「你是一個乖小孩嗎？」
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從小在台灣生長的我，最常聽到長輩用「乖」當作是一個稱讚。但我從不覺得「乖」有什麼值得表揚得。我覺得「乖」的人都很無聊。我認為「乖」就是剝奪意識，奴化的開始！孩童時期，大人如果說我乖，我會回：喔，是喔。
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到美國後，我才發現英文根本沒有「乖」這個字
可是語言是人創造的，一定有靠近的字。
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首先想到 「nice」
充其量這只是好。
接著想到 「obedient」
順從是乖的一種吧，可是乖不只是順從，你還需要主動滿足對方的期待。
比較靠近的是「well behaved」，有表現行為得體的意思，也是一種乖。
可是又覺得這個組合字不夠到位
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也許「乖」這個字完美的屬於中華文化。
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語言建構社會，沒「乖」這個字，也代表英文裡對這個觀念不是特別在乎。（孝順也沒有）於是乎美國人更有獨立思考和批判的能力，而華人更加順從。大家就別再裝乖了，把內心的渴望放出來吧，乖真的是非常無聊！
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後記：即便我自認從小是社會定義上的乖，唸了還可以的大學，做一個還可以的工作，不抽煙不喝酒也不往外跑。但在我父母心中，我卻是一個離經叛道的人，他們口中的我彷彿殺人放火，販賣毒品一般。「乖」在大家的心中的尺真的是很不一樣呢耶，怎麼那麼幽默？？？
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以上，其實我覺得最能貼近「乖」的英文應該是
Be the good girl you always have to be…
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#乖 #短文

#蕭叔叔的英國文學課【世紀賤男的分手信】

分手，可以分得好tactful，也可以分得好無品。

Jane Austen小說《Sense and Sensibility》裡的靚仔男角John Willoughby正是無品的表表者。

話說賤男Willoughby同女主角Marrianne一見面即互生情愫，曖昧數月，Marrianne同埋家人已認定賤男為未婚夫。點知賤男遊倫敦回來後翻臉不認人，並寫了這封冷血的分手信。嚴格來說不是分手信，因為他不承認由始至終有過什麼關係，一切只是Marrinne「諗多咗」。下面是書信原文，附上蕭叔叔的意譯。

MY DEAR MADAM,

I have just had the honour of receiving your letter, for which I beg to return my sincere acknowledgments. I am much concerned to find there was anything in my behaviour last night that did not meet your approbation; and though I am quite at a loss to discover in what point I could be so unfortunate as to offend you, I entreat your forgiveness of what I can assure you to have been perfectly unintentional.

大意：你琴晚發咩癲，我到宜家都R爆頭。

I shall never reflect on my former acquaintance with your family in Devonshire without the most grateful pleasure, and flatter myself it will not be broken by any mistake or misapprehension of my actions.

My esteem for your whole family is very sincere; but if I have been so unfortunate as to give rise to a belief of more than I felt, or meant to express, I shall reproach myself for not having been more guarded in my professions of that esteem.

大意：一切都係因為你諗多咗，不過令你誤會我都有d唔好意思。

That I should ever have meant more you will allow to be impossible, when you understand that my affections have been long engaged elsewhere, and it will not be many weeks, I believe, before this engagement is fulfilled.

大意：我一早就心有所屬，你無理由唔知。

It is with great regret that I obey your commands of returning the letters, with which I have been honoured from you, and the lock of hair, which you so obligingly bestowed on me.

大意：你叫我還番d信同埋束頭髮畀你，我會照做。

I am, dear Madam,

Your most obedient

humble Servant,

JOHN WILLOUGHBY.

大家留意冰冷、formal、極端有禮的文筆，正是Willoughby冷血的表現。

賤男們學野。

蕭叔叔

上一集說了頑皮、反叛，現在來談談聽話、馴服。不聽話是disobedient，相反詞obedient就是聽話聽教的意思。 一、If all the children were as obedient as she is, the class would be much easier to .