標籤: 褚簡寧專欄

By the time you read this, Hong Kong will be out of sight for me because I left last week. I am now in Taipei, which feels like my third home. But Hong Kong can never be out of mind because I am Hong Kong-born. The expression “out of sight, out of mind” means to quickly forget about people or things that are no longer part of someone’s life. Childhood school friends can be out of sight, out of mind if they don’t keep in touch. Friends often ask if Hong Kong or the US is my first home.

That question always puts me in a reflective mood. If you are in a reflective mood, it means you are thinking carefully and quietly about something. I grew up in Hong Kong, went to school there, and worked for many Hong Kong media organizations. Hong Kong will always be a part of me even though it has changed a lot in recent years. The US is a part of me because I spent many of my adult years living and working there. Most of my closest relatives live in the US.

I am often in a reflective mood trying to decide if I should spend my final years in Hong Kong or the US. I was thinking about that when I headed to Cathay’s newly-opened The Bridge lounge before my Taipei flight. It is a huge, comfortable lounge with different food sections and shower rooms. I sat at a quiet corner near an impressive bar. It had windows with a view of arriving and departing planes. Where I sat is a hidden gem, which means a pleasant place not many people know about. I was in a reflective mood at this hidden gem drinking wine and watching the planes.

當你讀到這裏的時候，我已完全看不見（out of sight）香港，因為我上星期已離港了。我現在身處台北，這就像我的第三個家。然而，我卻永遠不能忘掉（out of mind）香港，因為我是香港出生的。習語”out of sight, out of mind”是「眼不見，心不念」，當人或事物不再是某人生命的一部分，就迅速忘掉，不作多想了。兒時同窗好友如果沒有保持聯絡，也可以是眼不見，心不念（out of sight, out of mind）。朋友們常常問我，到底香港抑或美國是我的第一家園。

這道問題常令我在一個reflective mood之中——若你是in a reflective mood，意即你在靜靜地沉思、反思着某事情。我在香港長大、讀書，為許多香港傳媒機構工作過。香港永遠是我的一部分，雖然她近年轉變了許多。美國是我的一部分，因為我成年後有好些年都在那兒生活和工作，我大部分最親近的親戚也在美國生活。

我常常沉思（reflective mood），嘗試決定我到底應該在香港抑或美國度過我的晚年。我乘搭往台北的航班前，當我前往國泰新開的逸連堂貴賓室之際，就在思考着這件事情。那是一個偌大又舒適的貴賓室，有不同的飲食區域以及淋浴間。我在那令人印象深刻的酒吧附近一個靜靜的角落坐下，它旁邊的窗戶可以看到升降的飛機。我坐的地方是個hidden gem，意即鮮為人知的好地方。我在那個有如隱藏寶石的好地方（hidden gem）喝着葡萄酒，看着飛機升降，靜靜沉思（reflective mood）。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Over six months have passed since last November’s US elections when voters took the Democratic Party down a peg by overwhelmingly supporting the Republican Party. To take a person or a political party down a peg means to show they are not as important as they thought. Republican Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote, which is required under the US system to be elected president. He also won the popular vote although only the Electoral College vote decides the winner. Trump’s Republican Party also won both Houses of Congress. The Democratic Party’s defeat put it in a political morass for months.

The word “morass” means something that is complicated and difficult to deal with. To be in a political morass means to be in a difficult political situation. The Democratic Party doesn’t have enough votes in Congress to overturn Trump or Republican Party policies it opposes. But the Party is now licking its chops because it believes it has found a way out of the political morass. To lick your chops means to think about something with great pleasure, such as a delicious meal or beating a rival. Trump has agreed to accept Qatar’s gift of a US$400 million Boeing plane to use as a new Air Force One.

The plane will belong to his planned library for private use when his presidency ends. The US Constitution strictly forbids such gifts. Taxpayers will have to pay many millions to turn the plane into a secure Air Force One. The Democratic Party is licking its chops thinking about using the gift as a campaign issue to regain control of Congress in next year’s mid-term congressional elections. It hopes to convince voters Trump is a corrupt president who is cutting benefits for low-income families but accepting a US$400 million gift.

自上年11月美國大選，選民壓倒性地支持共和黨，大挫民主黨銳氣（down a peg）以來，已經過了超過6個月。To take a person or a political party down a peg是指去殺某人或某政黨的威風，令他們不要以自己真的那麼重要。共和黨人當勞．特朗普贏得選舉人票，就是美國制度下當選成為總統的必要條件。他也贏得普選票，雖然誰人當選單單取決於選舉人票。特朗普的共和黨也同時贏取了國會參眾兩院。民主黨的落敗，令它多個月來陷入政治泥沼（political morass）之中。

Morass是指複雜和難以處理的狀況；to be in a political morass則是在一個艱難的政治處境之中。民主黨在國會沒有足夠的票數去推翻特朗普或共和黨所提出的政策。然而，民主黨現正暗自竊喜（licking its chops），因為它相信自己已找到出路，脫離這個政治泥沼（political morass）。To lick your chops是指想到某樣事情而喜在心頭，例如想到美味的一餐或是打倒一個對手。特朗普同意接受卡搭爾餽贈一架價值4億美元的波音客機，作為新的空軍一號。

當特朗普的總統任期完結，客機就會歸入他計劃中的圖書館，作私人用途。美國憲法嚴格禁止這樣的餽贈。納稅人也要付數以百萬元去將這架飛機改建成有保安設施的空軍一號。民主黨人正暗爽不已（licking its chops），想着在下年的國會中期選舉中，用這收禮事件作為競選議題，重奪國會的控制權。它希望能說服選民，特朗普是個貪腐的總統，他削減低收入家庭的福利，卻接納一份4億美元的禮物。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Donald Trump has been riding roughshod over certain laws and even the US Constitution since he became president. Critics have legally challenged many of his actions, but he is continuing to ride roughshod over laws he disagrees with. To ride roughshod over something means to do what you want without caring about the rights of others. I disagree with some of Trump’s policies but agree with some. I agree with his policy to deport millions of illegal immigrants from various countries who entered the US from Mexico. People who want to emigrate to the US should do so legally.

Trump signed an order ending birthright citizenship on the first day of his presidency. The US is one of about 30 countries, mostly in North and South America, that allows jus soli, or “right of soil”. This Latin term means the right of citizenship where a person is born. The US Constitution allows jus soli except for the US-born children of diplomats. Jus sanguinis, or right of blood, is the norm in most countries. This means children inherit nationality from their parents regardless of birthplace.

Trump wants to end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, but his critics have filed court challenges. The case has reached the Supreme Court. Trump’s action reminded me of Leung Chun-ying’s policy when he was Hong Kong’s chief executive. Thousands of pregnant mainland women were giving birth in Hong Kong so their babies could acquire right of abode. Leung ended this birth tourism in 2013 after more than 170,000 mainland babies were born in Hong Kong. I supported Leung’s policy. I also support Trump for trying to end jus soli in some cases.

特朗普自從上任總統以來，已經一意孤行地壓過（riding roughshod）好些法例甚至美國憲法。批評者現在都向其行動提出司法挑戰，但他仍繼續橫行霸道地碾壓（ride roughshod）那些他不認同的法例。To ride roughshod over something是指漠視其他人的權利，去做你想做的事。我不認同特朗普的某些政策，但也認同其中一些。我認同他驅逐從墨西哥進入美國，數以百萬計來自不同國家的非法移民。想移民到美國的人應合法地申請。

特朗普就任總統的第一天，便簽署了一條法令，終止出生公民權。全球有大約30個國家——大部分在北美洲和南美洲——容許屬地主義jus soli ，或稱「土地權」，美國是其中之一。這個拉丁詞彙是指一個人在哪裏出生就能獲得該地的公民身份。美國憲法容許屬地主義（jus soli），除了美國出生的外交官子女。而屬人主義jus sanguinis，或稱「血統權」，就是大部分國家的原則。它的意思是子女會承繼父母的國籍，而不論其出生地。

因着那些非法入境者的子女，特朗普想終止出生公民權，但他的反對者已提出司法覆核。這宗案件已上訴至最高法院。特朗普的行動令我想到了梁振英在任香港特首時的政策。數以萬計懷孕的內地婦女到香港分娩，好讓他們的嬰兒取得居留權。當有超過17萬個內地來的嬰兒於香港出生後，梁振英於2013年終止了這種生育旅遊。我支持梁振英的政策，也同樣支持特朗普嘗試在某些情況下終止屬地主義（jus soli）。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Some people spend hours patiently watching birds to learn about them. When Donald Tsang Yam-kuen was the chief executive, he told me he liked birdwatching as a hobby. He also enjoyed watching his many goldfish at Government House. I once watched him feed his goldfish in a pond at the garden of Government House. Leung Chun-ying likes to grow vegetables. He had a vegetable garden at Government House when he was chief executive and watched his vegetables grow. He once invited me to lunch at Government House and served vegetables he grew himself. Whale-watching is also a hobby of some people.

Is watching the grass grow a hobby? I don’t think so! But there is an expression about it. Some of my friends say watching speeches on TV by government officials is like watching the grass grow. This means it’s boring. A recent news report I read made me think of the expression “letting the grass grow under their feet”. This means wasting time or delaying for a long time in doing something important. The report was about taxi drivers demanding government action against ride-hailing apps such as Uber. The government bowed to the taxi trade by promising new laws to regulate unlicensed ride-hailing services.

But the government has said this before. It is letting the grass grow under its feet with its delays. The government’s own surveys show most HK people prefer ride-hailing services. Uber provides clean, punctual, and polite service. Many taxi drivers are rude and dishonest. That’s why I prefer ride-hailing services. The government should stop letting the grass grow under its feet and legalize ride-hailing services. Legalizing ride-hailing services will make taxi drivers provide better services.

有些人會花上無數個小時，滿有耐性地觀鳥，去了解牠們多一點。當曾蔭權還是特首的時候，他跟我說他的嗜好是觀鳥。他也喜愛觀賞禮賓府的許多金魚。我曾經見過他在禮賓府的花園餵他那池塘內的金魚。梁振英喜歡種植蔬菜，他當特首的時候，在禮賓府有個蔬菜園圃，會觀看蔬菜長成。他有次邀請我在禮賓府共晉午餐，以他自己種的蔬菜奉客。賞鯨也是一些人的嗜好。

盯着草長大（watching the grass grow）又是不是嗜好？我認為不是吧。但我們卻有這樣一個習語。我有一些朋友說，在電視上看政府官員發表講話，就像 watching the grass grow，意即沉悶之至。我最近讀到的一則新聞報道，讓我想到習語”letting the grass grow under their feet”，意即浪費或耽誤時間，沒有去做一些重要的事情。報道是關於的士司機們要求政府採取行動，打擊網約車程式例如Uber。政府屈從於的士業界，承諾會立新例去規範無牌網約車服務。

然而，政府之前已經說過了。這樣耽誤，就像甚麼事也不做，讓草在腳底下長出來（letting the grass grow under its feet）。政府自己的調查顯示，大部分香港人較喜歡網約車服務。Uber提供整潔、準時和有禮的服務。許多的士司機都是粗魯無禮又不誠實。因此我也較喜歡網約車。政府不應再拖延（letting the grass grow under its feet），給網約車服務合法化。網約車服務合法化可以令的士司機提供更優質的服務。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

US President Donald Trump loves making eye-popping news. He has made eye-popping news daily since becoming president again on January 20. But recent White House announcements made more than just eye-popping news. Some American TV channels described the announcements as eyebrow-raising. Eye-popping news means surprising, shocking, or impressive news. Eyebrows are the line of hair above a person’s eyes. If something raises eyebrows, it means it causes shock or surprise. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller raised eyebrows when he said the Trump Administration may suspend the writ of habeas corpus to speed up deportation of illegal immigrants.

Habeas corpus is a common law process in the US Constitution. It gives everyone, including illegal immigrants, the legal right to challenge being detained or jailed by the government. It can only be suspended during an invasion or rebellion, and only by the Congress, not the president. That’s why legal experts raised eyebrows at Miller’s threat. Trump raised eyebrows when he appointed Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as the interim top US federal prosecutor in Washington DC. Her appointment adds to a whole slew of Fox News personalities Trump has appointed, including talk show host Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary.

The expression “a whole slew of” means numerous. But Trump raised the most eyebrows when he said he would accept a US$400 million Boeing 747 plane from Qatar to use as Air Force One. The plane, which has been described as a flying palace with gold-coloured decorations, nine bathrooms with showers, bedrooms, and offices, will go to his planned Trump Library when he leaves office. This means he can keep it for personal use. The US Constitution strictly forbids a president from accepting gifts from foreign kings, princes, and other leaders. I foresee a court challenge by Trump’s critics.

美國總統當勞．特朗普喜愛製造令人吃驚得眼凸的新聞（eye-popping news）。自他1月20日再度就任總統以來，每一天也在製造令人吃驚的新聞（eye-popping news）。然而，最近白宮的宣布，就不但是令人吃驚得眼凸的新聞（eye-popping news）了，一些美國電視頻道形容，這些公告簡直令人驚訝得蹙眉（eyebrow-raising）。Eye-popping news是指令人意外、震驚或印象深刻的新聞。Eyebrows是眼眉，若某事raises eyebrows，意即它令人驚訝、側目。當白宮副幕僚長史提芬．米勒說，特朗普政府或要暫停人身保護令（the writ of habeas corpus），以加快遣返非法移民時，就令許多人側目蹙眉（raised eyebrows）。

Habeas corpus是美國憲法的一個普通法司法程序，它賦予任何人，包括非法移民，去挑戰政府拘留或囚禁的法律權利。只有在國家被入侵又或叛亂時期，以及只有通過國會而非總統，這個法令才有機會被中止。因此，法律專家們都對米勒的威嚇側目蹙眉（raised eyebrows）。當特朗普任命霍士新聞主播珍妮．皮羅為華盛頓特區的臨時聯邦檢察官時，亦令人側目蹙眉（raised eyebrows）。她的就任為特朗普那大量的（a whole slew of）霍士新聞派系人事任命再添一員，包括他任命皮特．海格塞斯為國防部長。

習語a whole slew of意即無數、大量的。但特朗普最令人驚訝蹙眉（raised the most eyebrows）的，是他說他會接納卡塔爾價值4億美元的波音747飛機作為空軍一號。這架飛機被形容為飛行宮殿，有金色的裝飾、9個連淋浴的廁所、睡房和辦公室，而當他離職後飛機會落到他計劃中的特朗普圖書館，這就意味着他可以保留它作私人用途。美國憲法嚴令禁止總統收受外國國王、王子或其他領袖的餽贈。我能預見由特朗普的批評者所提出的司法挑戰。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

There is an old saying that knowledge is power. All military leaders try to acquire knowledge about their enemies. Knowing the battle plan of an enemy empowers a military leader. Politicians acquire knowledge to defeat their opponents. Some politicians try to find scandals involving their opponents during elections. This knowledge gives them the power to dish the dirt on opponents. To dish the dirt means to reveal shocking or scandalous personal information about others. Investigative journalists try to find scandals about powerful people to dish the dirt on them.

I used to be an investigative reporter years ago but am now just a modest columnist! I spend several hours on the internet every morning to familiarize myself with the latest news. I also watch YouTube shows about politics and other topics. I acquire knowledge to get ideas for this column, not to dish the dirt on anyone! One YouTuber I sometimes listen to is a critic of Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. He recently used the expression “just deserts” to criticize Musk. US President Donald Trump has given Musk sweeping powers to cut government spending. The expression “sweeping powers” means a lot of power.

Musk’s popularity sank after he used his sweeping powers to fire thousands of government workers and close or shrink government agencies that many Americans depended on. They boycotted, set fire to, and even sold their own Tesla cars, causing the company’s stock price to sink. The YouTuber said Musk got his “just deserts”, which means the punishment one deserves. The word “deserts” in this expression is pronounced like desserts, which are sweet things. It is not pronounced like deserts, which are dry and sandy places. 

有一句老話道：知識就是力量。所有軍事領袖都嘗試獲取其敵人的資訊，能夠知悉敵方的作戰計劃，得以增加一個軍事領袖的權力。政客亦需要獲取能打敗對手的資訊，在競選期間一些政客就嘗試搜羅有關對手的醜聞，這種認知讓他們有能力去向對手dish the dirt—to dish the dirt是指去揭露他人一些駭人聽聞又或可恥丟臉的個人資訊。調查記者總是在搜刮有權力人士的醜聞，好能揭其陰私（dish the dirt）。

許多年前我亦曾經擔任調查記者，但我現在只是個卑微的專欄作家。每朝早我也會花幾小時上網，去了解最新的新聞。我也會收看YouTube上關於政治和其他題目的頻道。我增進知識，是為了取得靈感去寫這個專欄，而不是為了揭誰的陰私（dish the dirt）！我有時會聽一個YouTuber的頻道，他是世界首富伊隆．馬斯克的批評者，他最近用一個習語“just deserts”去抨擊馬斯克。美國總統唐納德．特朗普給予馬斯克sweeping powers去削減政府開銷，習語sweeping powers是指重大的權力。

馬斯克用其橫掃千軍的力量（sweeping powers）去裁掉數以萬計的政府員工，及關閉或縮減許多美國人所倚賴的政府機構以後，其民望大幅插水。人們杯葛、縱火，甚至賣掉他們自己的特斯拉汽車，導致公司股價一落千丈。那位YouTuber說，馬斯克得到他的“just deserts”了，意即一個人應得的報應。在這個習語中，“deserts”的發音像甜品desserts，而不是像沙漠deserts般發音。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Most people either dislike or admire rich people. Elon Musk, who runs Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter (now called X), is the world’s richest person. US President Donald Trump has given him an outsized role in cutting federal government expenditure. I admire Musk for the spaceships and reusable rockets SpaceX developed, but dislike him for eliminating or shrinking government agencies, such as those that provide foreign aid to the poor and free education to low-income households. The expression “outsized role” means a very large role in doing something.

Amazon owner Jeff Bezos is the world’s second richest person. I interviewed him briefly in the 1990s when I worked in Seattle. He was not among the world’s richest at the time because Amazon was just finding its feet. To find your feet means to begin to be confident or successful. During my time in Seattle, I once sat at the same table with Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates during a media lunch at his headquarters. He was the world’s richest person at the time but is now at sixth place.

I have no reason to either dislike or admire Bezos, but I greatly admire Gates for donating much of his huge wealth to needy causes, such as finding cures for diseases. I also admire Warren Buffett, the world’s fifth richest person and chief executive of Omaha-headquartered Berkshire Hathaway. He is nicknamed the Oracle of Omaha for often beating the market. To “beat the market” means to outperform the stock market. He shocked the world last week by telling shareholders he plans to retire. Like Gates, he donates much of his wealth. I hope he will continue to donate when he retires.

大多數人要不是不喜歡富豪，就是仰慕富豪。伊隆．馬斯克，就是經營特斯拉、太空探索技術公司SpaceX以及推特（現稱為X）的，是現今世上最富有的人。美國總統唐納德．特朗普也給了他一個特大的職位（outsized role），去削減聯邦政府的開支。我欣賞馬斯克的SpaceX研發太空船和重用的火箭，但不喜歡他淘汰或縮減政府機構，例如那些為貧窮人士提供額外援助，以及為低收入家庭提供免費教育的機構。習語outsized role是指一個特別重大的角色去做某些任務。

亞瑪遜老闆謝夫．貝索斯是世上第二富有的人。1990年代我在西雅圖工作時，就曾簡單訪問過他。他那時候仍未位列世界首富，因為亞瑪遜當時還在finding its feet——to find your feet是指立足、站穩腳跟，開始感覺自信或成功。我在西雅圖的時候，有次跟微軟的共同創辦人比爾．蓋茨同坐一桌，那是在他總部的一場傳媒午宴。那時他是世界首富，但現在退居第6位。

我沒有特別緣由去討厭或欣賞貝索斯，但我就十分欽佩蓋茨將自己許多的財富捐給有需要的事情，例如為疾病尋找治癒之法。我也非常欣賞華倫．巴菲特——世界首富第5位，以及位於奧馬哈的控股公司巴郡．哈薩威的行政總裁。他被暱稱為「奧馬哈的先知」，因為他常打贏大市（beating the market）。To “beat the market”是指在表現上勝過股票市場。他上星期告訴股東他計劃退休，消息震驚全球。就像蓋茨一樣，他將自己很多的身家都捐出來。我希望他退休時仍會繼續捐款。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Hong Kong people are always raring to travel. The travel bug bites them hard. I came to Hong Kong two weeks ago to see old friends and relatives. But the travel bug bit some of them. They used the long weekend during the May Day and Buddha’s Birthday holidays to travel. If you are raring to do something, it means you are very eager to do something. The slang word “bug” means an insect. The expression “travel bug” means having a strong desire to travel. Many Hong Kong people travel to the mainland on weekends, where they get more bang for their buck.

Japan is very popular with Hong Kong people. They also get more bang for their buck in Japan. The word “buck” used this way means one dollar in the US. If you get more bang for your buck, it means you can buy more things with your money. This is possible because the Hong Kong dollar is linked to the strong US dollar. But my friends told me many Hong Kong people are now avoiding Japan for fear of earthquakes. The Japanese government last month estimated the possibility of a megaquake (powerful earthquake) within the next 30 years.

The US Geological Survey agency makes clear it is impossible to accurately predict the timing, location, and magnitude of earthquakes. But fears of a Japanese megaquake spread through Hong Kong, mainland China, and other places after a manga (Japanese comic book) featured a dream that predicted a tsunami. The recent earthquake in Myanmar increased fears. The Japanese government has made clear its estimate of a possible megaquake in the next 30 years is not a prediction.

香港人總是渴望旅遊（raring to travel）。那隻「旅遊蟲」（travel bug）可咬得他們入肉了。我兩個星期前回港見老朋友和親戚，但他們一些人卻被旅遊蟲（travel bug）咬到。他們都借着勞動節和佛誕的長周末假期出外旅遊。若你是raring to do something，意即你熱切渴望去做某事。俚語bug是指昆蟲；習語“travel bug”是指迷上了旅遊，強烈地想去旅行。許多香港人在周末期間都到內地旅遊，在那裏他們覺得物超所值、很划算（more bang for their buck）。

日本非常受香港人歡迎，他們在日本也覺得價廉物美、物超所值（more bang for their buck）。Buck在這裏是指美國的一元，若你get more bang for your buck，意即你花同樣的錢卻買到更多的東西。這是可能的，因為港元跟強勁的美元掛鈎。但我的朋友們告訴我，許多香港人現在都避免去日本，因為害怕地震。日本政府上個月預估了未來30年內發生特大地震（megaquake）的可能性。

美國地質調查局已清楚說明，要準確預測地震的時間、地點與震級是不可能的。然而，當一本日本漫畫（manga）講述一個會發生海嘯的預言夢以後，對於日本會發生特大地震（megaquake）的恐慌就蔓延香港、中國內地和其他地方。最近發生在緬甸的地震亦加深了恐慌。日本政府已清楚表明，它對於未來30年內可能發生特大地震（megaquake）的估算並不是預言。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Many ordinary Americans had to tighten their belts when the US stock market crashed after President Donald Trump began a global trade war. Lower income Americans are also worried the trade war would increase the prices of foreign-made consumer items. That’s why they are tightening their belts by cutting back on air travel and eating in restaurants. To tighten your belt means spending less than before because you have less money. The stock market has bounced back a little but Trump’s erratic policy on tariffs is making the stock market go up and down like a yo-yo.

The word “erratic” means unpredictable or irregular. An erratic policy is an unpredictable policy. The stock market crash has hurt America’s billionaires big time, especially Elon Musk, the world’s richest person. The expression “big time” can be used in several ways but used this way it means by a lot or significantly. Media reports said Musk lost over US$120 billion because of the market crash and a boycott of Tesla cars caused by his close friendship with Trump. He donated about US$288 million to Trump’s election campaign. That may be chicken feed to the world’s richest person, but losing over US$120 billion is not chicken feed.

Chicken feed is a mixture of different grains made into food for poultry such as chickens. But the expression “chicken feed” also means a very small amount of money. The stock market crash has also hurt my retirement investments. What I lost is pocket change to billionaires, but a lot to me. The expression “pocket change” means a very small amount of money, like chicken feed.

在美國總統唐納德．特朗普發動全球貿易戰之後，美國股票市場暴跌，許多一般的美國人都要勒緊褲頭（tighten their belts）。低收入美國人也憂心，貿易戰會抬高外國製消費品的價格，因此他們要節衣縮食（tighten their belts），削減旅遊與在餐廳用膳的消遣。To tighten your belts是指因為荷包縮水而減省日常開支。股市有輕微反彈，但特朗普在關梲上飄忽不定的政策（erratic policy）令股市像搖搖般上上落落。 

Erratic是指難以預測或不穩定的，an erratic policy是指難以預測的政策。股票市場暴跌大大（big time）損害到美國的億萬富豪，尤其是伊隆．馬斯克，他是世界首富。習語 big time可以有不同用法，但在這裏是指大幅度或顯著地。傳媒報道指，馬斯克因為股市崩盤以及他跟特朗普的緊密情誼所致的特斯拉汽車杯葛潮，而虧了超過1200億美元。他捐了約2億8800萬美元給特朗普的競選活動，那對於世界首富而言或許只是零錢（chicken feed），但虧損超過1200億可就不是零錢（chicken feed）了。

Chicken feed是混合不同穀物，用以餵飼家禽例如雞隻的飼料。但”chicken feed”亦解作極小額的款項。股票市場暴跌，亦損害了我的退休投資。我所損失的對於億萬富豪來說只是 「碎銀」（pocket change），但對我來說則是大數目了。習語pocket change跟chicken feed 一樣，都是指小額金錢，就像口袋裏用來找贖的零錢。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Are you a party person or a homebody? I used to be both, but I am now more of a homebody. A party person is someone who enjoys partying with friends all the time. A homebody is someone who prefers staying at home. I am mostly a homebody while staying with US relatives because they all have big houses and backyards where I can enjoy happy hour drinks with them. I have many new Hong Kong friends in Taiwan but often choose to be a homebody during my extended stays there.

It is hard to be a homebody now that I am back in Hong Kong. Relatives and old friends have all asked me to go partying with them. Before I arrived in Hong Kong last week, I spent many evenings in my Taipei serviced apartment watching a new Netflix series called The Residence. It is a very unusual series that mixes a murder mystery with comedy and expletives, such as f..k. The Residence is the part of the White House where the US President and family live. It also has a large dining room where official dinners are held. The Netflix series The Residence is a whodunit.

A senior White House staff member is murdered during a state dinner for a foreign leader. The word “whodunit” is a slang word for “who did it?” meaning who committed the murder.A well-known private detective is asked to investigate. She orders all the guests to stay until the murderer is found because everyone is a suspect. The series is a very entertaining whodunit. It is similar to Murder on the Orient Express, a whodunit by the late novelist Agatha Christie. I won’t reveal whodunit in case you decide to watch The Residence.

你是個party person抑或是homebody？我曾經兩者皆是，但我現在比較是homebody。A party person就是享受常常跟朋友吃喝玩樂的人；a homebody則是較喜歡黏在家裏的人。我在美國暫居親戚家中時，主要是個戀家的人（homebody），因為他們人人都有大屋和後院，我待在家中就能跟他們來個歡樂時光小酌幾杯。我在台灣有許多香港新朋友，但延長逗留台灣期間我總是選擇待在家裏（homebody）。

我現在回到香港，就很難再做宅男（homebody）了。親戚和舊友全都叫我跟他們外出玩樂。我上星期到香港前，在台北的服務式公寓花了許多個晚上，看一齣新的Netflix劇集《白色官邸殺人事件》。這是一部與眾不同的劇集，在兇殺懸案中摻雜了喜劇和諸如F字頭的髒話。Residence是白宮的官邸，供美國總統和第一家庭居住。它亦有一個偌大的宴會廳，用來舉辦正式的晚宴。Netflix劇集《白色官邸殺人事件》則是一個「猜猜誰是兇手」的偵探片（whodunit）。

在一個為外國領袖舉辦的國宴期間，一個白宮高級職員被謀殺了。Whodunit是”who did it?”的俚語，意即「到底兇手是誰？」。一個知名的私家偵探被召來調查，她要求所有賓客都留下來，直至找出真兇，因為人人都有嫌疑。這套劇集是個非常有娛樂性的「誰是兇手」偵探片（whodunit），它跟《東方快車謀殺案》有點相似，就是由已故小說家阿嘉莎．姬絲蒂所寫的「誰是兇手」（whodunit）推理偵探小說。我不會透露兇手是誰（whodunit），以防你決定要觀看《白色官邸殺人事件》。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

By the time you read this, I will be back in Hong Kong. I could already be chowing down fish ball noodles by the time you read this! The slang word “chow” means food. To “chow down” means to eat, especially in an informal way, like at home or at a cha chaan teng. I often see people gobble down food at buffets. To gobble down or gobble up food means to eat it very quickly and greedily. Or you can simply say “gobble food”. I never gobble food, preferring to eat and drink at a leisurely pace. To eat at a leisurely pace means to eat slowly and in a relaxing way.

I like being in Hong Kong, but friends have told me it’s become very expensive now. One friend told me a well-known Chinese restaurant chain charges over HK$140 just for take-out stir-fry noodles with beef. That’s highway robbery.The expression “highway robbery” is used when businesses charge too much for something to increase profits. The same stir-fry noodles and beef dish costs less than half of that in Taipei even if I dine in rather than do take-out. No wonder so many Hong Kong people go to the mainland during weekends and holidays where they get better value for their money.

While in Hong Kong, I will make a side trip to Penang. I like the leisurely pace (relaxed and unhurried lifestyle) and affordability of Penang. I was there last year and stayed at the Penang Club, a beautiful heritage building with just a few guest rooms overlooking the sea. My friend is a club member and has arranged for me to stay there again.

當你讀到這裏的時候，我便已經身處香港了。你讀着的當兒，或許我已經在盡情地吃着（chowing down）魚蛋麵呢！俚語“chow”是指食物；to“chow down”是非正式的用語，是指在家或茶餐廳這些地方大快朵頤。我不時見人們吃自助餐時狼吞虎嚥（gobble down）。To gobble down或gobble up food是指大口大口、狼吞虎嚥地吃；又或者你可以簡單地說“gobble food”。我就從不會狼吞虎嚥（gobble food），情願悠閒地（leisurely pace）吃喝。To eat at a leisurely pace是指緩慢而悠閒地吃。

我喜歡待在香港，但朋友們都告訴我現在香港的物價變得高昂。一個朋友跟我說，在一間知名的連鎖中餐館外賣牛肉炒麵，盛惠140元！那真是highway robbery—習語highway robbery是當商舖為了增加利潤而開天殺價，就像「公路搶劫」。在台北，同樣的一碟牛肉炒麵，即使我堂食而不是外賣，也還不到一半的價錢。無怪乎有那麼多香港人在周末和假期期間到內地遊玩，那裏消費更物有所值。

我在香港時，會順道去一趟檳城。我喜歡檳城的休閒（leisurely pace）和容易負擔的物價。我上年在那兒，住在檳城俱樂部，那是一幢美麗的歷史建築，只有幾個能眺望大海的套房。我朋友是俱樂部的會員，已經安排了我再度入住。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

How often should you wash your hair? Dermatologists say there’s no rule of thumb. Your shampoo frequency depends on your hair type. A dermatologist is a skin doctor. The expression “rule of thumb” means a method of doing things based on experience and common sense, not science. Dermatologists say people with thin or oily hair should shampoo daily or every two to three days. People with thick or curly hair should shampoo about once a week. Shampooing too often is not good because it washes away the natural oils in hair. 

US President Donald Trump takes meticulous care of his hair. If you take meticulous care of something, it means you pay great attention to every detail of it. Trump often boasts that he has beautiful and perfect hair. He once told friends he has a “gorgeous head of hair”. The word “gorgeous” means very beautiful or very attractive. Trump has said it takes about an hour for his hair to dry after shampooing. He doesn’t use a hairdryer. He then meticulously combs his hair to make it look like what he describes as “perfect”.

Trump has long complained about the low water pressure in showers. He said it takes about 15 minutes to wet his hair because of the low water pressure. A 1990s law restricted water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute to save water. Former President Barack Obama ordered that the 2.5 gallons rule should remain even for shower heads with several nozzles (outlets). Trump reversed that in his first term, but Joe Biden reinstated the rule when he was president. Trump found time last week despite his tariff war to sign an Executive Order that every nozzle in a shower head can have 2.5 gallons of water per minute!

你會隔多久洗一次頭？皮膚科醫生（dermatologists）說那是沒有法則（rule of thumb）的。你的洗髮頻密度取決於你的髮質。A dermatologist就是皮膚科醫生。習語 rule of thumb是指基於經驗或常理而非科學所得的法則。皮膚科醫生（dermatologists）說，幼軟或油性髮質的人士應每天又或二至三天洗一次頭；粗厚或捲曲髮質的，則應一周洗一次。洗頭洗得太頻密是不好的，因為它會洗走頭髮中天然產生的油脂。

美國總統唐納德‧特朗普對自己的頭髮則是關懷備至的（meticulous care）。若你 take meticulous care of something，意即你對某事物照顧周到、無微不至。特朗普常自誇他擁有亮麗完美的秀髮，他有次還告訴朋友，他有一頭「華麗（gorgeous）的濃髮」。Gorgeous是指非常漂亮或吸引的。特朗普也曾說，洗頭後要用上一個小時去弄乾，他也不用風筒吹乾，而是一絲不苟地（meticulously）梳理頭髮，令其看上去是他形容為「完美」的髮型。

特朗普對於淋浴水壓太低已經投訴很久了。他說，因為水壓太低，得用上十五分鐘才能弄濕頭髮。一個一九九零年代的法例規定，為了節省用水，出水每分鐘不能多於二點五加侖。前總統巴拉克‧奧巴馬下令，即使是有許多噴嘴（nozzles）的花灑頭，亦要維持這個二點五加侖出水量的規限。特朗普在第一任當總統時撤銷了，但祖‧拜登在任時又恢復了規定。特朗普上星期在貿易戰以外，仍騰出時間去簽署行政命令，容許花灑頭的每一個噴嘴（nozzle）也能有每分鐘二點五加侖的出水上限！

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Shock, disbelief, and stock market crashes swept across the world like a tsunami after US President Donald Trump decided to impose trade tariffs on almost every country. Trump imposed a global 10 percent reciprocal tariff but added different levels of additional tariffs on most countries depending on their trade surpluses with the US. The word “reciprocal” describes something that is the same on both sides. It is reciprocal when country A allows visa-free entry to the citizens of country B and country B does the same for country A.

A reciprocal tariff means country A will charge the same tariff that country B charges country A. Trump’s 10 percent reciprocal tariff is not exactly reciprocal but meant as a starting point because he said most countries charge higher than a 10 percent tariff for US goods entering their countries. That’s why he imposed additional tariffs in addition to the 10 percent. Critics of Trump’s tariffs agree many countries have treated the US unfairly by charging higher tariffs than the US charges them. But they said Trump’s global trade war is like burning down the house to cook a steak.

The expression“burn down the house to cook a steak” means taking extreme measures to solve a problem that can be solved by less extreme ways. They say Trump should negotiate with other countries instead of starting a global trade war. Some economists warn the trade war could cause stagflation.The word “stagflation” describes an economic situation where a country has very slow growth, high unemployment, and increasing prices, known as inflation, all at the same time.

當美國總統唐納德．特朗普決定向差不多所有國家徵收關稅後，震驚、不信，以及股市暴跌像海嘯般席捲全球。特朗普徵收一個全球性的百分之十對等關稅（reciprocal tariff），但對大部分國家實施不同程度的額外關稅，視乎他們跟美國有多少貿易順差。Reciprocal一字是用來形容兩邊相互、對等的情況；當甲國容許乙國的公民可以免簽證入境，而乙國同樣實施這樣的寬限給甲國，這就是reciprocal。

A reciprocal tariff是指甲國向乙國徵收的關稅與乙國向甲國所徵收的是一樣的。特朗普的百分之十對等關稅（reciprocal tariff）並不完全對等（reciprocal），但標示着一個開始，因為他說大部分國家向美國入口貨品徵收高於百分之十的關稅，因此他在百分之十以外再徵收額外關稅。批評特朗普關稅的人都同意，許多國家對待美國不公，向美國收取的關稅比美國向其徵收的為高；但他們說，特朗普的全球貿易戰就像為了煮一塊牛扒而燒掉整間屋（burning down the house to cook a steak）。

習語burning down the house to cook a steak是指用極端的措施去解決問題，但其實本可用不那麼偏激的手法去解決的。他們說，特朗普應該跟其他國家協商，而不是發動全球貿易戰。一些經濟學家警告指，貿易戰可能引致stagflation—stagflation是形容停滯型通脹，就是一個國家同時經歷非常緩慢的增長、失業率高企，以及物價飆升，亦即通脹（inflation）這樣的一個經濟狀態。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

 

 

There is a joke that if you put ten economists in a room, you will get 11 opinions. Economists often disagree. US President Donald Trump’s global trade war has caused different opinions among economists. Trump, who has an economics college degree, insists his trade tariffs will create jobs, reduce the US trade deficit, and enrich Americans. But most economists warn Trump’s tariffs will increase inflation, cause job losses, and slow economic growth. It is common for US presidents to have their own economic philosophy, even those who are not economists.

Bill Clinton, who was president during the 1990s, has a law degree but used his economic philosophy of Clintonomics to create one of America’s best economies in recent times. His Clintonomics philosophy created jobs, promoted free trade, established a free trade zone between the US, Mexico, and Canada, and turned the US deficit into the first surplus since 1969. The late Ronald Reagan, who had an economics college degree, implemented a different economic philosophy called Reaganomics when he was president in the 1980s. Reaganomics was also known as trickle-down economics. The main aim of Reaganomics was to cut income and capital gains taxes.

Reagan believed that cutting tax for corporations and the rich increases wealth at the top which would trickle down to lower income levels. But it caused a wider wealth gap between the rich and poor instead. Critics say Trump’s desire to cut taxes, especially for the rich, would further widen the wealth gap. Rising egg prices in the US have created a new term called “eggonomics”. Trump had promised to lower egg prices, but critics say he cares more about enriching the wealthy than eggonomics.

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有一個笑話是這樣的：如果你放10個經濟學家進一間房內，你會得到11個意見。經濟學家之間常有分歧。美國總統當勞．特朗普的全球貿易戰已經引發經濟學家之間的不同意見。有一個經濟學學士學位的特朗普，堅持他所設立的關稅將會創造就業機會、減低美國的貿易逆差，以及令美國人富有起來。但大部分的經濟學家都警告指，特朗普的關稅會加劇通貨膨脹、導致失業及緩慢的經濟增長。美國總統們即使並非經濟學家，亦很常有他們自己一套經濟哲學。

於1990年代擔任總統的比爾．克林頓，擁有一個法律學位，卻運用他的Clintonomics「克林頓經濟學」，創造了美國近代其中一個最輝煌的經濟時代。他的克林頓經濟（Clintonomics）哲學創造了就業機會、促進自由貿易，於美國、墨西哥與加拿大之間創立北美自由貿易區，並將美國自1969年以來的赤字首次轉盈。已故的朗奴．列根，也有一個經濟學學士學位，卻在1980年代在任總統期間，實行不同的經濟哲學，被稱為Reaganomics。列根經濟學（Reaganomics）也被稱為下滲經濟學（trickle-down economics）。列根經濟學（Reaganomics）主要的目的是削減個人入息稅和資本增值稅。

列根相信，為企業和有錢人減稅，可以增加上層人士的財富，最終得以「下滲」惠及低收入階層。可是，這卻反而導致貧富之間財富差距更大。批評者說，特朗普減稅的想法，尤其是減有錢人的稅，會進一步拉闊貧富懸殊。美國雞蛋價格的飆升，已創造了一個新字“eggonomics”。特朗普承諾會減低雞蛋的價錢，但批評者說，相比起雞蛋經濟學（eggonomics），他更關心如何增加有錢人的財富。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Long flights across time zones are not enjoyable. They always give me jetlag and throw my sleep pattern out of kilter. Even short flights within the same time zone sometimes throw me out of kilter, but I recover quickly. The word “kilter” means balance or working well. To be “out of kilter” means to be out of balance or harmony. I will soon be packing for the short flight from Taipei to Hong Kong. I hope I will not be out of kilter because there are many things I want to do in Hong Kong.

First and foremost, I want to see relatives and old classmates. I also want to see the journalist friends I worked with for many years.  The expression “first and foremost” means more than anything else or the most important thing. I am already salivating at the thought of eating fishball noodles and Hong Kong-style Cantonese food.  If you are salivating, it means you have an excessive flow of saliva. This happens to many people when they think of or eat delicious food. Cathay has different types of noodles at some of its airport lounges, but not fishball noodles. I hope Cathay has accepted my suggestion in a previous column to include fishball noodles.

Recent media reports said the government has extended the Hong Kong side harbour-front walk. It now connects the harbour-front walk from Kennedy Town to North Point. Hong Kong has one of the world’s most beautiful harbours. I hope there will be good weather in Hong Kong while I am there because I want to see if I can walk from Kennedy Town to North Point!

跨越時區的長途機程並不愉快，往往會令我有時差反應和令我的睡眠模式亂套（out of kilter）。即使在同一時區內的短途機，有時也會令我亂了套（out of kilter），不過我能很快恢復正常。Kilter是指平衡或良好的狀態；to be out of kilter則是失去平衡、失常、失靈。我很快便會執拾行裝，搭短途機從台北飛往香港。我希望我不會亂了套（out of kilter），因為在香港我有許多事情想做。

First and foremost，我想見見親戚和舊同學。我也想見一些從前共事多年的傳媒朋友。習語“first and foremost”是指首要的、比其他任何事都重要的事。我光是想到可以吃魚蛋麵以及港式粵菜，便已salivating了——若你正salivating，意即你口水直流。許多人一想到或是進食美味的食物，也會垂涎三尺。國泰在它的一些機場貴賓室有備不同類型的麵，就是沒有魚蛋麵。希望國泰已經接納我在之前專欄中提及的意見，將魚蛋麵納入其中。

最近一些傳媒報道指，政府延長了港島的海濱步道。現在它連結了從堅尼地城到北角的海濱步道。香港擁有全球最美的海港之一，希望我在那兒的時候有好的天氣，因為我想看看我能否從堅尼地城步行至北角！

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻

Trains run on two rails, as we all know, but not many people know that some train systems have a third rail. The third rail is not used for a train’s wheels. It is a rail that runs parallel to the two rails to supply high voltage electricity to trains. The New York subway uses such a third rail for power. London’s subway, called the Tube, has four rails, with two supplying electricity. Hong Kong’s MTR uses an overhead system instead of a third rail for electricity. But the expression “third rail” has another completely different meaning in politics.

A third rail in political terms means an issue so controversial that politicians dare not discuss it. They regard such issues as untouchable, just like the high voltage third rail of a train system, which electrocutes and kills people who touch it. The expression is attributed to the late Democratic Party’s Tip O’Neill, who was Speaker of the US House of Representatives from 1977 to 1987. He said Social Security, which provides a monthly source of income to retirees, is the third rail of American politics. Politicians who interfere with it by reducing benefits or eliminating it commit political suicide.

The expression is being used again as fears grow among retirees the Trump Administration will reduce or cut Social Security benefits to shrink the huge government deficit. President Donald Trump has promised he won’t touch Social Security but his ally Elon Musk, who Trump appointed to cut government costs, claimed there is massive fraud in Social Security benefits, raising fears he will reduce or cut benefits.

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我們人人也知道，火車行走在兩條鐵軌上，但不是許多人知道，一些鐵路系統有第三軌（third rail）。這條第三軌（third rail）並不是用來給火車車輪行走的，它是跟兩條鐵軌平行鋪設，用以供應高壓電力給火車的。紐約地鐵就有用第三軌（third rail）供電；倫敦的地鐵稱為Tube（管子），則有四條軌道，當中兩條是用來供電的。香港的鐵路則是用架空電纜而非第三軌（third rail）去供電。然而，習語“third rail”在政治領域中卻有另一個迥然不同的意思。

A third rail作為政治術語，是指一個議題甚具爭議，令政客們都不敢討論。他們將這種議題視為不可觸及的，一如鐵路系統的高壓線（third rail），會使任何觸碰的人觸電身亡。這個習語得歸功於已故民主黨人提普．奧尼爾，他於1977至87年任美國眾議院議長。他說，為退休人員提供每月收入的美國社會保障，是美國政治的高壓線（third rail）。政客若要插手削減福利甚或剔除它，簡直是政治自殺。

當退休人員越發擔憂，特朗普政府會削減或砍掉社會保障福利，以縮減政府龐大的赤字時，這個習語又再被使用。總統當勞．特朗普已許諾他不會觸碰社會保障，然而他的盟友伊隆．馬斯克，就是受特朗普任命去減省政府開支的，卻聲稱社會保障福利涉及大量的欺詐，引起許多人擔憂他將要削減或取消相關福利。

mickchug@gmail.com
Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻
褚簡寧