Only a few days remain before we say goodbye to 2024 and ring in the new year. To ring in the new year means to mark the beginning of a fresh start and to celebrate the arrival of a new year. The expression is said to have originated from the old tradition of ringing bells at the start of a new year. Many historical events occurred in 2024. Artificial Intelligence (AI) made great strides during the year. To make great strides means to make significant progress. American doctors successfully transplanted a pig kidney into a human. The patient survived for three months. It was a great stride in organ transplant.
China became the first country to bring back rocks from the far side of the moon. Two private American astronauts successfully completed the first commercial spacewalk. Both were great strides in space exploration. A rebel group overthrew President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, reshaping Middle East politics. Former US President Donald Trump was found guilty of covering up a sex scandal, but voters again elected him to be president after a four-year break, making him the first US president with a criminal record. France restored and reopened the 860-year-old Notre-Dame Cathedral five years after it was nearly destroyed by a fire.
What will 2025 bring? I won’t hazard a guess. To hazard a guess means to risk guessing something that may turn out to be wrong. I won’t hazard a guess but will keep my chin up. To keep your chin up means to stay cheerful and hopeful, especially during difficult times. Every new year brings some difficulties, but it’s important to keep your chin up. Happy New Year!
還有數天我們便要跟2024說再見，然後ring in the new year——to ring in the new year是指去迎接一個全新的開始，慶祝新一年的到臨。據說這個習語是源自在新一年開始的時候敲鐘的古老傳統。2024年有許多歷史性的事件發生。人工智能在這一年made great strides——to make great strides是指大有進步。美國醫生們成功將一個豬的腎臟移植至人體，那名病人再存活了三個月。這是器官移植的長足發展 （great stride）。
中國成為首個從月球另一面採樣帶回岩石的國家。美國兩個民營企業的太空人成功完成首個商業太空漫步。這兩樣都是太空探索的重大進展（great strides）。敍利亞一個反抗組織推翻了總統巴沙爾‧阿薩德，重塑中東的政治局勢。前美國總統唐納德‧特朗普在隱瞞性醜聞案件中罪名成立，但選民仍然在他卸任的四年後再度選他為總統，令他成為第一位有刑事案底的美國總統。有860年歷史的巴黎聖母院，五年前幾近被大火摧毁，法國終成功將其修復及重新開放。
2025年又會帶來甚麼呢？我就不會hazard a guess。To hazard a guess是指去冒險猜度一些事情，但可能最終會估錯的。我不會大膽估計（hazard a guess），但我會keep my chin up。To keep your chin up是指保持幹勁和抱有希望，尤其是在艱難的時候。每一個新年都會有一些新的難處，但去振作起來（keep your chin up）是非常重要的。新年快樂！
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Michael Chugani褚簡寧
中譯：七刻
