等）根深的；積習性的
personage (n) 名士；顯貴；大人物
pump (v) 猛握手
cordiality (n) 誠懇；友善
personage (n) 名士；顯貴；大人物
pump (v) 猛握手
cordiality (n) 誠懇；友善
Cheshire cat (n phr) 「愛莉絲夢遊仙境」一書中，一隻時常咧齒而笑的貓隻，意指假笑
breed (n) 種族

The Day's Phrase

What's showing this winter at a theater near you?
今年冬季有什麼電影好看呢？一起瞧瞧吧
That ice cream hit the spot! It was just what I wanted to eat.那冰淇淋剛好滿足我的需要！那正是我想吃的東西。
Don't forget to brush
別忘了刷牙喔

Don't let anyone hurt you. You should stand up for yourself!
不要讓任何人來傷害你。你要為自己辯護！

Keeping employees healthy is a priority for my company
維護員工健

Christine always has to stay up late to finish her homework.
克莉絲汀總是熬夜到很晚把功課做完。

康是公司的第一要務

Can you stick around and help clean up after the party?
派對完後你可以多待一會兒幫忙我清理嗎？

Keeping employees healthy is a priority for my company
維護員工健康是公司的第一要務

America's largest home sparkles with magic at Christmastime
全美最大的豪宅在聖誕節期間閃耀著奇幻光芒
I stumbled across your phone number in my phone book and thought I would call you.
我在我的電話本中無意間看見你的電話號碼，然後就想打電話給你。

America's largest home sparkles with magic at Christmastime
全美最大的豪宅在聖誕節期間閃耀著奇幻光芒

I didn't want to come tonight, but my sister talked me into coming.
我今晚本來不想來的，但我姊姊說服我來。

Christmas songs fill the heart with the magic of the season
聖誕歌曲令人感受到佳節的魔幻氣氛

After I got my hair cut, I burst into tears because I hated how it looked.
我頭髮剪完後我就哭了出來，因為我討厭那個樣子。

Dr. Kellie Lim's life is a lesson in overcoming disabilities
林嘉美醫生克服殘障的人生經歷足以帶來啟示

I know high school is hard, but just hang in there. You are almost finished!
我知道讀高中很苦，不過撐著點。你就快要讀完了！

The scientists finally got a breakthrough in searching for a cure for cancer.
科學家終於在尋找癌症的治療上有了突破。

Other people know when to stop making jokes. But you go too far!
別人說笑話都懂得分寸。但你就太過分了！