Cautiously optimistic

有人力資源公司發表第3季就業展望調查報告，受訪的500名香港僱主中，有38%預算未來3個月會增加人手；27%則表示會縮減，招聘意慾審慎樂觀（cautiously optimistic）。

Cautious解「十分小心的、謹慎的」，避免風險。例如，My dad is a cautious driver.（爸爸是個謹慎的司機。）The manager is cautious in handling situations that are not yet stable.（在處理尚未穩定的情況時，經理非常謹慎。）

Cautiously optimistic解「審慎樂觀」，即是怎樣呢？《劍橋字典》這樣闡釋︰「a feeling that there are some reasons to hope for a good result, even if you do not expect complete success or improvement」，覺得有理由希望取得好結果，即使你不期望完全成功或改進。

例如，Employers are cautiously optimistic about the economy's ability to bounce back from COVID-19 later this year.（僱主對於經濟能否在今年稍後時間從疫情中反彈，持謹慎樂觀態度。）

Restaurants owners feel cautiously optimistic about business as life begins to return to normal in the territory.（隨着香港生活開始恢復正常，餐廳老闆對生意謹慎樂觀。）

（本欄逢周三、五刊登）