被中文誤導的英文
<P class=chinese><STRONG><FONT size=3>Question/Problem/Issue</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=chinese>中文說「我有一個問題」，很多人會不自覺用出I've a problem，而其實你是指"I have a question"。中文的「問題」，可以對應到question，problem，還有issue。怎麼找到正確的對應呢?</P>
<UL>
<LI class=chinese>I have a question. (問題=疑問)</LI>
<LI class=chinese>The scale of the problem is massive....(問題=麻煩)</LI>
<LI class=chinese>There are still some issues to talk about....(問題=議題)</LI></UL>
<P class=chinese><FONT size=3><STRONG>Amount/number</STRONG></FONT> </P>
<P class=chinese>中文說「出席的人數很多」，你會用amount還是number? amount抽象地指整體的量很大，不可數；number是你實際上數得出來的很多。</P>
<UL>
<LI class=chinese>(X) I was amazed by the amount of people present.</LI>
<LI class=chinese>(O) I was amazed by the number of people present.</LI>
<LI class=chinese>(O) The amount of money needed was soon collect.</LI></UL>
<P class=chinese><STRONG><FONT size=3>Custom / habit</FONT></STRONG></P>
<UL>
<LI class=chinese>(X)The teacher has a custom of clearing his throat before he speaks. (這位老師習慣在說話前先清一下喉嚨。)<BR>custom 通常是指一個地方的『風俗習慣』，多半由文化積累所形成。<BR>如：local / traditional customs (當地/傳統習俗)。個人的生活習慣需用 habit 。華人經常把approach(方式)、habit(習慣)和custom(習俗)搞混。</LI>
<LI><SPAN class=chinese>(O) The teacher has a habit of clearing his ! throat before he speaks.</SPAN><BR></LI></UL>
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