欧洲人觉得奇怪的美国事物：英语精读讲义

If you've ever seen Quentin Tarantino's hit movie Pulp Fiction, 語法

如果你看过昆汀·塔伦蒂诺的经典电影《低俗小说》，

you'll know it opens with a scene in which Samuel Jackson shows his surprise regarding the legality of cannabis smoking in Holland

你会知道电影开场的一幕中，塞缪尔·杰克逊对荷兰吸食大麻合法化表现出了惊讶，

and the fact that the French eat their fries with mayonnaise.

以及法国人吃薯条居然蘸蛋黄酱。

"Ugh!" is his reaction to the use of such a condiment.

“呃！”就是他对使用这种调料的反应。

Well, we can tell you "Ugh!" works both ways and there are plenty of things Americans eat, 習語

好吧，我们可以告诉你“呃！”是相互的，美国人吃的、

do, believe, and say that Europeans find plain weird. 用詞

做的、相信的、说的很多事情，欧洲人也觉得十分古怪。

Today, we'll look at some of those things.

今天，我们就来看看其中的一些事情。

In this episode of The Infographics Show,

在本期《信息图表秀》中，

American Things Europeans Find Weird.

欧洲人觉得古怪的美国现象。

Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell button

别忘了订阅并点击小铃铛按钮，

so that you can be part of a notification squad.

这样你就能成为通知小分队的一员。

We'll stay with food and restaurants for the time being. 短語搭配

我们暂时先谈谈食物和餐厅。

As we've discussed in other shows,

正如我们在其他节目中讨论过的那样，

not everyone in the world is so draconian about tipping. 用詞

世界上并不是每个人都对给小费这件事如此苛刻。

In fact, in some parts of Europe,

事实上，在欧洲的某些地方，

throwing a buck on the counter 用詞

把一美元扔在柜台上

after receiving a cold beer would be totally insulting.

换取一杯冷啤酒后，会被认为是完全侮辱人的。

In many European countries,

在许多欧洲国家，

tipping in some situations can be seen as charity.

某些情况下给小费可能被视为施舍。

When visiting the US,

当去美国旅游时，

many Europeans might find it weird

许多欧洲人可能会觉得很奇怪，

that a waiter or waitress keeps coming back to your table.

为什么服务员总是不断地回到你的桌子旁。

In the States,

在美国，

it may be seen as just good service,

这可能仅仅被视为优质的服务，

but to some Europeans,

但对一些欧洲人来说，

it could be construed as someone getting in the way of a good meal. 講解

这可能会被理解为有人在打扰他们好好吃顿饭。

That meal,

那顿饭，

by the way,

顺便说一句，

could be about three times larger than many people in Europe are used to. 語法

可能比欧洲许多人习惯的分量要大三倍左右。

In general,

一般来说，

American food portions look to some Europeans like they're supposed to feed two people. 語法

在一些欧洲人看来，美国人的食物分量像是用来喂饱两个人的。

It may also seem like an act of largesse to some Europeans

在一些欧洲人看来，这也可能像是一种慷慨的举动，

when someone keeps refilling their glass of soda or cup of coffee for no extra cost. 文化背景

当有人不断免费为他们的苏打水或咖啡续杯时。

In terms of the food itself,

就食物本身而言，

as we noted earlier,

正如我们前面提到的，

Americans and Europeans have very different ideas about what goes with what. 短語搭配

美国人和欧洲人对于什么食物该搭配什么有着截然不同的看法。

"Pancakes for breakfast with fried chicken?

“早餐吃煎饼配炸鸡？

Are you kidding me?" 語氣意圖

你在开玩笑吗？”

says the traveling European.

正在旅行的欧洲人说道。

And what about putting honey on bacon for breakfast?

那早餐吃培根配蜂蜜呢？

The Frenchman wanted mustard with his sliced beef

法国人吃切片牛肉时想配芥末，

and tasted something not like mustard,

却尝到了不像芥末的东西，

but a sweeter version with less bite. 用詞

而是一种不那么冲、更甜的版本。

The Italian went to Chicago and in one restaurant ordered a pizza,

意大利人去了芝加哥，在一家餐厅点了一份披萨，

only to be served what he thought looked more like a quiche or a cake. 語法

结果端上来的东西他觉得看起来更像法式咸派或蛋糕。

So, what about when Europeans head to the store?

那么，当欧洲人去商店时会怎样呢？

Again, the rather affable smile and general friendliness of staff

同样，员工相当和蔼可亲的笑容和普遍的友善

may seem strange to someone from grumpy England,

对于来自脾气暴躁的英国的人来说可能显得很奇怪，

where service with a smile is certainly no guarantee. 短語搭配

在那里，微笑服务当然是得不到保证的。

In fact,

事实上，

it's been remarked that American friendliness can

有人曾评论说，美国人的友好可能会

result in some Europeans thinking something suspicious is afoot. 用詞

导致一些欧洲人认为有什么可疑的事情正在发生。

If that European is in the store

如果那个欧洲人去商店

to buy a pack of cigarettes or a bottle of wine,

买一包烟或一瓶酒，

they may be extremely surprised when they get asked for ID, 語法

当被要求出示身份证件时，他们可能会极其惊讶，

as that might not have happened to them for over a decade or two.

因为这种事他们可能十几年或二十几年都没遇到过了。

On top of Europe mainly having laxer laws on age restrictions,

除了欧洲在年龄限制方面的法律通常更为宽松之外，

IDing people is not such a big deal as it is in America.

查验身份证件在那里也不像在美国那么严重。

Only in July this year,

就在今年七月，

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher said he was IDed in the US

绿洲乐队主唱利亚姆·加拉格尔说他在美国被查了身份证件，

after trying to buy cigarettes.

当时他试图买烟。

He tweeted,

他在推特上写道，

"I've just been told I can't buy cigs unless I got ID.

“我刚被告知，除非我有身份证件，否则不能买烟。

I'm 44.

我都44岁了。

Has the world gone mad? 語氣意圖

这个世界疯了吗？”

Indeed, in his home city of Manchester,

确实，在他的家乡曼彻斯特，

he'd probably been buying his smokes for 30 years without a problem.

他可能已经毫无问题地买了30年的烟了。

And then the European looks inside his or her wallet,

然后，这位欧洲人看了看自己的钱包，

only to see a bunch of notes that all look the same,

结果看到了一把长得一模一样的钞票，

all the time wondering how this could possibly make any sense.

一直在纳闷这怎么可能说得通。

The good thing is, in America,

好处是，在美国，

you can pay with plastic just about anywhere, 講解

你几乎到处都可以用信用卡支付，

which is something many Europeans are still not used to.

这是许多欧洲人仍然不习惯的。

They may also be unpleasantly surprised to

他们还可能不愉快地惊奇于，

find out when they do buy something,

当他们真的买了东西时发现，

taxes get added on top of the price they saw. 文化背景

结账时会在他们看到的标价上附加税费。

So they try and get back to their hotel,

所以他们试图返回酒店，

but have to ask the way.

却不得不问路。

They are told to walk six blocks this way and turn left, 文化背景

他们被告知朝这边走六个街区然后左转，

only for some Europeans not familiar with the US,

只是对于一些不熟悉美国的欧洲人来说，

giving someone directions using in blocks may seem weird.

用街区来给人指路可能会显得很奇怪。

Parts of Europe were not built with city blocks in mind 短語搭配

欧洲的部分地区并不是按照城市街区的概念来建造的，

and just gradually spread in a way that makes it hard to find your way around. 習語

而只是逐渐蔓延开来，这让人很难找路。

When they finally do get back,

当他们终于回去后，

they settle down to watch some TV, 短語動詞

他们坐下来看会儿电视，

only for some reason the shows are interspersed with commercials 短語搭配

却发现不知什么原因，节目中穿插的广告

that seem to be longer than the actual minutes given to the actual content.

似乎比实际留给正片内容的时间还要长。

This drives some Europeans crazy. 習語

这让一些欧洲人抓狂。

At some

在某些

point, they might come across World Wrestling Entertainment 短語動詞

时候，他们可能会看到世界摔角娱乐（WWE），

and be quite confused at how some Americans can get so 習語

并且对一些美国人怎么会如此

worked up about what to them looks like an act with an ending already scripted.

痴迷于一个在他们看来结局早已写好的表演感到非常困惑。

You may have to be an American to enjoy that kind of drama with such passion.

你可能必须是一个美国人，才能以如此的激情去欣赏那种戏剧性。

Turn over to the news and depending on the channel, 短語動詞

换到新闻频道，根据频道的不同，

this may also look something like a drama or a soap opera to a European.

这在欧洲人看来也可能像是一出戏剧或肥皂剧。

They may easily believe they are watching a news satire.

他们可能很容易相信自己正在看一部新闻讽刺剧。

One of the great things in America,

然而，在美国一件很棒的事情，

though, for some Europeans at least,

至少对某些欧洲人来说，

is the fact that some things are open 24/7. 用詞

就是有些东西是全天候营业的。

Can't sleep?

睡不着？

Just go out.

出去就好。

Shopping hours are relatively quite restricted in many European nations,

在许多欧洲国家，购物时间相对受到相当严格的限制，

but in most places in the US or near a big city,

但在美国的大多数地方或大城市附近，

there is always something to do or buy in the middle of the night.

半夜总是有事情可以做或有东西可以买。

In Europe, the BBC reported that London,

在欧洲，BBC报道称伦敦、

England,

英格兰，

and six cities in Spain were the better 24-hour cities.

以及西班牙的六个城市是较好的24小时城市。

Now we'll visit the sensitive issues of religion and patriotism. 表達脈絡

现在我们来谈谈宗教和爱国主义这两个敏感话题。

World Atlas puts America at the top of the list as the most Christian nation in the world. 習語

《世界地图集》将美国列为世界上最基督教化的国家之首。

In the US,

在美国，

on any given day, 短語搭配

任何一天，

you might hear the word God or at least see signs pointing to where you might find him.

你可能都会听到上帝这个词，或者至少看到指示去哪里可以找到他的路牌。

While parts of Europe are also predominantly Christian,

虽然欧洲的部分地区主要也是基督教徒，

the omnipresence of God in the streets may seem a little overbearing

但街道上无处不在的上帝可能会显得有些咄咄逼人，

to many of these nations that have forgone church duty.

对于那些已经放弃了做礼拜义务的许多国家的人来说。

It's the same with flags everywhere. 表達脈絡

到处的国旗也是一样。

You won't go far in America without seeing the Stars and Stripes, 文化背景

在美国，你走不了多远就会看到星条旗，

whereas in Europe, 語法

而在欧洲，

flags are usually designated to the top of poles outside of official buildings.

国旗通常被挂在官方建筑外旗杆的顶端。

Seeing one planted in a garden may induce a traveling European to believe

看到花园里插着一面国旗，可能会让正在旅行的欧洲人认为，

that he is at the house of a hardcore nationalist,

他是在一个死忠民族主义者的家里，

not just someone who is proud of where he comes from. 語法

而不仅仅是一个为自己的出身感到自豪的人。

Interesting side note, 表達脈絡

一个有趣的旁注，

a 2014 survey revealed the most patriotic country in the world was Thailand,

2014年的一项调查显示，世界上最爱国的国家是泰国，

closely followed by the USA. 短語搭配

紧随其后的是美国。

While it may not seem too weird for Europeans,

虽然对欧洲人来说可能并不太奇怪，

the fact that some people in the States carry firearms might be scary. 用詞

但美国有些人携带枪支的事实可能会令人害怕。

Per capita, 用詞

按人均计算，

more people in the States own guns than any other country.

美国拥有枪支的人数比其他任何国家都多。

While most cops in Europe do carry guns,

虽然欧洲的大多数警察确实配枪，

it's unusual to see a cop in England,

但在英格兰、

Scotland,

苏格兰，

or Wales carrying a gun.

或威尔士看到配枪的警察是不寻常的。

The fact that regular Joes might be carrying a firearm seems fairly weird to many Europeans. 習語

普通人可能携带枪支这一事实，对许多欧洲人来说显得相当古怪。

It might not seem so strange to Serbians who also have a high rate of guns owned per person.

对塞尔维亚人来说可能不那么奇怪，因为他们的人均拥枪率也很高。

Size also matters to Europeans when traveling in the States.

在美国旅行时，尺寸对欧洲人来说也很重要。

In America,

在美国，

everything just seems bigger,

似乎一切都更大，

and not just the aforementioned dishes.

不仅仅是前面提到的菜肴。

The roads and streets seem larger for the most part, 短語搭配

道路和街道在大多数情况下似乎更宽，

and if you don't have a car,

而且如果你没有车，

it can seem hard to get anywhere,

似乎去哪里都很困难，

especially in a place like LA.

尤其是在像洛杉矶这样的地方。

The cars themselves seem a lot bigger,

汽车本身似乎也大得多，

large enough to crush Mr. Bean in his Mini, 文化背景

大到足以把憨豆先生和他那辆Mini车给压碎，

and the people inside them also seem big on average,

里面的乘客平均看起来也很高大，

if not taller,

就算没更高，

than wider on average.

平均来说也更宽。

The skyscrapers are taller and in general,

摩天大楼也更高，总的来说，

American houses statistically have a lot more space than the average European house.

统计数据显示美国房屋的空间比欧洲普通房屋要大得多。

One survey stated that the Danish had the most living space in Europe,

一项调查表明，丹麦人拥有欧洲最大的居住空间，

still much less than Americans,

尽管仍比美国人小得多，

but much more than the Brits,

但比英国人多得多，

that to Americans might seem their whole house is smaller than their basement.

以至于在许多美国人看来，英国人的整栋房子甚至可能比他们的地下室还小。

It may not be that weird,

这可能没那么奇怪，

but one might ask why everything is so big in the US.

但人们可能会问，为什么在美国一切都那么大。

As for appearance, 表達脈絡

至于外表，

some Europeans may find the amount of Americans that

一些欧洲人可能会发现许多美国人

are continually decked in what looks like gym wear a bit strange, 用詞

总是穿着看起来像健身服的衣服，觉得这有点奇怪，

as most are not going to the gym.

因为他们大多数人并不是去健身房。

Other styles that are mostly in '80s theme but seem to have stayed around a little

另一种大多属于80年代主题但似乎稍微保留下来的风格，

are the big hairstyles on some older American women.

是美国一些老年妇女夸张的发型。

Big lips and big breasts may also be a fashion weird to some

大嘴唇和丰满的胸部也可能被某些

Europeans, while in the USA,

欧洲人视为一种怪异的时尚，而在美国，

the president still seems to sport a fake tan. 用詞

总统似乎仍然热衷于假晒黑。

On the positive side, 表達脈絡

从积极的方面来看，

Americans all seem to have such perfect white teeth,

似乎所有美国人都有那样完美洁白的牙齿，

quite different from those Brits.

与那些英国人截然不同。

This was hilariously depicted in an episode of The Simpsons

在《辛普森一家》的一集中，这一点被非常滑稽地描绘了出来，

in which the Big Book of British Smiles horrifically demonstrated the apparent lack of dental hygiene in the country. 文化背景

剧中《英国人微笑大字典》可怕地展示了该国明显的口腔卫生缺乏。

So,

那么，

what do you Europeans out there find strange about Americans?

你们这些欧洲人觉得美国人有什么奇怪的地方呢？

And Americans,

还有美国人，

what do you think is weird about Europeans?

你们觉得欧洲人有什么奇怪的呢？

Let us know in the comments.

请在评论区告诉我们。

See you next time.

我们下次见。