歐洲人覺得奇怪的美國事物：英語精讀講義

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

如果你看過昆汀·塔倫提諾的經典電影《黑色追緝令》，

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

你會知道電影開場的一幕中，山繆·傑克森對荷蘭吸食大麻合法化表現出了驚訝，

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

以及法國人吃薯條居然沾美乃滋。

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

「噁！」就是他對使用這種調味料的反應。

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

好吧，我們可以告訴你「噁！」是相互的，美國人吃的、

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

做的、相信的、說的很多事情，歐洲人也覺得十分古怪。

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

今天，我們就來看看其中的一些事情。

In this episode of The Infographics Show,

在本期《資訊圖表秀》中，

American Things Europeans Find Weird.

歐洲人覺得古怪的美國現象。

Don't forget to subscribe and click the bell button

別忘了訂閱並點擊小鈴鐺按鈕，

so that you can be part of a notification squad.

這樣你就能成為通知小分隊的一員。

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

我們暫時先談談食物和餐廳。

As we've discussed in other shows,

正如我們在其他節目中討論過的那樣，

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

世界上並不是每個人都對給小費這件事如此嚴苛。

In fact, in some parts of Europe,

事實上，在歐洲的某些地方，

throwing a buck on the counter 用詞

把一塊美金扔在櫃檯上

after receiving a cold beer would be totally insulting.

當作收到一杯冷啤酒後給的小費，會被認為是完全侮辱人的。

In many European countries,

在許多歐洲國家，

tipping in some situations can be seen as charity.

某些情況下給小費可能被視為施捨。

When visiting the US,

當去美國旅遊時，

many Europeans might find it weird

許多歐洲人可能會覺得很奇怪，

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

為什麼服務生總是反覆回到你的桌子旁。

In the States,

在美國，

it may be seen as just good service,

這可能僅僅被視為優質的服務，

but to some Europeans,

但對一些歐洲人來說，

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

這可能會被解讀為有人在打擾他們好好吃頓飯。

That meal,

那頓飯，

by the way,

順便說一句，

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

可能比歐洲許多人習慣的分量要大三倍左右。

In general,

一般來說，

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

在一些歐洲人看來，美國人的食物分量像是用來餵飽兩個人的。

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

在一些歐洲人看來，這也可能像是一種慷慨的舉動，

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

當有人不斷免費為他們的汽水或咖啡續杯時。

In terms of the food itself,

就食物本身而言，

as we noted earlier,

正如我們前面提到的，

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

美國人和歐洲人對於什麼食物該搭配什麼有著截然不同的看法。

"Pancakes for breakfast with fried chicken?

「早餐吃鬆餅配炸雞？

Are you kidding me?" 語氣意圖

你是在開玩笑嗎？」

says the traveling European.

正在旅行的歐洲人說道。

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

法國人吃切片牛肉時想配芥末，

and tasted something not like mustard,

卻嚐到了不像芥末的東西，

but a sweeter version with less bite. 用詞

而是一種比較不嗆、更甜的版本。

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

義大利人去了芝加哥，在一家餐廳點了一份披薩，

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

結果端上來的東西他覺得看起來更像法式鹹派或蛋糕。

So, what about when Europeans head to the store?

那麼，當歐洲人去商店時會怎樣呢？

Again, the rather affable smile and general friendliness of staff

同樣，員工相當和藹可親的笑容和普遍的友善

may seem strange to someone from grumpy England,

對於來自脾氣暴躁的英國的人來說可能顯得很奇怪，

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

在那裡，微笑服務當然是得不到保證的。

In fact,

事實上，

it's been remarked that American friendliness can

有人曾評論說，美國人的友善可能會

result in some Europeans thinking something suspicious is afoot. 用詞

導致一些歐洲人認為有什麼可疑的事情正在發生。

If that European is in the store

如果那個歐洲人去商店

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

買一包菸或一瓶酒，

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

當被要求出示身分證件時，他們可能會極其驚訝，

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

因為這種事他們可能十幾年或二十幾年都沒遇到過了。

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

除了歐洲在年齡限制方面的法律通常更為寬鬆之外，

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

查驗身分證件在那裡也不像在美國那麼嚴重。

Only in July this year,

就在今年七月，

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher said he was IDed in the US

綠洲合唱團主唱連恩·蓋勒格說他在美國被查了身分證件，

after trying to buy cigarettes.

當時他試圖買菸。

He tweeted,

他在推特上寫道，

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

「我剛被告知，除非我有身分證件，否則不能買菸。

I'm 44.

我都44歲了。

Has the world gone mad? 語氣意圖

這個世界瘋了嗎？」

Indeed, in his home city of Manchester,

確實，在他的家鄉曼徹斯特，

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

他可能已經毫無問題地買了30年的菸了。

And then the European looks inside his or her wallet,

然後，這位歐洲人看了看自己的錢包，

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

結果看到了一把長得一模一樣的鈔票，

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

一直納悶這怎麼可能說得通。

The good thing is, in America,

好處是，在美國，

you can pay with plastic just about anywhere, 講解

你幾乎到處都可以用塑膠貨幣（信用卡）支付，

which is something many Europeans are still not used to.

這是許多歐洲人仍然不習慣的。

They may also be unpleasantly surprised to

他們還可能不愉快地驚奇於，

find out when they do buy something,

當他們真的買了東西時發現，

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

結帳時會在他們看到的標價上附加稅費。

So they try and get back to their hotel,

所以他們試圖返回飯店，

but have to ask the way.

卻不得不問路。

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

他們被告知朝這邊走六個街區然後左轉，

only for some Europeans not familiar with the US,

只是對於一些不熟悉美國的歐洲人來說，

giving someone directions using in blocks may seem weird.

用街區來給人指路可能會顯得很奇怪。

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

歐洲的部分地區並不是按照城市街區的概念來建造的，

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

而只是逐漸蔓延開來，這讓人很難找路。

When they finally do get back,

當他們終於回去後，

they settle down to watch some TV, 片語動詞

他們坐下來看會兒電視，

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

卻發現不知什麼原因，節目中穿插的廣告

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

似乎比實際留給正片內容的時間還要長。

This drives some Europeans crazy. 慣用語

這讓一些歐洲人抓狂。

At some

在某些

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

時候，他們可能會看到世界摔角娛樂（WWE），

and be quite confused at how some Americans can get so 慣用語

並且對一些美國人怎麼會如此

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

痴迷於一個在他們看來結局早已寫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.

你可能必須是一個美國人，才能以如此的激情去欣賞那種戲劇性。

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

換到新聞頻道，根據頻道的不同，

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

這在歐洲人看來也可能像是一齣戲劇或肥皂劇。

They may easily believe they are watching a news satire.

他們可能很容易相信自己正在看一部新聞諷刺劇。

One of the great things in America,

然而，在美國一件很棒的事情，

though, for some Europeans at least,

至少對某些歐洲人來說，

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

就是有些東西是24小時全年無休營業的。

Can't sleep?

睡不著？

Just go out.

出去就好。

Shopping hours are relatively quite restricted in many European nations,

在許多歐洲國家，購物時間相對受到相當嚴格的限制，

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

但在美國的大多數地方或大城市附近，

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

半夜總是有事情可以做或有東西可以買。

In Europe, the BBC reported that London,

在歐洲，BBC報導稱倫敦、

England,

英格蘭，

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

以及西班牙的六個城市是較好的24小時城市。

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

現在我們來談談宗教和愛國主義這兩個敏感話題。

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

《世界地圖集》將美國列為世界上最基督教化的國家之首。

In the US,

在美國，

on any given day, 片語搭配

任何一天，

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

你可能都會聽到上帝這個詞，或者至少看到指示去哪裡可以找到祂的路牌。

While parts of Europe are also predominantly Christian,

雖然歐洲的部分地區主要也是基督徒，

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

但街道上無處不在的上帝可能會顯得有些咄咄逼人，

to many of these nations that have forgone church duty.

對於那些已經放棄了做禮拜義務的許多國家的人來說。

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

到處的國旗也是一樣。

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

在美國，你走不了多遠就會看到星條旗，

whereas in Europe, 文法

而在歐洲，

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

國旗通常被掛在官方建築外旗桿的頂端。

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

看到花園裡插著一面國旗，可能會讓正在旅行的歐洲人認為，

that he is at the house of a hardcore nationalist,

他是在一個死忠民族主義者的家裡，

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

而不僅僅是一個為自己的出身感到自豪的人。

Interesting side note, 表達脈絡

一個有趣的旁註，

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

2014年的一項調查顯示，世界上最愛國的國家是泰國，

closely followed by the USA. 片語搭配

緊隨其後的是美國。

While it may not seem too weird for Europeans,

雖然對歐洲人來說可能並不太奇怪，

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

但美國有些人攜帶槍枝的事實可能會令人害怕。

Per capita, 用詞

按人均計算，

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

美國擁有槍枝的人數比其他任何國家都多。

While most cops in Europe do carry guns,

雖然歐洲的大多數警察確實配槍，

it's unusual to see a cop in England,

但在英格蘭、

Scotland,

蘇格蘭，

or Wales carrying a gun.

或威爾斯看到配槍的警察是不尋常的。

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

普通人可能攜帶槍枝這一事實，對許多歐洲人來說顯得相當古怪。

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

對塞爾維亞人來說可能不那麼奇怪，因為他們的人均擁槍率也很高。

Size also matters to Europeans when traveling in the States.

在美國旅行時，尺寸對歐洲人來說也很重要。

In America,

在美國，

everything just seems bigger,

似乎一切都更大，

and not just the aforementioned dishes.

不僅僅是前面提到的菜餚。

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

道路和街道在大多數情況下似乎更寬，

and if you don't have a car,

而且如果你沒有車，

it can seem hard to get anywhere,

似乎去哪裡都很困難，

especially in a place like LA.

尤其是在像洛杉磯這樣的地方。

The cars themselves seem a lot bigger,

汽車本身似乎也大得多，

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

大到足以把豆豆先生和他那輛Mini車給壓碎，

and the people inside them also seem big on average,

裡面的乘客平均看起來也很高大，

if not taller,

就算沒更高，

than wider on average.

平均來說也更寬。

The skyscrapers are taller and in general,

摩天大樓也更高，總的來說，

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

統計數據顯示美國房屋的空間比歐洲普通房屋要大得多。

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

一項調查表明，丹麥人擁有歐洲最大的居住空間，

still much less than Americans,

儘管仍比美國人小得多，

but much more than the Brits,

但比英國人多得多，

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

以至於在許多美國人看來，英國人的整棟房子甚至可能比他們的地下室還小。

It may not be that weird,

這可能沒那麼奇怪，

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

但人們可能會問，為什麼在美國一切都那麼大。

As for appearance, 表達脈絡

至於外表，

some Europeans may find the amount of Americans that

一些歐洲人可能會發現許多美國人

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

總是穿著看起來像健身服的衣服，覺得這有點奇怪，

as most are not going to the gym.

因為他們大多數人並不是去健身房。

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

另一種大多屬於80年代主題但似乎稍微保留下來的風格，

are the big hairstyles on some older American women.

是美國一些老年婦女誇張的髮型。

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

大嘴唇和豐滿的胸部也可能被某些

Europeans, while in the USA,

歐洲人視為一種怪異的時尚，而在美國，

the president still seems to sport a fake tan. 用詞

總統似乎仍然熱衷於假曬黑。

On the positive side, 表達脈絡

從積極的方面來看，

Americans all seem to have such perfect white teeth,

似乎所有美國人都有那樣完美潔白的牙齒，

quite different from those Brits.

與那些英國人截然不同。

This was hilariously depicted in an episode of The Simpsons

在《辛普森家庭》的一集中，這一點被非常滑稽地描繪了出來，

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

劇中《英國人微笑大字典》可怕地展示了該國明顯的口腔衛生缺乏。

So,

那麼，

what do you Europeans out there find strange about Americans?

你們這些歐洲人覺得美國人有什麼奇怪的地方呢？

And Americans,

還有美國人，

what do you think is weird about Europeans?

你們覺得歐洲人有什麼奇怪的呢？

Let us know in the comments.

請在留言區告訴我們。

See you next time.

我們下次見。