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Vague

發佈時間: 2017/03/20

Vague

特首候選人林鄭月娥日前出席一個網台節目時,指自己正在學習說話要「虛一點」。看來是想向689請教語言偽術。

形容說話「虛」,英文可以用vague。形容詞vague可以描述物件的形狀輪廓「模糊、不清晰」,例如,They could only see the vague outline of the building in the fog.(在霧中,他們只能看到那建築物的模糊輪廓。)用vague形容說話,即是「含糊其辭的、不確定的」,例如,She's vague about her career plan.(她不確定自己的職業計劃。)。

為甚麼說話要vague?看看《劍橋字典》如何定義vague一字--「A vague person is not able to think clearly, or gives an impression of not thinking clearly in order to hide their real thoughts」,一個人含糊可能因為不能清楚地思考,或者想給人沒有清晰思考的印象,以隱藏他們的真正想法。例句︰The report is deliberately vague on the company's prospects for making profits.(報告故意對公司的盈利前景含糊其詞。)She is vague and evasive in her responses.(她的回答模糊及推托。)

(本欄逢周一、三、五刊登)

撰文: Ally 最漂亮英文專業老師
欄名: WordDiscovery