T he expression “done for” means doomed or finished. The Chinese equivalent is "玩完", which roughly translates into “the game is over”. The word “ritual” can be used in several ways. A religious ceremony that is always done in the same way is called a “ritual”. But if someone follows a fixed routine all the time, it can also be called a ritual. For example, you can say: “My morning ritual is eating cornflakes and a banana with a cup of coffee while reading the newspaper and listening to the radio news.” Lau Wong-fat’s yearly ritual is picking a fortune stick on the second day of the New Year.
Although I thought Hong Kong was done for after Lau Wong-fat drew stick number 4, several fortune-tellers interpreted (explained the meaning of) the stick as not too unlucky. They said there will be friction between the government and the people but the two sides must cooperate to fend off (prevent, defend against) bad luck. To me, that is common sense, not fortune-telling. I think the annual ritual of shaking fortune sticks to see which one drops out has become too politicized. Lau Wong-fat was even asked if the fortune-tellers’ interpretation of friction between the government and the people referred to Occupy Central. I think I should do the annual ritual instead of Lau Wong-fat. If a bad stick drops out, I’ll tell everyone it’s a load of bunk.
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我在上一篇專欄中提到，我三心兩意（of two minds）不知該信不信風水，抑或只是當它一派胡言（a load of bunk）。而對於鄉議局主席劉皇發每年為香港去求籤的老規矩（ritual），我同樣拿不定主意（of two minds）。這個例行儀式（ritual）通常於年初二進行。今年搖過籤筒後，四號籤跌出。當我在電視新聞上見到劉皇發所求得的籤，我差點以為香港死定（done for）了，因為四與廣東話的「死」諧音。
習語done for解作氣數已盡，中文則可以說是「玩完」。Ritual這個字則有數個用法，可以指宗教儀式，又或某人慣常會做的例行公事。例如你可以說：「我每天早上的例行公事（ritual），就是一邊吃着粟米片和香蕉，呷着咖啡，一邊讀報和聽收音機。」劉皇發每年一度的例行公事（ritual），就是年初二去求籤。
即使劉皇發抽到四號籤，我以為香港要「玩完」（done for）了，幾位堪輿學家對於籤文的解讀（interpreted）也不是那麼不祥。他們說，政府與市民會有衝突，但雙方需要同心協力，驅除（fend off）厄運。在我而言，這是常識，不是預言吧。我認為這個年年求籤的儀式（ritual）已變得很政治化了。劉皇發甚至被問及，到底政府與人民間的衝突是不是指佔領中環。我認為我應該取代劉皇發去做這個每年求籤的儀式（ritual），要是跌出來的是下籤，我會跟所有人說，那不過是一派胡言（a load of bunk）。
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=273130§ion_name=wtt&kw=126