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一個人從出生到成長，其中一個很重要的階段就是學會自己站起來，不再需要別人摻扶。站起來，意義很深遠，蘊含「自立」和「獨立」的意思。靠自己生活，不需要他人扶持、接濟。
英文諺語 「stand on your own feet」（自己站起來），亦有寫成「stand on your own two feet」（靠自己一雙腿站起來），就是自立、獨立、可以自給自足的意思。自己供給自己日常生活所需，不必依賴別人。
The children will have to learn to stand on their own feet someday.
總有一日，孩子們要學會自立。
You don't have to worry about her. She has found a job and is now able to stand on her own two feet.
你不必擔憂她。她找到一份工作，現在已經可以自立了。
If possible, many young people nowadays would like to move out from their families and stand on their own feet.
如果可以，今天許多年輕人都想搬出去住，離開家庭，獨立生活。
「on your own」不假手於人
其實，簡單說句「on your own」或者「all on your own」，也有獨立的意思。甚麼都自己一手一腳打理，沒有別人幫助。
She is not a very good cook, but she has made this cake all on her own.
她下廚的本領不高，但是她完全靠自己弄出這個蛋糕來。
Why don't you let them make the decision on their own?
你為甚麼不讓他們自己自主作出決定？
They are now old enough and capable of being on their own.
他們已經長大了，能夠照顧自己了。
「find your feet」逐步適應
有些時候，基於某些原因，可能你一時間無法站穩腳步。譬如說，身處一個新的環境，尚未適應。這時，英文有句諺語很合用，「find your feet」（找到腳步、適應環境），意思是逐漸熟習環境，增強信心，有能力在新的環境生存。
The little girl soon found her feet in the new school and got along happily with the other children.
那小女孩很快就適應了新學校的環境，與其他孩子相處愉快。
It seems that he is still finding his feet in the new job. Let's give him some time.
看來，他在新崗位仍然未能適應站穩。我們再給他一些時間吧。
能夠站起來，具有很重要的人生意義。所以要盡力stand on your own feet，學會獨立。就算一時間在陌生的環境站不牢，找不到適當步伐，也要盡力find your feet，努力去適應環境。■Lina CHU
[ linachu88@netvigator.com ]
逢星期三見報
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