Donny在北京學漢語，他的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞，就會來請教他。今天是吳瓊要問的：菜鳥。

WQ:Donny! 我買了最新的 iPhone耶！

Donny:Wow, you got the latest iPhone? How do you like it?

WQ:很喜歡啊！就是不太會用。我還是個菜鳥。咦？菜鳥英文怎么說？

Donny:菜鳥的英文是 newbie.

WQ:Newbie? New是新的，所以newbie就是菜鳥的意思。

Donny:That's right. But don't worry. Everyone has to start out as a newbie.

WQ:我需要有個人指點我一下， give me...eh....give me....

Donny:A few pointers?

WQ:沒錯，就是這個詞。pointer is spelled p-o-i-n-t-e-r, pointer 是指點，建議的意思。I need someone to give me a few pointers on how to find the coolest iPhone apps. 我想知道怎么去找最酷的iPhone應用。

Donny:I have an iPhone. I can show you the ropes.

WQ:你就有iPhone?太好了。不過，你剛剛說 You can show me the ropes. 意思是你可以教我對不對？

Donny:You guessed right! To show someone the ropes means to explain to someone how to do a job or activity.

WQ:可是，這跟 rope 繩子又有什么關系呢？

Donny:A long time ago sailors had to learn how to control the ropes to set sail. Learning the ropes was a beginner's lesson for sailors. So to show someone the ropes means to show someone the basics of doing something.

WQ:我明白了，以前新水手第一個要學會的就是如何操控繩子。所以，to show someone the ropes 就是教導新手做某件事情。

Donny:Yup! OK, now let's see what you've learned today.

WQ:第一，菜鳥叫 newbie;

第二，指點某人是 to give somebody a few pointers;

第三，教初學者做某事可以說 to show someone the ropes!