British people pride themselves on their polite manners towards one another in public. They often use the word ‘sorry’—even when they don’t really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they would start by saying ‘Sorry to bother you. Do you know what time it is?’ If they’re five minutes late for an appointment (约会), they would generally greet the person by saying ‘Sorry I’m late!’
They use the word ‘sorry’ in so many different situations that the meaning of the word has changed a little over time. The two main dictionary definitions (释义) of ‘sorry’ are: 1) feeling sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck; 2) feeling regret because you’ve done something wrong. Now, think about this. Normally, when they want to ask a stranger a question, they start with ‘Sorry to bother you’. In this situation, they aren’t saying sorry because they feel sad for that person or because they feel regret.
So what does ‘sorry’ really mean? And why do British people use it so much? Well, in the British culture, saying ‘sorry’ is a way to be polite, especially to people who they don’t know very well. It’s also a very clever way to get what they want. In a recent experiment, an actor went up to a different strangers on a rainy day to ask if he could use their mobile phones in order to make a call. When he went up to one group of strangers and asked them without saying ‘sorry’ first, he was only 9 per cent successful in borrowing their phones. However, when he said ‘sorry’ to another group of strangers about the bad weather before asking if he could use their mobile phones, he was 47 per cent successful. So maybe saying ‘sorry’ is not just being polite, but it is also a good method to get what they want too!
Title: Why do | |
Main points | Detailed information |
The situations in which they say ‘ | Asking for the time Being |
The change of the meaning of ‘sorry’ | The two main Feeling sad for Feeling regret When British people ask a stranger a question by with ‘sorry’, they are saying sorry neither because they feel sad for that person nor because they feel regret. |
The | A way to be polite A good way to get The result of an experiment shows it’s |
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The hygge refers to the sense of happiness you get when your family is gathered together at new year or Christmas. It is all about the pleasant feelings of home: the smell of your mother’s cooking, your partner’s arm around your shoulder and so on.
Hygge is an antidote(良药) to stress. You know when you’ve got it, a gentle warmth starts spreading through your body. Another important part of hygge is that it has nothing to do with modern technology. It’s a period time to relax your tired mind and eyes. So, put down that smartphone and turn off the computer.
You should also know that hygge is not about healthy eating or more exercise. In fact, it’s just the opposite. You’re supposed to be lost in what you like: enjoy sweet snacks and calorie-laden cakes freely.
Let yourself be carried on a wave of nostalgia(怀旧) back to your birthplace, and remember the childhood songs of your distant youth with a smile. If it helps, wrap yourself in a warm blanket and sleep with one of your favorite books (not a pill or e-reader).
If Denmark seems too far, then think of old Beijing with its hutong and courtyard houses. Picture yourself sit around a traditional stove with your loved ones, eating dumplings and chatting about the old days. Let yourself drift back in time to a period where everything is relaxing, and there is no need to reply to any e-mails or text messages. They did not exist(存在) back then.
Now you’ve really understood hygge without even having to set foot in Copenhagen.
| An Antidote to | |
Origin (起源) | ♦Hygge came from Danish culture. ♦It was |
| What hygge is | ♦You will feel pleased ♦You don’t ♦You can eat whatever you like without |
| What people can do feeling stressed | ♦You can remind yourself by reading books that you like ♦If Denmark seems too far, let yourself think of old things and chat about the old days when |
| It’s not | |
Traveling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global village, but this doesn’t mean that we all behave in the same way.
How should you behave when you meet someone for the first time? An American shakes your hand while looking into your eyes. In Japan, you should bow, and the more respect you want to show, the deeper you should bow.
Many countries have rules about what you should and shouldn’t wear. In Muslim(穆斯林) countries, women should wear long blouses and skirts. In Korea, you should take off your shoes when entering a house. Remember to place them neatly together where you come in.
In Spain, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, and can last two or three hours. For this reason, many people eat a light breakfast and a late dinner. In Mexico, lunch is the time to relax, and many people prefer not to discuss business as they eat. In Britain, it’s not unusual to have a business meeting over breakfast.
1. Although we live in a global village, we behave in2. An American usually shakes your hand and
3. In Korea, you should take off your shoes when
4. In Mexico, many people prefer to relax rather than
5.
