【又中又英】Greener Pastures

作者：Alice的学习笔记

原文

Now that so many people are leaving Hong Kong for Britain and other places to find greener pastures, there are some words I need to explain. I explained these words several years ago but many people are still confused or have forgotten. That's understandable because the words can be very confusing. Before I explain those words I will explain the expression "greener pastures". The expression means a new and more interesting place that offers better opportunities. Many people who leave Hong Kong for places like Britain, Canada, and Taiwan believe they are greener pastures. Tens of thousands have already left since Britain offered a new pathway to citizenship for BNO passport holders.

Some people often use the word "immigrate" for "emigrate". To "emigrate" means to leave the place where you live to live permanently in another country. To"immigrate" means to come into the country where you have chosen to live permanently. Simply put, when you leave Hong Kong to settle in another country, you are emigrating. When you arrive in that country you have immigrated. It is confusing but the beauty of the English language is that it is simple, with an alphabet of only 26 letters, yet confusing, especially for people whose first language is not English. It can get even more confusing. Once you have emigrated from Hong Kong to immigrate to another country, you are an immigrant. An immigrant is a person who has come to a different country to live permanently.

An emigrant is a person who has left the place the person lived in to become an immigrant in another country. The French word "emigre" describes a person who has left his or her country to settle in another country for political reasons. AreHong Kong people leaving for other countries emigrants or emigres? It's for them to decide. Although these words are confusing, English is a beautiful language to learn. Don't be discouraged by the confusion.

单词、短语

• greener pastures
  pasture表示牧场，greener pastures字面上看表示更绿的牧场，衍生意思为更刺激（更好）的新职位（地方，活动）（幽默用法），英文解释为：a new and exciting or better job, place, or activity – used humorously:
      I'd like to say goodbye to Paul who leaves us for greener pastures.
      我想向保罗道别，他要离开我们奔更好的前程去了。

• emigrate vs immigrate
  复习一下，emigrate强调离开故土，immigrate强调移民到一个新的国家。

• simply put
  简单来说，简而言之，亦可以说成是put simply或者to put it simply。Put simply, we accept their offer or go bankrupt. 简单地说吧,我们要么接受他们的条件,要么破产。 *
      To put it simply, the tax cuts mean the average person will be about 3% better off. *
      简单地说，这次减税意味着普通人的收入将增加 3% 左右。

翻译

原文作者：Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
中文翻译：七刻

以上就是今天的内容。