Have you ever wondered about the odd name “eggplant” or heard of its bizarre nickname, the “mad apple”? The tales behind these names are just as unusual as the vegetable’s appearance.
The name “eggplant” dates back to the 18th century. It wasn’t inspired by the familiar long, purple type we often see and enjoy in Taiwan. Instead, it was a unique variety, which was small, egg-shaped and white, that earned it its name. While the British were in India, this particular form caught their attention. It prompted them to adopt the term “eggplant.” Even though new eggplant varieties in all sorts of shapes and colors were discovered, its English name endured.
The story takes an interesting turn when we hop over to mainland Europe. Here, the eggplant gained another amusing name—the “mad apple.” This curious label came from an old belief tied to the vegetable’s Italian name, melanzana, which translates to “insane apple.” As this name suggests, people in the past thought eating eggplants could drive a person mad. This odd nickname has somehow managed to stick around.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia commons / 照片：維基共享資源提供
Next time you’re slicing an eggplant or enjoying a dish with this ingredient, remember the story behind it. After all, each bite is not only a delicious delight but also a fun taste of history.
你是否曾經對茄子的奇怪英文名字「eggplant」（蛋果植物）感到好奇過，或聽說過它奇怪 的英文綽號「mad apple」（瘋狂蘋果）呢？這些名字背後的故事如同這種蔬菜的外觀一樣不尋常。
「eggplant」這個名字可以追溯到西元18世紀。這個名字的靈感並不是來自於我們在臺灣常見與食用的那種長形紫色茄子。相反，正是一個又小又白、呈現蛋狀的獨特茄子品種讓茄子得到「eggplant」的英文名字。過去當英國人在印度時，這種特殊的形狀吸引了他們的注意。這促使他們採用了「eggplant」這個詞。即使後來還發現了各種形狀和顏色的茄子新品種，茄子的英文名字卻沿用了下來。
故事在我們轉向歐洲大陸時出現了有趣的轉折。在這裡，茄子獲得了另一個有趣的名字—「mad apple」。這個奇怪的綽號來自於和茄子的義大利文名字「melanzana」相關的一個古老的看法，這個名字翻譯過來的意思是「瘋狂蘋果」。正如這個名字所示，過去的人們認為吃茄子可能會讓人變得瘋狂。這個奇怪的綽號不知怎麼地就一直流傳至今！
下次當你切茄子或享用含有這種食材的菜餚時，要記得它背後的故事。畢竟，咬下去的每一口不僅是美味的享受，也是有趣的歷史體驗！
MORE INFORMATION
bizarre adj. 奇異的；古怪的
mainland adj. 大陸的；本土的
KEY VOCABULARY
1. odd adj. 古怪的；奇特的
With its tiny body, flat face and large eyes, the tarsier may be one of the oddest animals you’ll ever see.
眼鏡猴身體嬌小、臉部扁平、眼睛很大，可能會是你見過最古怪的生物之一。
2. nickname n. 綽號；暱稱
John’s nickname is “Bear” because he’s big and strong.
約翰的綽號是「熊」，因為他又高又壯。
3. familiar adj. 熟悉的；常見的
The familiar sounds of my neighborhood come in through my window every morning.
每天早上，街頭巷尾熟悉的聲音都會從我的窗戶傳入。
4. variety n. 品種；種類；多樣性
This variety of apple is known for its particularly crisp texture and sweet taste.
這個品種的蘋果以其特別清脆的口感和甜味而聞名。
5. endure v. 持續存在；忍受
The impact of the artist’s work has endured over time, inspiring generations.
這位藝術家的作品影響力歷久不衰，啟發各個世代。
6. translate v. 翻譯；轉化為
We can now use computer programs to help us translate our documents into different languages.
我們現在能使用電腦程式來協助我們將文件翻譯成不同語言。
7. somehow adv. 以某種方式；不知何種原因
比較：somewhat adv. 有點；稍微
Eva somehow convinced her parents to let her go on the trip with her friends.
伊娃以某種方式成功說服了父母讓她和朋友一起去旅行。
學習音檔: https://magazine.english4u.net/Magdata/menu/ey0ui
《空中美語》雜誌APP免費下載: https://www.english4u.net/apps/index.aspx
免費收聽當月《空中美語》雜誌課文朗讀及解析 !
文章由AMC空中美語授權使用: https://www.english4u.net
A: Brazilian jiu-jitsu, known as “BJJ,” has become more and more popular. Even Hollywood stars like Halle Berry and Tom Hardy are obsessed with it. B: Some Asian stars, such as Taiwanese actor Eddie Peng and South Korean actor Lee Joon-gi, have also practiced this martial art. A: BJJ is not just a martial art, but also a combat sport. B: I’ve always wanted to try it, but I’m worried about getting injured. A: Diana Wang, a US doctor of physical therapy, is holding a BJJ seminar at PMA Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in Taipei Friday night. Let’s go check out how we
Picture a 45-foot-long animal with a 5-foot-long skull and 3-foot-long arms. It may not seem strange until you realize that a human with those proportions would be 6 feet tall with 5-inch arms. Although the Tyrannosaurus rex went extinct 65 million years ago, the mystery of its unusual body __1__ has fascinated scientists for over a century. Barnum Brown, the paleontologist who first discovered T. rex fossils, initially found it hard to believe that the tiny arms belonged to such a __2__ creature. One of his colleagues speculated that the short forelimbs might have been used to hold the
A: Actually, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is particularly good for small people like you. B: Really? How so? A: According to Diana Wang, a US doctor of physical therapy, the BJJ’s purpose is to help smaller, weaker people defend themselves by using various techniques, such as leverage. B: That sounds interesting. What time does Dr Wang’s BJJ seminar begin tonight? A: The event is scheduled for 7:30pm at PMA Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in Taipei. Admission is free, but donations are welcome. A: 其實你的個子比較小，很適合練巴西柔術呢。 B: 真的嗎？為什麼？ A: 據美國理療醫師王幼瑞博士說，巴西柔術的概念是讓弱小的人，也能利用槓桿作用等技巧防身。 B: 真有趣，王醫師的巴柔研討會幾點開始？ A: 今晚7點半在「台北巴柔運動館」，免費入場自由樂捐唷！ （By Eddy Chang, Taipei Times／台北時報張迪）
Dogs’ noses are incredibly keen. They can even detect changes in cortisol levels in human sweat and breath. Known as the “stress hormone,” cortisol increases when humans are under pressure. Recent research indicates that the smell of human stress can influence a dog’s behavior and emotions. In the study, human volunteers were exposed to the stressful tasks of preparing and delivering a speech on the spot and then solving math problems. __1__ Researchers collected sweat and breath samples from the volunteers on pieces of cloth during both their stressful and restful states. Meanwhile, other researchers worked with 18
RSS