Peak hours

「三隧分流」方案終於落實，隧道費將調整，引入不同時段不同收費，分「繁忙時段」（peak hours）和「非繁忙時段」（non-peak hours）。

名詞peak一字原意解「山峰、高峰、最高點」。例如，It took him five hours to climb to the peak of the mountain.（他花了5個小時才爬到山頂。）He reached the peak of his career at a very young age.（他年紀輕輕就達到了事業的巔峰。）Real estate prices were at the peak two years ago.（房地產價格在兩年前達到最高點。）

在peak hours一詞中，peak是形容詞，解「高峰的」，用於描述「某事的最高水平」，或「最多人在做某事或使用某事的時候」。譬如，During peak times, the tunnel toll will be more expensive.（在繁忙時段，隧道費會更貴。）Traffic congestion is really bad at the Cross-Habour Tunnel at peak periods.（紅隧的交通擠塞狀況在繁忙時段真是非常糟糕。）We prefer travelling in the non-peak season to avoid the crowd.（我們喜歡在非旺季旅行，可以避開人群。）

（本欄逢周三、五刊登）