The word “chips” means different things in American and British English. Chips in British English are usually thick-cut potato wedges, baked or fried, often served as a side dish with a main meal. In the US, these are usually cut thinner, in long, narrow pieces, and are called “(French) fries,” a term also used in British English to refer to this particular style of chip, often served with fast food. In American English, “chips” refers to wafer-thin slices of potato, deep fried or baked until crunchy: in British English, these are called “crisps.”
There are other foods given different names: cookies, referring to crunchy, baked snacks, are generally called “biscuits” in British English; biscuits in the US, however, are quick breads with a firm crust and soft, crumbly interior. Candies are “sweets” in British English; cotton candy is “candy floss”; cupcakes are “fairy cakes”; frosting is “icing”; popsicles are “ice lollies”; and jello is “jelly.”
The sweet course usually eaten at the end of a meal, called “dessert” in both American and British English, is also often referred to as “pudding” in British English. The word “pudding” can also be used for savory dishes in British English, and in fact originally referred exclusively to savory, not sweet, dishes, often in which meat or other ingredients were encased and then steamed or boiled: it is still used in this way with dishes such as “black pudding.” In American English, by comparison, “pudding” is used specifically for a milk-based dessert with a consistency similar to egg-based custards.
(Paul Cooper, Taipei Times)
「chips」這個字在美式和英式英文中的意思並不相同。英式英文中的「chips」(薯條)通常是烤的或油炸的厚切薯角,一般是做為搭配主餐的配菜。美國的薯條通常是切成細長條,稱為「(French)fries」。「(French)fries」在英式英文中也是指這種薯條形式,通常是搭配速食。在美式英文中的「chips」(薯片∕洋芋片),指的是油炸或烘烤至酥脆的馬鈴薯薄片,這在英式英文則是叫做「crisps」。
英、美式英文中食物的不同說法還有:美式英文的「cookies」(餅乾),指的是鬆脆的烘焙點心,在英式英文中通常稱為「biscuits」(餅乾);而美國的「biscuits」,則是外表硬、內部軟而易成碎屑的「quick bread」(速發麵包)。美國的「candies」(糖果)在英式英文叫做「sweets」;美國的「cotton candy」(棉花糖)是英國的「candy floss」;美國叫「cupcakes」(杯子蛋糕)的,在英國叫「fairy cakes」;美國的「frosting」(糖霜)是英國的「icing」;美國的「popicles」(冰棒)即為英國「ice lollies」;美國的「jello」(果凍)則是英國的「jelly」。
Photo: Bloomberg
照片:彭博社
一般在飯後吃的甜食,在美式英文和英式英文中都稱做「dessert」(甜點),在英式英文中也常稱為「pudding」(布丁)。「pudding」一詞在英式英文中也可指鹹味的菜餚──其實它原本僅指鹹味而非甜味的菜餚,通常是以肉或其他食材為內餡,然後蒸或煮熟──現今仍有此用法,例如「black pudding」(黑布丁∕英式豬血香腸)。美式英文的「pudding」(布丁)則是專指牛奶製的甜點,其軟硬度類似雞蛋做的卡士達。
(台北時報林俐凱譯)
A: I want to go to Neihu to see the cherry blossoms. B: Do you want to go by YouBike? A: Well, how much does it cost? B: The Taipei City Government just announced that riders can use the bicycles for free for the first 30 minutes! A: Great! Riding bikes is also more eco-friendly than driving. A: 我想去內湖賞櫻花耶。 B: 那要不要騎YouBike微笑單車去? A: 車費怎麼算? B: 台北市政府最近宣布︰前30分鐘免費! A: 太棒了,而且也比開車更環保。 (By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/台北時報張聖恩)
One of us is a murderer. The terrifying thought fills your head. There’s a corpse in the next room, and one of your fellow diners put it there. As the evening progresses, you learn disturbing secrets about everyone, and you’re forced to confess to a few yourself. You all have motives for the crime, but who committed it? Fortunately, it’s just a game. Murder mystery games are multiplayer role-playing games designed to be played over the course of an evening. The concept likely originated with “wink murder,” an amusing pastime that became popular in the early 1900s. In this game, a “murderer” kills
A: How does Taipei’s YouBike service charge after the free ride for the first 30 minutes? B: It’s NT$10 every 30 minutes within four hours. A: What a bargain. No wonder Taipei is listed by Britain’s “Time Out” magazine as one of the best 50 cities in the world. B: But I spotted a few English mistakes on YouBike’s Web site. A: I guess that aspect of it still has room for improvement. A: 台北市YouBike前30分鐘免費,之後怎麼算? B: 4小時內每30分鐘10元。 A: 真劃算,難怪台北市會入選英國《Time Out》雜誌全球最佳的50座城市。 B: 不過我在YouBike的網站上看到了好幾個英文錯誤。 A: 看來這個部分還有改善的空間。(By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times/ 台北時報張聖恩)
Mullet roe is a highly-priced delicacy typically served during special occasions like wedding banquets or Chinese New Year’s dinners, where families come together in celebration. The mullet roe can be prepared in various ways. It is usually pan-fried but can also be roasted or torched. To cook a pan-fried mullet roe, soak it in liquor or wine and peel off its membrane. Then, it is browned over a low fire and turned several times. Finally, the fried mullet roe is cut diagonally and is ready to be served. This dish is usually served with garlic scapes and daikon slices, but