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Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 2 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

You might think that all modern societies would have the same grooming and personal hygiene practices. After all, doesn't everybody take baths? Most people do recognize the need for hygiene, which is the basis for cleanliness and health—and a good way to keep one's friends. Grooming practices include all the little things people do to make themselves look their best, such as combing their hair and putting on makeup. However, while most modern people agree that these things are important, people in different cultures take care of themselves in different ways.

你可能以為所有現代社會中的儀容整潔與衛生習慣都是一樣的。畢竟，不是每一個人天天都要洗澡的嗎？大部份人的確肯定衛生的必要性，它是清潔與健康的基礎，也是維持友誼的好辦法。儀容整潔的工作涵蓋了所有可以使人看起來體面的瑣碎小事，像是梳頭和化妝。雖然大多數的現代人都同意這些事很重要，但不同文化背景的人打理自己的方法也不一樣。 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 3 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

There used to be an old joke in America that people should take a bath once a week, whether they need one or not. In fact, though, Americans generally take a bath— or more commonly, a shower— every day. But in contrast to some cultures, most Americans get their shower in the morning, so they can start the day fresh.

以前在美國有一個老笑話，說不管人們需不需要，他們至少每個禮拜該洗一次澡。不過事實上，美國人每天會洗一次澡，或者更普遍的作法是每天淋浴一次。但是不同於某些文化習慣的是，美國人在清晨淋浴，以使他們展開清新的一天。 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 4 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

Instead of going to a beauty parlor for a shampoo, many Americans prefer to wash and style their own hair. So if Americans have a “bad hair day,” they have no one to blame but themselves. But most people in America do head for the beauty parlor or barber shop occasionally for a haircut, a perm or just some friendly conversation.

而且美國人不上美容院去洗頭，他們寧可自己洗頭和整理髮型。所以美國人如果有一天頭髮很醜，除了怪自己之外就沒什麼好抱怨的了。然而大部份的美國人偶爾會到美容院或理髮廳去，剪頭髮、燙頭髮，或是去跟人聊聊天。

⊙ Word Bank
perm (n) 燙頭髮　　 

 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 5 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

Americans are known for having very sensitive noses. In America, “B.O.” (body odor) is socially unacceptable. For that reason, Americans consider the use of deodorant or anti-perspirant a must. Ladies often add a touch of perfume for an extra fresh scent. Men may splash on after-shave lotion or manly-smelling cologne. Another cultural no-no in America is bad breath. Americans don't like to smell what other people ate for lunch— especially onions or garlic. Their solution? Mouthwash, breath mints and even brushing their teeth after meals.

美國人的鼻子是出了名的靈。在美國，體臭在社交上是不被接受的。因此，美國人會認為使用除臭劑或止汗劑是必須的。女士們通常會再抹點香水以增加清香；男士則拍一些刮鬍水或是男性古龍水在臉上。在美國文化裡的另一項禁忌是口臭。美國人不喜歡聞別人午餐後留在口中的味道——尤其是洋蔥或大蒜。他們怎麼解決這問題呢？漱口、吃薄荷糖、甚至飯後刷牙。

⊙ Word Bank
odor (n) 氣味；臭氣
deodorant (n) 除臭劑
anti-perspirant (n) 止汗劑
cologne (n) 古龍水  

 

 

 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 6 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

Some of the cultural variations in grooming practices result from physical differences between races. Whereas many Asian men have little facial hair, Westerners have a lot. As a result, most American men spend some time each day shaving or grooming their facial hair.

有些儀容整潔方面的文化差異是源自於種族間生理條件的不同。亞洲男性面部的鬍髭長得並不多，但西方人卻長得多，因此美國的男性每天得花些時間去刮除或整理他們的臉毛。 

 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 7 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生 Beards and mustaches are common sights in America, although their popularity changes from generation to generation. Most American men who wear facial hair try to keep it nicely trimmed. American women, on the other hand, generally prefer not to be hairy at all. Many of them regularly shave their legs and armpits. 在美國，男人在下巴部份或嘴唇上方留鬍子是很普通的，不過不同時代鬍子受歡迎的樣式不相同。在美國大部份留鬍子的男性都會試著將鬍子修剪整齊，但另一方面，美國女性通常不喜歡毛茸茸的，很多人會定期地刮除腿部和腋下的毛。 ⊙ Word Bank mustache (n) 髭，長在嘴唇上的鬍鬚 trim (v) 修剪整齊 armpit (n) 腋下

 Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 7 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

Beards and mustaches are common sights in America, although their popularity changes from generation to generation. Most American men who wear facial hair try to keep it nicely trimmed. American women, on the other hand, generally prefer not to be hairy at all. Many of them regularly shave their legs and armpits.

在美國，男人在下巴部份或嘴唇上方留鬍子是很普通的，不過不同時代鬍子受歡迎的樣式不相同。在美國大部份留鬍子的男性都會試著將鬍子修剪整齊，但另一方面，美國女性通常不喜歡毛茸茸的，很多人會定期地刮除腿部和腋下的毛。

⊙ Word Bank
mustache (n) 髭，長在嘴唇上的鬍鬚
trim (v) 修剪整齊
armpit (n) 腋下

 

 

 

Grooming & Personal Hygiene(Part 8 of 8)美國人的儀容整潔與個人衛生

Americans put great value on both grooming and personal hygiene. For some people, taking care of themselves has become almost a religion. As the old saying goes, “Cleanliness is next to godliness.” Whether or not being clean and well-groomed brings one closer to God, it certainly brings one closer to others. Americans look down on people who don't take care of themselves, or who “let themselves go. To Americans, even if we don't have much to work with, we have to make the best of what we've got.

美國人非常看重儀容整潔與個人衛生。對某些人而言，打理自己幾乎成了一種信仰，如一句古老的諺語說：清潔是僅次於聖潔第二重要的事。不管整齊清潔是不是能使人更接近上帝，但它的確能拉近與人的距離。美國人輕視那些不在乎打理自己或讓自己隨隨便便就好的人。對美國人而言，就算我們沒有非常好的先天條件，但至少該盡力將已有的好好發揮。 

 

 

I wish you hadn't jumped the gun and told Dad that we needed $300. I was going to wait until he offered.

早知道我就會告訴你不要太快告訴爸爸我們需要三百塊錢。我本來是希望等到他自己給的。

 

Don't just sit on your hands. Do something to help us!

不要只是在那裡無所事事。來幫我們點忙吧！

 

OK, it's time for one of you to spill the beans. Who broke my lamp?

好，該是你們其中一個人招供的時候了。誰打破了我的燈？

 

If you want to go to the nearest store, it's easy as pie. Just turn left at the next stoplight.

如果你要到最近的一家店，那太簡單了。在下個紅綠燈左轉就行了。

 

Jim's new car was the apple of his eye.

吉姆的新車是他的心肝寶貝

 

Stop dragging your feet, Amy, and get your work done.

艾咪，不要再拖拖拉拉的了，快把妳的工作完成。

 

What's wrong with John? He looks like he went bananas.

約翰怎麼了？他看起來好像發瘋了似的。

 

What's wrong with John? He looks like he went bananas.

約翰怎麼了？他看起來好像發瘋了似的。

 

After Larson won the lottery, he sounded like a broken record player. All he could talk about was his money.

拉森贏了樂透之後就像破唱機一樣唸個不停。他所談的都是錢、錢、錢。