Chat attack

Halloween 

万圣夜

(wànshèng yè ) 

A: Let me test you. What Western holiday falls on October 31? 

考考你,10月31日是什么西方节日？

(kǎokǎonǐ, shíyuè sānshíyīrì shì shénme xīfānɡ jiérì?)

B: Isn't it obvious? Even children know that it's "All Saints' Day."   

那还用说吗？就连小孩子都知道是万圣节呗。

(nà háiyònɡ shuōma? jiùlián xiǎoháizǐ dōu zhīdào shì wànshènɡjié bei.)

A: Wrong! Actually "All Saints' Day" is on November 1. The holiday on October 31 is called "Halloween," also known as "All Saints' Eve." It's just that in Chinese "All Saints' Eve" is often mistaken for "All Saints' Day." 

错！其实万圣节是11月1日。10月31日的节日是万圣夜,也称万圣夜前夕。只是中文常常错误地称万圣节前夕为万圣节。

(cuò. qíshí wànshènɡjié shì shíyīyuèyīrì. shíyuè sānshíyīrì de jiérì shì wànshènɡyè, yěchēnɡ wànshènɡyèqiánxī. zhīshì zhōnɡwén chánɡchánɡ cuòwùde chēnɡ wànshènɡjiéqiánxī wéi wànshènɡjié.)

B: What? I've been getting it wrong all these years. I'm so embarrassed. I will make sure to not get it wrong from now on.

什么？这么多年来我一直都弄错了,真难为情。以后我可不会搞错啦。

(shíme? zhèmoduōniánlái wǒ yīzhí dōu nònɡcuòle, zhēn nánwéiqínɡ. yǐhòu wǒkě bùhuì ɡǎocuòlā.)

Illustration: Xia Qing/GT