H ong Kong's sidewalks are so overcrowded that I can never walk in a straight line. I always have to zigzag to avoid other pedestrians. But in the US, I can easily walk in a straight line. Most people are courteous (polite, adjective) and will say sorry if they accidentally knock you while walking. They will make way for you instead of expecting you to make way for them. In the US, it is common to let others enter the elevator (lift in British English) first instead of everyone trying to get in first. Some will say "after you". I've been told this courtesy (noun) expression does not exist in the Chinese language. Is that true?
If you are claustrophobic (adjective), it means you are afraid of small and usually overcrowded places. People who suffer from claustrophobia (noun) do not like to be in places such as an overcrowded elevator. The word "diagnose" means to identify an illness or a problem. Doctors diagnose what kinds of illnesses their patients have. To zigzag, as I have explained before, means to repeatedly turn in different directions. Hong Kong has a very fast-paced lifestyle. This means everything and everyone moves very fast. People are always rushing. They want to get on and off MTR trains and elevators first. The American lifestyle is more laid-back. This means people are more relaxed. They don't rush to be first in doing things, such as getting on and off elevators.
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香港對我來說，已變成一個令人有幽閉恐懼（claustrophobic）的地方。在這彈丸之地，人卻多得很。每次我走在擠逼和狹窄的街道上，我感覺就像有幽閉恐懼（claustrophobic）。幸好，即使我在繁囂的地方感覺有幽閉恐懼（claustrophobic），我還沒有被確診（diagnosed）患上密室恐懼症（claustrophobia）。但每當我踏足美國，我幽閉恐懼（claustrophobia）的感覺便會消失得無影無蹤。空氣是清新的，行人路寬闊，即使最擠迫的地區也沒有如香港般擠迫。我相信若美國人要住在如旺角或銅鑼灣般擠迫的地區，他們許多人都會發瘋（barmy）。
香港的行人路逼得我從來沒法走直線，我總得走「之」字形（zigzag），避開其他行人。但在美國，我就可以輕鬆走直線。大部分人都是有禮的（courteous，形容詞），若他們走路時不小心碰到我也會道歉。他們不會旨意是你去讓路給他們，而是會主動讓路。在美國，讓人先進升降機的情況很常見，而不是爭先恐後的擠進去。有些人會說 "after you"。有人跟我說，這個有禮（courtesy，名詞）的說法在中文裡是不存在的，是真的嗎﹖
若你claustrophobic（形容詞），即是說你害怕狹小而擠逼的地方。有幽閉恐懼症（claustrophobia，名詞）的人，不喜歡置身於某些地方，如擠逼的升降機。Diagnose是確診一個病症，醫生會確診（diagnose）他們的病人所患何病。To zigzag，正如我之前曾解釋過，就是迂迴曲折地走。香港的生活節奏急促（fast-paced），所有人事都非常趕急，人人都是匆匆忙忙的。他們總是想先上落地鐵或升降機。美國的生活方式就自在（laid-back）得多，他們不會擁去做第一個，例如進出升降機。
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=286263§ion_name=wtt&kw=126