日常生活上,大家經常會收到一大堆資訊,銀行服務、保險、醫藥、電子設備等,都有冗長的條文和說明,其實大部分都是專業解說,有很多專業知識和術語,很多時我真的不明所以,摸不着頭腦。用英文說,就是「I can't really wrap my head around all these documents.」(我真的不理解這些文件)。
要用英文說「不明白」,最簡單的當然就是說do not understand / cannot understand,不過也可說得活潑一些,用一些短語代替。
弄明白事情要用腦,即是頭部,所以這類短語都跟「頭」head有關。
over your head:超出腦袋能力
一些事情很複雜,很深奧,或是很奇怪,不是你能力可以理解,令你難以明白,可以說over your head(腦袋之上,非你所能理解)。
He tried to explain, but it was too technical and most of it went over my head.
他嘗試解釋,但是內容太技術性了,大多數非我所能理解。
The book flew over his head. It's too difficult for children at his age.
這本書不是他能夠理解,對於他這個年齡的孩子來說是太艱深了。
These politicians should stop talking about things over people's head.
這些政客不應該再發表群眾難以理解的論述。
另外,相似的是cannot get your head around(腦袋轉不過來),亦是難以明白一些事情。原本get your head around something意思是可以明白和了解一些東西,但這短語通常用否定式,表示一些事情太複雜、難以理解。
You should read the reports. They can help you get your head around what has happened.
你應該閱讀那些報告。它們可幫助你弄明白發生了甚麼事。
We cannot get our head around the new medical insurance policy.
我們弄不明白那份新的醫療保險單。
相信是由get your head around演化而來,現在很多時會用wrap your head around,同樣用否定式cannot wrap your head around something,表示一些事情很混亂煩雜,不能用腦袋包起來(放不進腦袋),即是不能明白、沒法理解、想不出答案。這亦可變化成cannot wrap your brain / mind around / round。
I can't wrap my head around what a healthy diet is because there is so much different information on the web.
互聯網上有太多不同資訊,何謂健康食譜,我感到茫無頭緒。
He is honest and hardworking. His colleagues cannot wrap their brain around why he is fired.
他為人誠實又勤奮,卻被解僱了,同事都覺得難以想像。
He couldn't wrap his mind around the new instruction. It was very confusing.
他沒法理解新的指示,太混亂了。
現今資訊發達,社會上許多議題,涉及政治、經濟、宗教、健康等不同範疇,都很複雜,很混亂,真的令人摸不着頭腦,因此要多看多學,學好語文也可以幫助你動腦筋,把事情理順 wrap your head around。 ■Lina CHU (linachu88@gmail.com)
(標題及小題為編者所加)