2013-06-11
Source: http://news.hkheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=241528§ion_name=wtt&kw=126
Something so unusual happened to me last week that it left me speechless. I was on my way to record my TV show in Wanchai when it started to drizzle (rain lightly). I was standing at a traffic light waiting to cross the road. Standing next to me was a young and pretty woman from the Philippines. She smiled at me and put half of her umbrella over my head so I wouldn't get wet. I was dumbfounded (greatly astonished). Her kindness in sharing her umbrella with me left me speechless. People in Hong Kong are seldom so considerate (thoughtful of others). To be speechless means to be unable to speak due to shock or surprise. It is similar to the expression "lost for words".
I
was lost for words for only a few seconds. I then started talking with her while we waited for the traffic light to turn green so we could cross the road. I told her I had never seen anyone in Hong Kong offering to share an umbrella with a stranger. I thanked her profusely (a lot, abundantly) because I was so relieved (thankful, pleased) that I didn't get wet before my TV recording. She smiled and we said goodbye after crossing the road. I was so dumbfounded by what she did that I still can't get it out of my mind. The expression "can't get it out of my mind" means I can't stop thinking about it.
I am telling you this story so we can all learn from this young lady's kindness. Has any stranger in Hong Kong ever offered to share his or her umbrella with you? I am sure no one has. When I told this story to my friends, they were lost for words too. They agreed most Hong Kong people would never even dream of offering to share their umbrellas. I was so dumbfounded by the kindness of that young and pretty woman that I didn't even think of asking her for her name or e-mail. I hope I'll be lucky enough to see her again one day.
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我在上星期遇到一件很不尋常的事情，讓我無言（speechless）。我當時在灣仔，正前赴錄影電視節目，天空開始下起毛毛雨（drizzle）。我正在等紅綠燈過馬路，站在我身旁的是一位來自菲律賓的漂亮年輕女子。她向我微微一笑，用她傘子的另一邊遮着我，好讓我不致弄濕。我非常錯愕（dumbfounded），她與我分享雨傘的善意，實在教我無話可說（speechless）。香港人很少如此為人設想（considerate）。Speechless就是驚訝或意外得目瞪口呆，類近習語lost for words。
我啞口無言（lost for words）了數秒，然後在等待轉綠燈過馬路的片刻，跟她聊了一會。我告訴她，在香港我從沒見過有人會跟陌生人分享雨傘。我大大（profusely）言謝，因為我不用在錄影節目前被淋濕，令我大感寬慰（relieved）。她嫣然一笑，橫過馬路後我們就說再見了。她的善行教我相當驚訝（dumbfounded），在腦海中揮之不去（can't get it out of my mind）。習語can't get it out of my mind是指沒法不去想，久久未能忘懷。
我跟大家說這個故事，好讓我們都能學習這位年輕女士的恩慈。在香港可曾有陌生人跟你分享他或她的雨傘？我肯定沒有。當我跟朋友說起這件事，他們都訝異得無話可說（lost for words）。他們都認同，大部份香港人想也沒想過跟人分享雨傘。這位漂亮的年輕女士的好意，令我傻眼（dumbfounded）得忘了問她的名字或電郵。希望我在某一天，能幸運地重遇她。mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧