A: Wow! That’s a real work of art!
B: It’s beautiful, isn’t it? It’s a wonderful combination of simplicity and grandeur. And this is just the bridge over to the main building. The entire gallery was designed and built by a renowned Japanese architect.
A: I must say I cannot wait to see some great art. I’m a real culture vulture. I love visiting galleries and museums around the world, but this year that’s impossible.
Photo: Paul Cooper, Taipei Times 照片:台北時報古德謙
B: Think of this year as an opportunity to explore what you have at home.
A: 哇!這就叫做藝術!
B: 真是美啊,你說是吧?這是精簡和宏偉的絕妙組合。而且這只是連接主建築的橋而已。這整座美術館是一個有名的日本建築師設計建造的。
A: 我真的等不及要看看一些偉大的藝術作品了!我超愛藝文。我很喜歡到世界各地去逛美術館、博物館。但是今年是不可能的了。
B: 你就把今年想做是探索國內藝文的機會好了。
(Paul Cooper, Taipei Times/台北時報林俐凱譯)
English 英文:
Chinese 中文:
If you’ve ever seen detailed photographs of Paris’s Notre Dame cathedral, you may have noticed a striking feature of the building: large, circular windows divided by intricately arranged stonework radiating out from a central point like flower petals. The stonework encases colorful stained-glass windowpanes full of Catholic icons and symbolism. Called a “rose window,” this adornment can be found in cathedrals across Europe, although the style was most popular in France. The rose window is a key element of “Gothic architecture,” a highly ornate style of architecture popular from Europe’s High Middle Ages to the Late Middle Ages, roughly
A: Among all the concerts, I’m in highest anticipation of A-mei’s. B: Me too, as she will become the first female singer to hold concerts at the venue. A: And she will stage five shows total, on Dec. 21, 22, 28 and 29, as well as the 31st, New Year’s Eve. B: We were so lucky to get the tickets for her New Year’s Eve show. A: Yeah! It’ll be super exciting to count down to the New Year with A-mei. A: 在這麼多演唱會中,我最期待阿妹的大巨蛋首唱。 B: 我也是,她可是首位在大巨蛋舉辦演唱會的女歌手呢。 A: 而且她將會嗨唱5場︰12月21、22、28、29日,跨年夜31日。 B: 幸好我們有搶到跨年夜的門票。 A: 對啊,能和阿妹一起倒數太興奮啦! (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
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有讀者問 「無薪假」和「留職停薪」的英文如何區別?兩者似乎都是 unpaid leave? 「無薪假」又稱「減班休息」。指企業獲利縮減,導致必須縮減勞方工時,資方 (management) 不支付勞方 (employees) 休假期間的工資。 不景氣時企業可以選擇「遇缺不補」(attrition), 避免「裁員」 (reducing jobs through natural attrition rather than forcing cuts through layoffs),更嚴重時的措施則是放「無薪假」(furlough)。 出國進修、育嬰假等的「留職停薪」是 unpaid leave (of absence),是個人的選擇。因事故遭「留職停薪」調查,則是 administrative leave without pay 或 unpaid administrative leave. 裁員時資方在說:I am sorry I have to let you go.(抱歉,我必須請你走路。)的同時也得準備一筆 severance pay(遣散費)。 如果你離職時公司額外給你一個大紅包,叫做 golden handshake。 A golden handshake is a substantial sum of money given to an employee when they leave their job, usually as a reward for long service or good work. It can also be given to entice an employee to retire early. 不過「黃金握手」也有可能你太資深,薪水太高,公司希望你早點退休。 防疫必備詞彙:疫後經濟 無薪假 furlough 遇缺不補 downsizing through attrition 重點工作者 essential worker; key worker 防疫旅遊 pandemic-safe travel 防疫新生活 new pandemic-safe life (旅遊)踩線團 fam trip (familiarization trip) 重振國旅、安心旅遊