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Pleasantries in Mexico

 

The cultural norms in Mexico City involve a level of politeness, at least on a superficial level. Here, there's a sort of organised chaos and functionality resting on exchanges of pleasantries and an impressive level of patience. Two things that will get you absolutely nowhere in Mexico: getting visibly upset and being overly direct.

 

superficial  表面的

(adjective 形容詞)

 

1. 表面的，淺顯的，膚淺的 (貶)

 

例子：The documentary's analysis of the issues was very superficial.

這部紀錄片對這個問題的處理／分析非常膚淺。

 

例子：I only have a superficial (= slight) knowledge of French.

我對法語只是略知皮毛。

 

2. （人）淺薄的，膚淺的 (貶)

 

例子：He's fun to be with, but he's very superficial.

和他在一起很有趣，但是他見識很膚淺。

 

pleasantry  客套話；打趣的話；寒暄  FORMAL, often PLURAL

(noun 名詞)

= routine greetings and farewells specifically, especially among strangers

 

例子：After exchanging pleasantries, the delegation revealed the purpose of their visit.

彼此寒暄一番之後，代表團說出了他們訪問的目的。

 

想沒那麼嚴肅？用 small talk 也可以啊！

small talk 閒聊，寒暄  (noun 名詞)

例子：I don't enjoy parties where I have to make small talk with complete strangers.

我不喜歡那種不得不和陌生人寒暄的派對。

 

get you nowhere 沒任何作用的

 

When in a taxi, including a politeness ritual that extends beyond a simple greeting will find you enjoying a much smoother, more pleasant and perhaps even less-expensive ride. Start barking orders thanklessly, whether to your barista or a parking attendant, and you'll come up against unthinkably old resentments. For example, if you do not overextend yourself in your greeting, or are bossy, rude or selfish, you may be seen as being not unlike a conquistador. 

 

bark 咆哮，怒吼

(verb 動詞)

 

例子：The sergeant barked (out) a succession of orders to the new recruits.

那位中士向新兵大聲地下了一連串命令。

 

overextend 超乎限制地做事

(verb 動詞)  mostly used in the business world

 

overextend yourself

例子：The fear of failure can lead young people to overextend themselves.

 

例子：He rejects opportunities that he thinks would overextend the firm's resources.

 

bossy 愛指揮人的；專橫的

(adjective 形容詞) 

 

例子：She's strong without being bossy.

 

conquistador（16世紀前往美洲並佔領墨西哥和秘魯的）西班牙征服者 (noun 名詞)

 

Listening Test

Q1: 在墨西哥城駕駛，第一條規則是？　

Q2: 塞車應該響號嗎？ 

 

A Song for You - “Another Mexico Song” by Keni Thomas

 

Here goes another sad song
About a trip gone wrong down to Mexico
A mariachi band and a girl with a tan
Met at the Texaco 
Singin' "I-I-I fell in love with the wrong senorita."
And "I-I-I had one too many margaritas."

 

tan  古銅膚色

(noun 名詞)

 

例子：She came back from Spain with a deep tan.

 

tan 曬黑

(verb 動詞) 

 

例子：Her skin tans very quickly in the summer.

例子：I need to tan my legs before the holiday.

 

   
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