Donny在北京学汉语,他的中国朋友要是遇到了不知道用美语怎么说的词,就会来请教他。今天是方方要问的:牛。

Donny: FF, I heard you went to a ballroom dance competition yesterday. How did it go? 

FF: 我进决赛啦! 怎么样,牛吧?

Donny: 牛? a cow? 

FF: 不是,“牛”就是特别厉害,very good!

Donny: I got it. In English, we use the word “awesome”, a-w-e-s-o-m-e, awesome.

FF: 哦,awesome就是说特牛。

Donny: You can also use the word “ballin”. b-a-l-l-i-n, ballin. It also means “cool or very good”. 

FF: 哦,Ballin也是“很牛”的意思。Donny, 那天的跳舞比赛上还真有不少高手。在这种情况下,我可以跟他们说,You’re awesome! 或者You’re ballin! 对么?

Donny: That’s right. You can also say “you rule” or “you rock!” 

FF: rule, r-u-l-e, rule; rock, r-o-c-k, rock, 这两个词也可以形容某人或某事很牛,不过它们都是动词,对不对?

Donny: Exactly! For example, 如果你看了一场特别牛的演唱会,you can say “it rocks!” or “it rules!” 

FF: 明白了。不过那天也有一些人在比赛前一副不可一世的样子,可真跳起来,也不怎么样,真不知道他们有什么好牛的!对了,形容这些人,也用awesome或是ballin么?

Donny: No! You can use “cocky” c-o-c-k-y, cocky, to describe these kind of people.

FF: 哦,说一个人牛气哄哄的,就是cocky.

Donny: Now, FF, If you can tell me what you’ve learned today, I’d say your English很牛!

FF: 好!第一,说人或事很牛,用形容词awesome或ballin;

第二,说人或事很牛,还可以用动词rule或者rock;

第三,形容某人傲慢,牛气哄哄,可以用cocky!