“You’re the apple of my eye.”
聽起來是個充滿感情的比喻
那假如你聽到別人說你是個 “square” (方形)
或者是 “green-eyed monster”
又會怎麼想呢？
快來認識這些生動活潑的譬喻用法
講出來真是讓英文太加分啦！
國文課常常上的譬喻修辭，其實英文也有！暗喻 (metaphor) 與明喻 (simile) 常常在每天的談話與閱讀中出現，先看一部影片了解他們的意思：
所以我們知道了：
- 明喻
明喻就是直接的比較，也就是形容「A像B」，比如說「白的跟雪一樣」(as white as snow)、「黑的跟黑炭一樣」(as black as coal)。 - 暗喻
比喻的運用就更需要一點想像力，因為句子延伸的意義本身不見得能夠從字面上看出來，而這正是它巧妙的地方！
而同樣的單字被運用在直喻或比喻，可能會有完全不一樣的意思！以下舉一些例子：
1. 「蘋果」是水果也是比喻的好幫手
Simile 明喻
The travellers have fallen in love with Taiwan’s local produce. They cannot believe that thetomatoes are as big as apples, and the apples look like the size of baseballs.
旅行者們已經愛上了台灣的當地特產。他們不敢相信番茄大如蘋果，而蘋果看起來像棒球一樣大。
Metaphor 暗喻
the apple in one’s eye 掌上明珠；非常珍貴的人或者物品
In a family of five boys and one girl, the youngest daughter is the apple in everyone’s eye.
在一個擁有五個男孩與一個女孩的家裡，最小的女兒是每個人的掌上明珠。
a few bad apples 害群之馬；幾個壞角色
Amid a massive corporate scandal which lost a significant portion of the investors’ money, theCEO told the media that they shouldn’t lose faith in their company because of a few badapples.
嚴重的企業醜聞大幅度損失了投資者的錢，首席執行官告知媒體，他們不應該因為少數的害群之馬，對公司失去信心。
2. 「色彩」可以形容情景也可以形容情緒
Simile 明喻
Fans of photography can easily recall a famous National Geographic cover photo that featured abeautiful girl with green eyes resembling pure emeralds.
攝影愛好者都知道一張著名的《國家地理雜誌》封面照，一位美女的綠色眼睛看起來像是純綠寶石。
Metaphor 暗喻
green with envy 因為嫉妒到臉綠了
green-eyed monster 綠眼怪獸（非常嫉妒）
Gwen often becomes green with envy whenever her classmates receive better grades orawards for outstanding achievements, and she would turn into a green-eyed monster.
每當她的同學們得到更好的成績或領取傑出成就的獎勵，葛溫總是嫉妒到臉都發綠，儼然變成一隻綠眼怪獸了（表示非常嫉妒）！
3. 「海洋」與「天空」不止是美麗的顏色與無限的視野
Simile 明喻
As the far end of the ocean merges with the skyline, the different shades of blue look like thecollision of light and dark sapphires.
當海洋的盡頭融合了天際線，不同色調的藍像是淺藍與深藍寶石的相撞。
Metaphor 暗喻
bottomless ocean 沒有底線的海洋
The professor has been teaching, researching, and writing for forty years. His knowledge is anocean that appears to be bottomless.
教授任教、研究、寫作已經四十年了，而他的知識似乎是無底的海洋。
4. 「情感」也有許多直接與間接的形容方法
Simile 明喻
The young couple’s passionate feelings for each other are like flames that keep on burning.
年輕情侶對對方的激烈感情就像是不斷燃燒的火焰。
Metaphor 暗喻
a journey 一個旅程
a crossroad 一個十字路口
After forty years of happily married life, Mark and Miranda have traveled a beautiful journeytogether.
經過四十年的幸福美滿的婚姻生活，馬克和米蘭達已經在一起經歷了美麗的旅程。Their relationship hit a crossroad when he got a job offer at a different city, but she wants tostay at exactly where she is.
當他得到了一個在不同的城市工作機會，而她想留在原本的城市。他們的關係面臨了到十字路口。
5. 「幾何圖形」是滿好用的譬喻幫手
Simile 明喻
The synchronized cooperation of the sales and marketing departments are running smoothlylike two parallel lines that support each other.
銷售和營銷部門同步進行的合作就像是相互支持的兩條順行的平行線。The streets of Manhattan are laid out like the lines of even-sized rectangles.
曼哈頓的街道佈局像同樣尺寸的長方形的線條 。
解釋
n.（使用like或as等詞語的）明喻；
例句
This is the simile of what I have just given to you.
不過這是我已經給予你們的明喻。
However, an economic model is not an accurate blueprint but an analytical simile.
然而，經濟模型不是一幅準確的藍圖，而是一個分析的明喻。
As I walked on slowly, a bright simile bloomed on my face.
我慢慢地走著，我臉上現出了快樂的笑容。
I believe this simile largely speaks the truth.
我相信這種比擬在很大程度上道出了真實。
Gratitude can mean a simile or a thank-you, or a gesture of appreciation.
感激會是一個微笑，一句謝謝或是一個感謝的手勢。
Metaphor 暗喻
square 正正方方的人；非常正經的人
Malcolm always speaks professionally, and dresses formally for any occasion. People’s firstimpression of him is that he must be a square. But when they get to know him better, theywould realize that he is easy going, and full of humor.
馬爾科姆說話總是很專業，也在任何場合都穿著正式。大家對他的第一印象都是他一定是個非常正經的人。但當他們了解他以後，才知道他隨和又充滿幽默。
延伸比喻 (What does extended metaphor mean?)
文／王傳瑄
圖／Benjamin Golub
留言列表
