Ally

Slowly

發佈時間: 2021/04/09

Slowly

復活節假期後,全港幼稚園及中小學可以有更多學生回校。對於小朋友和青少年,網上授課終究不及回校上課,尤其是認識朋友,都是透過日常一點一滴累積而來;觀察一顰一笑和透過對話,逐漸了解對方。

《小王子》一書裏,主角說他是這樣慢慢認識小王子的︰「As each day passed I would learn, in our talk, something about the little prince's planet, his departure from it, his journey. The information would come very slowly...」(一天一天過去,我透過與小王子傾談,認識到他的星球、他的離開、他的旅程。資料來得慢慢的……)

現在很多事情講求速度,但是slowly一字是中性用字,本身不帶貶義。

畢竟快慢是相對的,需要看語境決定褒貶。例如,Could you speak more slowly, please?(你可以講慢點嗎?)就是說原本太快了,並不好。

Slowly but surely指小心翼翼,避免出現問題,但事情着實地進展。例如,Slowly but surely, we are moving in the right direction.(我們慢慢但確實地朝着正確的方向前進。)

慢悠悠還可以暗示寫意——I walked slowly in the park at dawn, enjoying solitude and fresh air.(黎明時分,我在公園裏慢慢散步,享受獨處和新鮮空氣。)

(本欄逢周三、五刊登)

撰文: Ally Dean's List級英文老師
欄名: WordDiscovery