“You are a chicken”
听到这句话
估计很多人特别是女孩子,心里都会冒起火吧
没办法,鸡在中文里的代指实在是一言难尽
不过虽然这句话的实际意思没有中文直译那么恶劣
但也的确不是好话
1
You are a chicken 是什么意思?
chicken 除了表达鸡,鸡肉
还可以表达另外一个意思
来看英文词典的解释
Meaning/Usage:
Being afraid or scared
意思/用法:
害怕;恐惧
Explanation: Chickens are very timid, afraid or scared of many things. It is common to use animals to express traits such as "sly as a fox" or "strong as a bear."
解释:因为小鸡很胆小,会恐惧或害怕很多事情。我们常用动物特征来比喻人的某些特质,比如“像狐狸一样狡猾”或“像熊一样强壮”等。
所以
You are a chicken
你是胆小鬼(懦夫)
例:
Come on , don't be a chicken. You can do it!
加油,别做胆小鬼,你可以的!
I'm scared of the dark. I'm a big chicken.
我很怕黑,是个十足的懦夫。
2
“胆子大”英文怎么说?
相反,要表达一个人胆子大
可以用bold胆大,无畏的
例:
She is bold and determined. I really admire her.
她大胆又果断,我真的佩服她。
“胆大心细”
bold but cautious
cautious [ˈkɔːʃəs] 小心的; 谨慎的
注意:用 but 连接,不是and!
例:
Being bold but cautious is his work style.
胆大心细是他的工作风格。
关于chicken的俚语还有不少
3
spring chicken
spring chicken 大家可不要直译成 “春天的鸡”哦
这个短语一般用来指年轻人;小鲜肉
之前小酱还分享过一个相关用语
no spring chicken=no chicken
意思是“不再年轻”
例:
I'm no spring chicken anymore.
我已青春不再。
4
play chicken
比试胆量,互相挑战和威胁
(以吓住对手为目标的危险游戏)
例:
When you're driving, you'd better not play chicken with bigger cars.
你开车的时候最好避开大车。
5
chicken and egg
因果难分的局面
(先有鸡还是先有蛋的情况)
例:
You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. It's a chicken and egg situation.
现在找工作都需要有经验啊,但是没有工作哪来的经验,真是让人头大。
6
like a headless chicken
像只没头的鸡
(类似中文里的没头苍蝇似的)
例句:
Instead of running around like a headless chicken, make a list of the things you need to finish and then work on them in that order.
别像个没头苍蝇似的乱转啦,赶快想一想接下来要做什么,列个单子,按着顺序加油啦。
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