你们大家可能都已经认识了Michael和李华这两个大学生了。Michael讲英文,李华是个中国学生,能讲英文,但是她还在不断地跟Michael学。大家可千万不要认为这两个在纽约的大学生老是到外面去玩。其实他们学习都很努力,现在他们就要在李华的宿舍里一起念书,准备考试。李华今天会学到两个常用语,一个是:what's up,这是一个用来打招呼的通俗说法。 另一个是: no brainer,意思是某件事很容易,不用动脑子就能做成。
L: 嗨,Michael,快进来。
M: Hey, Li Hua, what's up?
L: 什么?
M: What's up? What are you doing?
L: What's up? 我倒是听人这么说过,可是我还没有弄清楚这句话到底是什么意思,我应该怎么回答?
M: What's up is really a common greeting.
L: 噢,what's up就是一般打招呼,不是指我的头上是什么呐?
M: No. It's like saying, "What is happening in your life?"
L: 我知道了,what's up就是中文里我们说的:怎么样?
M: Well, it's really only spoken language.
L: 要是我去看一个我已经有两个月没见的朋友,我在见到她的时 候我可以说What's up,对吗?
M: Yes, definitely!
L: 那别人对我说what's up?, 我又该怎么回答呢?
M: You can explain what's going on in your life, or you could say something as simple as: Not much.
L: 要是你问我,What's up? 我就可以说: Oh, not much, just getting ready for our test. 意思就是:噢,没什么,就是在准备我们的考试。
M: That's good usage. You can really say anything.
L: 对,你怎么回答都行。 好吧,我们该学习了。 …..我真是希望这次考试赶快过去。