【英语趣味课堂】谈论香港-Talking about Hong Kong

Todd: Adrienne, you said you mother lives in Hong Kong.

 

Adrienne: That's right.

 

Todd: Wow. Why is she in Hong Kong?

 

Adrienne: She's there for work actually.

 

Todd: Oh, yeah. What does she do?

 

Adrienne: It's difficult to explain because I don't really understand it myself but she works for a corporation in the States and she's on assignment in Hong Kong.

 

Todd: So what does your mother think of Hong Kong so far?

 

Adrienne: Oh, she loves it. Of course, she misses being home with her family, with all of us, but it's quite an adventure of course to live overseas and she has a great apartment and a view of the harbor and she's really enjoying doing a lot of traveling and stuff so she's having a good time.

 

Todd: So have you actually been out to Hong Kong to see her?

 

Adrienne: Of course. Many times.

 

Todd: So what was it like when you were in Hong Kong?

 

Adrienne: It's hot and humid like a lot of places in Asia especially in the summer. But it's very hot, very humid but a beautiful city. It's like I said, a harbor city, so there's water everywhere, and I think actually the name Hong Kong, maybe someone will correct me about this, but I think it means like fragrant¹ harbor, or good harbor, something like that, so it's an interesting name, but it is, it's just all water. It's beautiful.

 

Todd: What things did you really enjoy about Hong Kong?

 

Adrienne: The shopping of course. Hong Kong has great shopping. There's Stanley Market.

 

Todd: Stanley Market? What's that?

 

Adrienne: It's just a market area. It's on the other side of the island from downtown and it's well-known for having lots of souvenirs, but lots of things like purses and scarves and shoes and clothes and everything, and very reasonably priced.

 

Todd: So when you went to Stanley Market, did you buy anything?

 

Adrienne: Of course. I bought lots of purses and shoes and accessories². All of the fun stuff.

 

Todd: Multiple? You bought more than one purse?

 

Adrienne: Oh, yes, of course.

 

Todd: Why would you buy more than one purse?

 

Adrienne: A couple reasons. One, it was very cheap. Two, it was.... I was planing ahead for Christmas.

 

Todd: So, in Hong Kong, when you buy something, is it standard to haggle³ about the price, or is it pretty standard... do you pay the price that's written?

 

Adrienne: Um, at the regular shops, you know, any kind of standard mall or boutique, that kind of place, of course the prices are set, but if you go to the market you can usually get a bargain.

1 fragrant   

adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的

参考例句：

• The Fragrant Hills are exceptionally beautiful in late autumn.深秋的香山格外美丽。
• The air was fragrant with lavender.空气中弥漫薰衣草香。

2 accessories   

n.附件；附件( accessory的名词复数 )；（衣服的）配饰；从犯；妇女饰品

参考例句：

• a range of furnishings and accessories for the home 各种各样的家居装饰物及配件
• These are indispensable accessories. 这些是不可缺少的附件。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 haggle   

vi.讨价还价，争论不休

参考例句：

• In many countries you have to haggle before you buy anything.在许多国家里买东西之前都得讨价还价。
• If you haggle over the price,they might give you discount.你讲讲价，他们可能会把价钱降低。