我們中國(guó)人常常用“花瓶”和“繡花枕頭”來(lái)形容那些虛有其表的人,不過(guò)這樣的形容詞如果要說(shuō)給外國(guó)朋友聽,他們可不一定能明白。難道外國(guó)沒有這樣的人嗎?非也。只是外國(guó)人不了解文化背景,無(wú)法理解而已。下回跟外國(guó)人聊天說(shuō)到這個(gè)話題,你可以用macaroni(通心粉)這個(gè)詞,既符合外國(guó)文化,又形象生動(dòng),保準(zhǔn)他們能明白。
Macaroni, the name of pasta in any of various hollow shapes, is now used to describe people who are impressive in appearance but disappointing in substance. It’s similar to the English saying “Many a fine dish has nothing on it” or the Chinese idiom “embroidered pillow,” which boasts a beautiful cover, but with only worthless dried straw stuffed inside.
形狀各異的意大利“通心粉”現(xiàn)在被用來(lái)形容那些外表光鮮亮麗而實(shí)質(zhì)一無(wú)是處的人。它在這里表示的意思跟英語(yǔ)俗語(yǔ)“虛有其表”和漢語(yǔ)中的“繡花枕頭”的意思一樣,“繡花枕頭”外表很漂亮,可里面卻只是填滿了干草而已。
For example:
- Hey, do you see that guy over there? He is so hot!
哎,你看見那邊那個(gè)家伙了嗎?他好帥啊!
- Hope he is not a macaroni person.
希望他不是個(gè)通心粉才好。
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