夏休みについて英作文した時に、”summer holiday” という言葉を使ったら、全部 vacation に訂正されました。先生によると、アメリカ英語では、”A holiday is only used for Christmas, Easter, the 4th of July, etc.” だそうです。
もう一つの間違いが、”approve” と “approve of”。私が “When I won my summer vacation this year, he didn’t seem to approve it.” と書いていたところ、”approve of” と訂正。approve it だと、権威あるものが”承認する” というニュアンスになり、私の文章の場合は、同僚が私のプランを快く思っていないという意味なので、 approve of になると。”Approve it” is used when you need an official permission for something. To approve “of” something means to think it’s a good idea.
なんてことない短い日記なんだけど、言葉のニュアンスを正しく捉えるのが難しい。練習あるのみ。
I’m going to take a summer vacation, and I really mean it! There is a senior colleague whose pride is not taking a holiday for 8 years. When I won my summer vacation this year, he didn’t seem to approve of it, but he also decided to take a short vacation for 3 days.
Oddly enough, he came to the workplace anyway. Not only that, he came to work before anyone else, and worked late until everyone got home. I knew I should have praised him for being such a hard worker, but I politely ignored him. Was he implying something? His attitude was like, “Hey, look at me everybody! I’m on vacation! But I’m working! I’m a model citizen! Follow my lead, and bust your ass until you collapse!!!!” Or am I imagining too much?
Anyway, he made me feel bad about taking a vacation.
ジュズサンゴ（ヤマゴボウ）
