the Catcher in the Rye Ch. 13

gorgeous: splendidly or showily brilliant or magnificent

earlap: a warm covering for the ears

swipe: steal

crook: a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices

closet: DJ[ˋklɔzit]

galosh: a high overshoe worn especially in snow and slush

slush: partly melted or watery snow

ought: used to express obligation

obligation: responsibility

sock: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully

used to: we use to talk about something that happened in the past that doesn't happen anymore

"Yellow" refers to being cowardly in this chapter

blindfold: to cover the eyes of with or as if with a bandage

Scotch: whiskey distilled in Scotland especially from malted barley

stinking: offensively drunk

nonchalant: having an air of easy unconcern or indifference

puke: vomit

crew cut: a very short haircut usually for men or boys in which the hair resembles the bristle surface of a brush

stink: to emit a strong offensive odor

doll up: to dress elegantly or extravagantly

extravagant: extremely or excessively elaborate

passionate: capable of, affected by, or expressing intense feeling

suave: smoothly though often superficially gracious and sophisticated

gracious: marked by kindness and courtesy

château: a French vineyard estate

vineyard: a planting of grapevines

brassiere: a woman's undergarment to cover and support the breasts

chuck: throw

jiggle: to cause to move with quick little jerks or oscillating motions

witty: marked by or full of clever humor

peculiar: different from the usual or normal

heck: hell

shrug: to raise or draw in the shoulders especially to express aloofness, indifference, or uncertainty

aloof: at a distance

recuperate: regain

seldom: rare

chiffonier: a high narrow chest of drawers

shell out: pay

frock: an outer garment worn by monks and friars

spooky: nervous

Online Dictionary Used: www.merriam-webster.com

Heritage

eave: the lower border of a roof that overhangs the wall

sampan: a flat-bottomed skiff used in eastern Asia and usually propelled by two short oars

skiff: any of various small boats

oar: a long pole with a broad blade at one end used for propelling or steering a boat

steamer: a ship propelled by steam

reign: royal authority; sovereignty

sovereignty: supreme power especially over a body politic

stamp out: to stop or destroy (something bad)

bubonic plague: plague caused by a bacterium (Yersinia pestis) and characterized especially by the formation of buboes

Patients develop fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen, painful lymph nodes.

bubo: an inflammatory swelling of a lymph gland especially in the groin

adorn: to enhance the appearance of especially with beautiful objects

bizarre: odd, extravagant, or eccentric in style or mode

portray: to make a picture of

handlebar moustache: a heavy mustache with long sections that curve upward at each end

tunic: a simple slip-on garment made with or without sleeves and usually knee-length or longer, belted at the waist, and worn as an under or outer garment by men and women of ancient Greece and Rome

plume: a feather of a bird

slaughter: the act of killing

trench: a long cut in the ground

metaphor: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them

armor: defensive covering for the body

cruiser: a large fast moderately armored and gunned warship

mine: an encased explosive that is placed in the ground or in water and set to explode when disturbed

perish: to cause to die

Online Dictionary Used: www.merriam-webster.com

達者

「夫達也者，質直而好義，察言而觀色，慮以下人。」

譯文︰「怎樣才是達呢？品質正直，遇事講理，善於分析別人的言語，觀察別人的容色，從思想上願意對別人退讓。」

反省︰不敢說自己品格正直，但做事必不走歪路。講理，道理應該是客觀，主觀認為自己總是對的，不算講理。遇事講理，處事需有經驗，經驗背後要有法例、條款支援。分析別人的語言藝術，在中國人社會尤其重要，我們不能膚淺地詮釋他人的說話，要明白字面以下的意思。觀人於微當然要緊，對於喜怒不形於色的人需更加小心。我們要避免硬碰硬，禮讓是最好的法門，但個人認為應該要擇善固執。

楊伯峻《論語譯注》

西西〈玻璃鞋〉

 「譬如我們那裡的房子，起初可以一家三口住七百方呎的地方，後來可以適應為一家五口祇住三百方呎，再後來，每一層樓濃縮為僅僅一百方呎，居然照樣可以住進去八個人。」

父母都是在徒置區長大，作者對於香港人居住環境的描述一點也沒有誇張。

時至今日，香港地產商已經興建了不少私人樓宇。我爸爸分析，有專業知識的人大多選擇移民，政府要搶人材，私樓是留給他們住的。現正等待公營房屋的一般市民多不勝數，留在劏房、唐樓、天台屋、籠屋的基層仍然要忍受昂貴的租金。薪金總是追不上通貨膨脹，各項雜費有升無跌。什麼組合屋、青年宿舍，杯水車薪，成效存疑。

明日大嶼是傾向地產商的項目，破壞環境，違反國家政策。北部都會區是傾向內地的項目，貧苦大眾能否受惠，言之尚早。人口老化，理論上住屋需求會下降，兩項大型基建，背道而馳。香港領導人口口聲聲說要融入國家發展，卻真真正正沒有為香港人著想過。

Stanley

barrack: a building or set of buildings used especially for lodging soldiers in garrison 

stronghold: a fortified place

fierce: violently hostile or aggressive in temperament

atrocious: extremely wicked, brutal, or cruel 

wicked: morally very bad

brutal: cruel, cold-blooded

intern: to confine or impound especially during a war

swamp: a difficult or troublesome situation or subject

reputed: being such according to reputation or general belief

haunted: to visit or inhabit as a ghost

interrogation: a formal and systematic questioning

exorcise: to expel (an evil spirit) by adjuration

monument: a memorial stone or a building erected in remembrance of a person or event

demolish: to break to pieces

outcry: a vehement protest

vehement: marked by forceful energy

chimney: a vertical structure incorporated into a building and enclosing a flue or flues that carry off smoke

maritime: of, relating to, or bordering on the sea

engrave: to impress deeply as if with a graver

graver: any of various cutting or shaving tools used in graving or in hand metal-turning

Sikh: an adherent of a monotheistic religion of India founded about 1500 by Guru Nānak and marked by rejection of idolatry and caste

summon: to call upon for specified action

vagabond: a person who wanders from place to place without a fixed home

brethren: brother

Online Dictionary Used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

Eng Grammar in Use

When we talk about a period of time that continues from the past until now, we use the present perfect tense...We use present perfect tense with today, this morning, this year etc. when these periods are not finished at the time of speaking...We say 'It's the (first) time something has happened'.

We use the present perfect continuous tense (I have been doing) for an activity that has recently stopped or just stopped...(Another example: It's been raining for two hours. It began raining two hours ago and it is still raining.) We use the present perfect continuous tense like this example, especially with 'how long, for...and since...'. The activity is still happening (as in this example) or has just stopped. You can use present perfect continuous tense for repeated actions (since, for).

Source: Cambridge

語法

主語︰subject

謂語︰句子中主語以外的部分，與主語呈陳述關係；子句中的動詞、形容詞部分

偏正關係︰起修飾作用的語言單位和被修飾的語言單位之間的語法關係

短語︰一個或多個詞組成的，具有中心詞的語法性質，內部成分在語義和句法上都能搭配，但可能未形成完整命題，也沒有語調的一種語法單位

熟語︰經過人群長期沿用，結構基本定型的短語或句子，例如成語、慣用語、歇後語及諺語等

Management

子曰︰「求也退，故進之；由也兼人，故退之。」

孔子道︰「冉求平日做事退縮，所以我給他壯膽；仲由的膽量有兩個人的大，勇於作為，所以我要壓壓他。」

楊伯峻《論語譯注》

西西〈煎鍋〉

文章反映當時的社會問題︰

1) 顧主大多不願任用年紀大的員工

2) 通貨膨脹讓資本主義社會下的基層百上加斤

3) 中文中學的學生英語水平是否真的比不上英文中學的學生？

4) 在英國人的統治下，社會偏重英文

5) 人到花甲之年，仍要為工作不斷與時並進，是一種煎熬

個人感受︰本人中學時期讀英文中學，除了中國語文、普通話課及中國歷史科外，全以英文授課。當然，老師有時會用廣東話輔助。由於少讀課外書，不論中文英文，語文水平比較遜色。我覺得英語水平與母語教育抵觸不大。正如文章所說，只要多鑽研，中文中學的學生也可以學好英文。可是，宏觀來看，多接觸一定學得更多。

生字

稱藩，是承認附屬的意思，指一個國家或一個國家的領袖依附於其他大國或宗主國。

濫觴︰水流發源的地方，因其水量非常淺小，而僅能浮起一個酒杯，比喻事物的開端、起源。

氣管敏感

林冰醫生強調，氣管敏感並不等同哮喘。「兩者的分別在於有哮喘者氣管一定敏感，但氣管敏感者不一定有哮喘。」醫生有時會安排氣管敏感測試來排除哮喘。做法是安排病人嗅某一種藥物，如果嗅到一定含量後，氣管仍不會縮窄，就可以排除哮喘。

至於哮喘，則是一個臨牀診斷，醫生根據病史病症就可以斷症。如病人進行肺功能測試後氣管收窄，用藥後得以紓緩，就表示氣管仍有明顯發炎，需加大用藥。

https://health.mingpao.com

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness is currently defined as an increase in sensitivity to a wide variety of airway narrowing stimuli. Most patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exhibit such an enhanced sensitivity. In asthma, in particular, this hypersensitivity is accompanied by excessive degrees of airway narrowing.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) is often regarded as a ‘hallmark’ of asthma and bronchoprovocation testing is frequently performed to support a diagnosis of asthma. However, BHR is also found in a spectrum of other lung diseases and can be provoked by a variety of specific stimuli.

https://academic.oup.com

BHR is a key pathophysiological feature of asthma. Even though there is no diagnostic test for asthma, bronchial provocation tests have been adopted to help confirm an asthma diagnosis. Drugs such as histamine and methacholine are commonly used for this purpose.

https://www.hkmj.org

西西〈碗〉

余美麗的「滿足」，是建築在「比較」之上的。

葉蓁蓁卻恰恰相反，她的滿足在於「率性」而為，從不想到要去比較。

https://www.edb.gov.hk

彩蛋

「片尾彩蛋，指的是電影或電視劇在正片結束後增加的額外片段，大多在片尾字幕的中間或末尾出現。」

「彩蛋是一個在電影、電視劇、書本、光碟或電子遊戲的隱藏訊息或者功能。此名稱源於西方國家的尋找彩蛋遊戲。」

wikipedia

葉靈鳳《香港方物志》

法國詩人︰「我的耳朵像貝殼，時常懷念著海的聲音。」

防水衣物與洗衣機

防水衣物會讓水凝聚在衣服表面，如果過量將增加洗衣機負擔導致碰撞損傷，雨衣、風衣、滑雪裝和車用布套等防水物品，絕對不要放進洗衣機中。

洗衣機含水量過高、不平衡，會產生劇烈搖晃、發生撞擊或是震盪而造成機體損傷，那防水衣物怎麼洗呢？答案就是用手洗。

https://tw.news.yahoo.com

From Kyoto to Edo

status quo: the existing state of affairs

notably: especially, particularly

revolt: to renounce allegiance or subjection

renounce: to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration

allegiance: the fidelity owed by a subject or citizen to a sovereign or government

fidelity: the quality or state of being faithful

faithful: firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty

intransitive verb: using an object immediately after an intransitive verb will create an incorrect sentence

flee: to run away often from danger or evil

evil: something that brings sorrow, distress, or calamity

rival: one of two or more striving to reach or obtain something that only one can possess

patron: wealthy or influential supporter of an artist or writer

shore up: to support or help (something)

aristocracy: government by the best individuals or by a small privileged class

clan: a group of people tracing descent from a common ancestor

prop up: to give help, encouragement, or support to (someone)

contentious: likely to cause disagreement or argument

succession: a number of persons or things that follow each other in sequence

all-out: made with maximum effort

hover: to remain suspended over a place or object

plunge: to cause to enter a state or course of action usually suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently

protract: to prolong in time or space

domination: exercise of mastery or ruling power

outmaneuver: to outdo, defeat, or gain an advantage over by skillful or clever maneuvering: to maneuver more effectively than

maneuver: o perform a movement in military or naval tactics in order to secure an advantage

de facto: actually

assassination: murder by sudden or secret attack often for political reasons

regent: a person who governs a kingdom in the minority, absence, or disability of the sovereign

humble: not proud or haughty: not arrogant or assertive

haughty: blatantly and disdainfully proud: having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior

blatantly: noisy especially in a vulgar or offensive manner

disdainfully: full of or expressing contempt for someone or something regarded as unworthy or inferior

contempt: lack of respect or reverence for something

assertive: disposed to or characterized by bold or confident statements and behavior

vulgar: offensive in language

showy: making an attractive show

reputedly: according to reputation or general belief

architect: a person who designs buildings and advises in their construction

cityscape: a city viewed as a scene

rampart: a protective barrier

fortify: to make strong

perimeter: a line or strip bounding or protecting an area

deathbed: the bed in which a person dies

entrust: to confer a trust on

ablest: marked by intelligence, knowledge, skill, or competence

legendary: well-known, famous

usher: to conduct to a place

Online Dictionary Used: https://www.merriam-webster.com

西西〈龍骨〉

「鄔有田是不明白的嘛，甚麼龍骨頭，破爛水盆，不過是些死垃圾，又不會做活，又不會種田，怎麼好像寶貝一般，還住了一間好房子。那麼，小屯的種田人，做活人倒都住破房子，鄔有田是不明白的啦。」

神風敢死隊與忽必烈

蒙古人在忽必烈的領導下，於 1259 年到達朝鮮並派使者前往日本，尋求日本臣服。 使節被驅逐後，蒙古人於 1274 年派出一支艦隊入侵南部的九州島。這次進攻以及 1281 年更為有決心的進攻在適時的風暴摧毀了大部分蒙古艦隊之後才勉強被擊退。

1281 年驅散蒙古入侵的颱風被認為是神的力量，被稱為神風。 後來這個詞被用來形容太平洋戰爭中的自殺飛行員。他們所謂神聖的精神，確為國家獻出生命。

(資料來源︰lonely planet - Kyoto) Translated by Google and Edited

Generative grammar

explicit: fully revealed or expressed without vagueness, implication, or ambiguity

implicit: capable of being understood from something else though unexpressed

parameter: an arbitrary constant whose value characterizes a member of a system

arbitrary: existing or coming about seemingly at random or by chance or as a capricious and unreasonable act of will

capricuious: unpredictable

A parameter is a quantity that influences the output or behavior of a mathematical object but is viewed as being held constant. Parameters are closely related to variables, and the difference is sometimes just a matter of perspective.

In the set of equations x = 2t + 1 and y = t² + 2, t is called the parameter. As the parameter varies over a given domain of values, the set of solutions, or points (x, y), describes a curve in the plane.

A parameter is a number describing a whole population (e.g., population mean), while a statistic is a number describing a sample (e.g., sample mean).

The dependent variable is the variable that is being measured or tested in an experiment.

西西《北水》

開放改革下，農村的變化。

開封市地標︰大相國寺、開寶寺琉璃塔、禹王台區

語素

語言中最小的有意義單位