用错字的尴尬

和所有学习一门新语言的人一样,我也出过用字错误的笑话,印象最深经年挥之不去的有下面两个经典: 

1.上班太忙不好,太空也不好,会觉得时间过得特别得慢.那天我去茶水间,回来时路过一个埃及同事的位子,看他躺坐在办公椅上, 百无聊赖的样子,电脑屏幕上的信箱没有一个未读邮件.知道他是在等下班.他抬起头来和我打招呼,想要闲聊,我们关系不错,常常相互打趣.我于是说: “You look so boring.” 

他显然吃了一惊,敏感的我立时意识到自己的错误.还没等我开口,机灵的他忽地笑了,说: “Thank you!” 调侃都在语调里. 

我的脸红了,”Sorry, I meant you looked so bored.” 

I know. Not a problem. In fact you’re right. I am bored to death. 

2.和一个很熟的老外一起吃饭,我们是老朋友,常在一起吃喝玩乐,以至于他常常忘了我是中国人.那天是在一家优雅的牛排馆,边吃边聊.他很会做菜,正在向我解释怎么做牛排,说一定要好的牛排,要有多厚,火要多大,只短短几分钟,才能将肉汁封(SEAL)在里面,外焦里嫩…… 

我自然有了问题,说,Do you have to season it first, you know…, 又是这个字,我在很多调料酱的瓶子上看到过,看到认识,但要说,又忘了具体拼写,记得好像有M, N,E……我在脑子里搜索着,嘴里不小心也跟着脑子说了出来, Ma…Nure… 

我的朋友眼睛睁得有鸽蛋那么大,叉子也停了下来.一定在想这个一向礼貌,似乎还有点修养的中国女人在饭桌上何出此言.我的优点在于一出错自己马上就知道了.说,对不起,但是实在忍不住笑,他也笑死了. 

还好是熟朋友. 

当然他教我拼写了那个字Marinate,从此我再也忘不了了.

[盈袖2006]

回复纵然平行的评论:
No, these are only the "entertaining ones":)

I agree with you. I am ok with myself making mistakes now and then and that's the only way to improve. However I am serious with the professional occasions, trying best not to make even tiny mistakes.

Most people are tolerant with the mistakes in daily life. I would be with a foreigner and amused by the cute mistakes, just as those made by a kid starting to talk.

[纵然平行]

Are you sure ? only two mistakes so far ? C'mon ..., please don't be so shy/stingy. :)) BTW, your two samples are entertainingly hilarious!

FYI, your are not alone to experience the pains and bewilderedness coming with learning and mastering a foreign language. To pay sympathy, I've made tons of errors from the very beginning, some of them were epic ones. My worst ones were those bloopers I made with my dates, which I wish there were quicksand pits to gabble me down instantly, sparing me from my misery and embarrassment. :(. Nowadays, I still make mistakes time to time, the only difference between now and then is that my skin get“thicker”while“face value” goes the opposite direction.:)

To be fair, my experiences have been that Americans are, in general, reasonably generous and forgiven towards to people who don't communicate with their mother tongues. In fact, American girls are actually extra patient and sweeter when it comes to foreign guys. I suspect, born-in-other-country
may give me an edge to even the playing field and fend off my native opponents, advancing me in the most competitive sport ever invented in human history – dating. :).

I think, to control the damage caused by misusing of an English word or an idiom, having a sense of humor would do the trick. Sometimes, making an joke on yourself at your own expense can turn the tide, besides it can be fun as well. What's more, people see your confidence though a seeming spiral downward occurrence, and often they would laugh with you rather laugh at you.

Case in the point, it is those “sweating” mistakes that in the process make us better speakers and writers in second language. I bet you, you would think twice before throwing “boring” to a guy right on his face. Well, I take it back, I'd be willing to accept the word “boring” rather than the other one if you'd insult me with your two “master pieces". :)

[盈袖2006]

回复graceusa的评论:
去看了,喜欢你的小调皮.其实我也是这么坏的,在熟悉的朋友家人面前

[盈袖2006]

回复石库门的评论:
呵呵,就是啊,现在想起来我都脸红... 第一个其实我心里非常清楚,但出口不小心就错,属于口误,现在都要很小心.谁愿意被人说BORING 啊:)

[graceusa]

haha~~ 等下和你一篇~~~

[石库门]

你很可爱~~~。 吃牛排，说牛粪，哈哈哈。
第一个错很容易犯的，不好掌握其中微妙的差别。