又中又英—To Steer Clear of Something

作者：Alice的学习笔记

原文

Most people seldom use the word "ecosystem". I seldom use it because it has complicated meanings depending on who uses it. Scientists use it in a different way. Business people use it differently. The word is now used more often but many people steer clear of it. To "steer clear of something" means to avoid something or someone. I decided to discuss the word “ecosystem” instead of steering clear of it after someone told me about a Legislative Council meeting last week to discuss Hong Kong's Cyberport. When it opened in 2004, **critics **said the government's real intention of starting a Cyberport was to create a real estate project instead of a digital innovation hub.

The word "ecosystem" can mean all living things in an area and the way they affect each other and the environment. When biologists use it, they mean a biological community of organisms that interact with each other in a particular environment. The huge coral reef in the waters of Australia's eastern Queensland is the world's largest ecosystem consisting of coral reefs and marine life. When business people use the word “ecosystem”, they mean a group of businesses or business activities that affect and work well with each other. These businesses compete but also cooperate. Hong Kong's Cyberport is a good example of a business ecosystem.

During last week's meeting on Cyberport, FelixChung Kwok-pan who represents the textiles and garment sector in LegCo said his recent visit to Cyberport with other legislators opened their eyes, which means to realize or see the truth about something. Chung Kwok-pan said Cyberport is not a residential project as many Hong Kong people still believe because he saw many high-tech start-ups and smart people. What he meant was Cyberport is a business ecosystem or a digital innovation hub. I have not been to Cyberport in many years. When I was last there it looked like a residential project. Chung Kwok-pan is my friend. I will visit again to see if it opens my eyes!

单词、短语

• ecosystem
  生态系统。
     Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert.
     马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。

• steer clear of……
  steer本身表示驾驶，指导，引导，采取等多种意思。steer clear of sb/sth表示回避某人或某事。
     I think a lot of people, women in particular, steer clear of these sensitive issues.
     我认为很多人，特别是女性，都会回避这些敏感问题。
  拓展一下：steer a course表示选择某种做法，采取某种方式。
     The government chose to steer a middle course between the two strategies (=chose a strategy that was not extreme).
     政府在两种策略中选择了折中的方式。

• cyberport
  数码港。Cyber-表示与互联网相关的，网络的，电脑的。我们说的网吧，叫cybercafe。

• critic
  批评家，评论家，反对者。

• organism
  有机体；生物；(尤指)微生物，也可以表示有机组织；有机体系，英文解释为：asystem consisting of parts that depend on each other。
     »the social organism (= society)
     社会有机体

• coral reef
  珊瑚礁。

• textile
  织物，纺织品，纺织业（复数形式，textiles）。

• garment
  （一件）衣服，a piece of clothing。
     She pulled the garment on and zipped it up.
     她穿上衣服拉好拉链。
     Wash the garment separately, as the color may run (=comeout when washed) .
     这件衣服可能会褪色，要分开来洗。

• residential
  居住的，住宅区的，居民区的。
     //...a smart residential area...
     整洁漂亮的住宅区

翻译

大多数人都很少用到“ecosystem”一字。我自己就很少用到此字，因为它取决于谁在使用而有着复杂的意思。科学家用的时候是一个意思，商人用时又是另一个意思。现在这个字愈趋普遍，但许多人steer clear of it。To“steer clear of”something即是去避开某物或某人。当有人告诉我，上星期立法会会议有讨论香港的数码港时，我决定要讨论“ecosystem”这个字而非避而不谈（steering clear of）这个字。数码港于二○○四年落成，批评者说政府成立数码港的真正目的，是去创建一个地产项目而非数码科创中心。

Ecosystem可以指生态系统，就是在一个范围内的一切生物，以至牠们彼此及与环境之间相互影响的一个体系。生物学家用这个字时，是指在一个特定环境内，有机体彼此互动的生物群落。澳洲昆士兰东部水域的大堡礁，就是世界最大的生态系统（ecosystem），包含着珊瑚礁和海洋生物。当商人使用“ecosystem”一字时，却是指商场上的生态系统，一群商户或商业活动互为影响且具有协同效应。这些公司竞争，却又相互合作。香港的数码港就是商业生态系统（business ecosystem）的典型例子。

而在上星期讨论数码港的会议上，在立法会代表纺织及制衣业界的钟国斌，说他最近与其他立法会议员到访数码港，实在opened their eyes，意即大开眼界、恍然大悟，赫然发现了惊讶的事实。钟国斌说数码港并非如许多香港人所想般是一个住宅项目，因为他也见到许多高科技的初创和能干的精英。他的意思是，数码港是一个商业生态系统（business ecosystem），又或可说是数码创新大本营。我已多年没有去过数码港了，我上次到访时，确实像个住宅项目。钟国斌是我的朋友。我会再去一趟，看看它可会开我的眼界（opens my eyes）！

原文作者：Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
中文翻译：七刻

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