在白晝漸短，天氣轉寒的季節，人們很難保持在晴朗夏日時常能感受到的快樂心情。每年，丹麥人都會經歷漫長而陰沉的冬日，可是丹麥卻被認為是世界上最幸福的國傢。你想享受一個舒適而快樂的冬天嗎？本集《隨身英語》探討丹麥人享受寒冷的秘訣。
課文內容
Vocabulary: winter 詞匯:冬季
Imagine this scene: it’s blowing a gale outside, you’re snuggled up on the sofa under a warm duvet, chatting and reminiscing with your closest friends.
That content, snug feeling has a name in Danish – ‘hygge’. And, as Denmark recently won the title of ‘happiest country in the world’, the rest of the world is becoming more and more interested in finding ways to embrace this concept.
‘Hygge’ – originally from a Norwegian word meaning ‘wellbeing‘ – doesn’t have an exact equivalent in English. It’s often translated as cosiness, or as blogger Anna West told the AYYBLOG, ”cosiness of the soul.” But, as translator ToveMaren Stakkestad explains: “Hygge was never meant to be translated. It was meant to be felt.”
Essentially, Hygge involves creating a warm, cosy atmosphere and enjoying it with your loved ones. Danish winters are long and dark and so achieving ‘hygge’ is particularly relevant during this season. A typical ‘hygge’ activity during winter could be, enjoying delicious homemade food and light-hearted conversation with friends – preferably in the warm glow of candlelight; or maybe sipping a glass of mulled wine in the hot tub after a day spent skiing.
However, Hygge isn’t only confined to the bleak winter months – it can also describe that warm, fuzzy feeling you get after a walk through a forest with friends on summer’s day or a family barbecue in the park.
The concept of ‘hygge’ is currently taking the world by storm with more and more people becoming obsessed with achieving a state of wellbeing. Articles, books and stocking fillers, full of tips on how to achieve hygge, are hitting the market. Although, some believe this has become a marketing and advertising ploy, the benefits of staying happy cannot be underestimated. So, as the winter nights draw in, instead of hibernating, get into your favourite onesie, bake some cookies and curl up by a roaring fire with a good book. And if you can do this with friends and family, even better – hygge is meant to be shared.
詞匯表
blowing a gale 狂風正起，刮著大風
snuggle up 舒適地蜷縮；偎依
duvet （羽絨）被褥
snug 溫暖舒適的
wellbeing 安寧健康，幸福
homemade food 在傢裡自制的食物
warm glow of candlelight 溫暖的燭光
mulled wine （聖誕期間常見的）熱葡萄酒
bleak 寒冷刺骨的
fuzzy feeling 飄飄然的、愜意的感覺
stocking filler （適合放在聖誕襪裡的）聖誕小禮品
draw in （天黑得）漸早
hibernate （動物）冬眠（這裡是幽默的說法）
onesie 居傢連體服
curl up 蜷縮，窩著
roaring fire 燒得正旺的火，熊熊火焰
測驗與練習
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is the word ‘hygge’ so difficult to translate into English?
2. True or false: Hygge is only relevant in the winter months.
3. Why has the rest of the world become interested in ‘hygge’?
4. Which phrase means ‘having big and rapid success around the world’?
5. Is ‘hygge’ better experienced on your own or in company?
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. I hate the winter – I’m going to stay in my house and ________ all winter, like a bear.
hibernate curl up glow snuggle up
2. Look at these cute key rings! They’ll make great ________ for the kids this Christmas.
sock fillers stocking fillers tight fillers legging fillers
3. I don’t feel like going out tonight – I’m going to ________ with a good book on the sofa.
curl over curl off curl down curl up
4. It’s ________ outside – I’m worried that old tree is going to fall on our house.
blowing a wind blowing a breeze blowing a gale blowing a storm
5. I need to buy a new ________ for my bed – mine is too thin and I’m constantly waking up feeling cold in the night.
roaring fire duvet onesie stocking filler
答案
1. 閱讀課文並回答問題。
1. Why is the word ‘hygge’ so difficult to translate into English?
Because it is a feeling and a way of life that is part of the Danish culture. There are similar words in English, like ‘cosy’ but this is not an exact translation.
2. True or false: Hygge is only relevant in the winter months.
False, it is often associated with winter, but it also exists in the summer months.
3. Why has the rest of the world become interested in ‘hygge’?
Because Denmark has been voted the happiest country in the world and people around the world want to achieve the same level of contentment.
4. Which phrase means ‘having a big and rapid success around the world’?
‘Taking the world by storm’.
5. Is ‘hygge’ better experienced on your own or in company?
In company.
2. 請你在不參考課文的情況下完成下列練習。選擇一個意思合適的單詞填入句子的空格處。
1. I hate the winter – I’m going to stay in my house and hibernate all winter, like a bear.
2. Look at these cute key rings! They’ll make great stocking fillers for the kids this Christmas.
3. I don’t feel like going out tonight – I’m going to curl up with a good book on the sofa.
4. It’s blowing a gale outside – I’m worried that old tree is going to fall on our house.
5. I need to buy a new duvet for my bed – mine is too thin and I’m constantly waking up feeling cold in the night.
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