A friend of mine in Singapore recently sent me this new (to me, anyway) English word and its definition:
一位新加坡朋友最近告訴我一個(gè)英文新詞(至少對(duì)我來(lái)說(shuō)是個(gè)新詞):
Askhole;
Askhole(愛(ài)問(wèn)鬼);

a person who constantly asks for your advice, yet always does the opposite of what you told them
意思是一個(gè)老愛(ài)向別人征求建議,卻又不聽(tīng)建議,老是對(duì)著干的人。
I’m not sure if this word was invented in Singapore, which has its own distinctive brand of spoken English (e.g. ending many English sentences with “l(fā)ah”; and expressing numbers such as “40-over” rather than “over 40”, “forty-plus”, or “more than forty”. I doubt “askhole” was invented in Singapore, simply because the behavior is so widespread around the world.
我不清楚這個(gè)詞是不是新加坡人發(fā)明的,新加坡的英語(yǔ)口語(yǔ)帶有明顯的地方特色(比如很多英語(yǔ)句子以“啦”結(jié)尾,說(shuō)數(shù)字常用“40-over”代替“over 40”、“forty-plus”或者“more than forty”。我很懷疑“askhole”這個(gè)詞是不是新加坡人發(fā)明的,原因很簡(jiǎn)單,因?yàn)檫@種行為在全世界都很普遍。
It didn’t take me long to think of a few askholes that I know. I’m sure stock brokers and lawyers can quickly think of dozens of askholes from among their clientele. That’s not to mention management consultants, counsellors, teachers, parents, and so on — all of whom have dealt with askholes.
我馬上就能想起很多認(rèn)識(shí)的“askholes”。我敢肯定,股票經(jīng)紀(jì)人、律師也很快就能想起一大票“askholes”客戶,更不用說(shuō)那些管理顧問(wèn)、咨詢師、教師、父母等等——他們?nèi)荚庥鲞^(guò)askholes。
Obviously the intended humor surrounding this word derives from its close similarity to another English word in which the “k” in “askhole” is replaced by an “s”. That’s a word we were taught not to use in polite company, although that rule may be suspended while driving your car, if some other driver suddenly cuts in front of you or engages in some other stupidly dangerous driving.
顯然,“askhole”一詞的詼諧之處就在于它和另外一個(gè)英文單詞很接近,只不過(guò)它用“k”替換了那個(gè)詞中的“s”。至于那個(gè)詞,我們被告知在文明的公司里是禁用的,但如果開(kāi)車(chē)有人突然加塞兒或者做出其他危險(xiǎn)駕駛舉動(dòng),禁令就可以暫時(shí)解除。
The similarity with that not-so-polite word automatically gives “askhole” a negative connotation. On the other hand, I would rise to the defense of the askholes of the world, because I think there’s a lot to be said in favor of asking lots of questions, whether in search of advice or otherwise.
與那個(gè)不敬之辭搭上關(guān)系讓“askhole”一詞自動(dòng)蒙上了貶義色彩。但另一方面,我要站出來(lái)為全世界的“askhole”辯護(hù),因?yàn)闊o(wú)論是不是為了征求意見(jiàn),都有很多理由可以支持多多提問(wèn)。
If someone really asked my advice often and then did the opposite every time, I guess I would be inclined to turn off the “free advice” switch at some point. It’s a matter of degree and situation. Some people face very big challenges when trying to take good advice. Think of compulsive gamblers, drug addicts, alcoholics, or people suffering from mental disorders. We sometimes forget that they’re people too, often struggling with a serious illness.
假如某人經(jīng)常問(wèn)我的意見(jiàn),又回回都反其道而行之,我想到了一定階段我肯定會(huì)關(guān)上“免費(fèi)建議”的開(kāi)關(guān),但這也要看程度和情形。有些人在接受忠告時(shí)面臨著巨大的挑戰(zhàn)。想想那些患強(qiáng)迫癥的賭徒、癮君子、酗酒者,或者精神錯(cuò)亂患者。有時(shí)我們忘了他們也是人,而且還經(jīng)常要和嚴(yán)重的疾病抗?fàn)帯?/div>
But my main point here is to sing the praise of asking questions in general.
但我主要還是想為多提問(wèn)題唱贊歌。
Most people are afraid to ask questions in case they might sound like dumb questions, which makes the asker in turn sound like a dumb person. This fear should be on everyone’s “Most Wanted” list, like the list of criminals “most wanted” by the police. This fear of asking questions is a major enemy of learning. It deserves to be identified, captured, and executed. Unless you prefer to stay dumb, which is how we all start out and how you will remain if you’re afraid to ask questions.
很多人害怕提問(wèn),擔(dān)心自己的問(wèn)題聽(tīng)上去很蠢,讓人覺(jué)得自己也很蠢。這種恐懼就像警察發(fā)出的罪犯“通緝令”一樣,是每個(gè)人的心腹大患。但害怕提問(wèn)是學(xué)習(xí)的大敵,值得指出、引起注意并解決,除非你想一直當(dāng)個(gè)傻瓜。一開(kāi)始我們大家都是傻瓜,但如果不敢提問(wèn),就會(huì)一直這樣傻下去。
I think this is a universal fear which people in most societies have to overcome at some point. The challenge is greater in cultures where “face” is a relatively bigger or more complex issue.
我覺(jué)得這種恐懼普遍存在,在很多社會(huì),人們都需要在某個(gè)時(shí)刻克服這種恐懼。但在某些“面子”問(wèn)題更加重要和復(fù)雜的文化中,所要面臨的挑戰(zhàn)就更大。
I learned a lot growing up at home and in school, which had a big impact on shaping who I am and what values I hold dear. I have also been fortunate to have worked — in business as well as non-profit organizations — alongside some great mentors. Sometimes, due to the difference in age and rank, it’s obvious who is the mentor and who is the mentee in a working relationship. But lots of times it’s not. All sorts of people around you are potential mentors, and they may not even realize it.
我在家庭和學(xué)校的成長(zhǎng)過(guò)程中學(xué)會(huì)了很多,對(duì)我的個(gè)人定形和價(jià)值觀的形成造成了極大的影響。我也有幸——在企業(yè)和非贏利組織中——與一些優(yōu)秀的導(dǎo)師共事過(guò)。有時(shí)因?yàn)槟挲g和級(jí)別的差異,很容易在工作中界定導(dǎo)師和學(xué)生的身份。但很多時(shí)候,情況并非如此。身邊的各色人等都是潛在的導(dǎo)師,也許他們還沒(méi)有意識(shí)到。
It’s up to you to explore, by asking questions. The difference in your learning results might be compared to an old steam locomotive versus today’s high speed railway trains. Some people may prefer the pace of the old-fashioned steam engines, but in today’s super competitive, shrink-wrapped world, I’d opt for the faster learning track. A lot will come from home, and school; but beyond that, a huge amount depends on you asking questions, including dumb ones.
這些都要通過(guò)你的提問(wèn)去發(fā)現(xiàn),而學(xué)習(xí)成果的差異就好比蒸汽機(jī)車(chē)與高鐵的區(qū)別。有些人可能青睞老式蒸汽機(jī)的節(jié)奏,但在當(dāng)今高度競(jìng)爭(zhēng)、濃縮的世界中,我寧愿選擇學(xué)習(xí)的快車(chē)道。家庭和學(xué)校為我們提供了很多知識(shí),但大量學(xué)習(xí)還要靠提問(wèn),包括問(wèn)愚蠢的問(wèn)題。
That doesn’t make you an askhole, by the way.
順便說(shuō)一句,這并不會(huì)讓你成為“askhole”。
As I am fond of saying to younger friends and colleagues, the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask.
正如我最?lèi)?ài)對(duì)年輕朋友和同事們說(shuō)的,只有沒(méi)問(wèn)出口的問(wèn)題才是愚蠢的問(wèn)題。
來(lái)源:可可英語(yǔ) http://www.ccdyzl.cn/read/201409/330215.shtml