和老外聊天的地道口語第139期:看老外練太極...

Z: Morning, Tom! What are you doing over there? Learning to dance?

T: can't you see? I'm practicing tai chi!

Z: oh my goodness. I'm sorry. But I don't think tai chi is to be practiced like that.

T: I'm just a beginner. Did my poses make me the butt of jokes?

Z: well, they just look a bit funny, but far from making a laughing stock out of you.

T: so, is there anything wrong with my strokes?

Z: to begin with, you should keep your neck erect upward at any time.

T: like this?

Z: good! And then, the entire body. Never incline your body forward or backward. Take care to regulate the point of balance. Place it at your waist.

T: did I do it right?

Z: no! you should avoid sticking out your belly. Keep your hip steady. Don't swing!

T: what should I do with my legs then?

Z: oh, yes, things are quite different with the limbs. Keep your knees bent a little. Right! They should be rich in elasticity. Move slowly when you shift your center of gravity from one leg to another.

T: fantastic! I guess the same is true with the arms, right?

Z: exactly! Move your arms in a relaxed manner. Well, don't stretch your fingers stiffly. Just keep them in a natural shape.



早啊,湯姆!你在那兒幹什麼啊?學跳舞?
你沒看見我在打太極?
哦,天哪!不好意思,沒看出來.可是太極拳有這麼打的嗎?
我只是初學啊.我的姿勢是不是很搞笑?
恩,只是有一點點滑稽,不過不至於把你變成一個笑柄的.
那你看看,我動作哪裏不對?
首先,不管什麼時候,你的脖子應該豎直向上.
這樣對吧?
好!還有全身上下,身子不要前傾也不要後傾.注意調解重心,保持在腰部.
這樣?
不不不,不要挺肚子.臀部不要晃,要穩.
那我的腿呢?
對了,手腳四肢可就不一樣了.膝蓋要稍微彎曲一些.對! 要有彈性.把重心從一條腿移到另一條腿上時,要緩慢些.
好玩!我猜,手臂也是這樣吧?
沒錯.手臂移動時要放鬆.恩,手指別伸得那樣直,要自然點.


t: in an upright position straight 垂直的;豎直的;直立的

Stand with your arms by your side and your head erect. 手放兩邊，昂首站立。

g: to move backwards or forwards or from side to side while hanging from a fixed point; to make something do this (使)擺動,搖擺,搖盪

His arms swung as he walked. 他邊走邊擺着雙臂。 V
A set of keys swung from her belt. 她腰帶上掛着的一串鑰匙擺來擺去。
As he pushed her, she swung higher and higher(= while sitting on a swing). 隨着他推她，她在鞦韆上越蕩越高。
He sat on the stool, swinging his legs. 他坐在凳子上晃動着兩條腿。

ticity: the quality that something has of being able to stretch and return to its original size and shape (= of being elastic) 彈性;彈力

: not straight 彎曲的

a piece of bent wire 一段彎曲的金屬絲
Do this exercise with your knees bent(= not with your legs straight). 這個動作要求雙膝彎曲。

f: firm and difficult to bend or move 不易彎曲(或活動)的;硬的;挺的

stiff cardboard 硬紙板
a stiff brush 硬刷子
The windows were stiff and she couldn't get them open. 窗戶緊，她開不開。
I've got a stiff neck. 我脖子發僵。


from something/from doing something: almost the opposite of something or of what is expected 幾乎相反;遠非
It is far from clear(= it is not clear)what he intends to do. 他打算怎樣做一點都不清楚.

Computers, far from destroying jobs, can create employment. 計算機遠非破壞就業,而是能創造就業.

hing stock: a person that everyone laughs at because they have done something stupid 笑柄;笑料

I can't wear that! I'd be a laughing stock. 我可不能戴那個東西!否則會成爲笑柄的.