人有各种正常的生理需求,包括吃、喝、拉、撒。我们谈论前两者时一般不会有什么顾忌,但后两者在文明社会中一般都被视为禁忌(taboo),直接述之于口往往令人有不雅之感。另一方面,我们对“大小便”一类的表达又无法回避,在接待外宾时还很有知道的必要。笔者的一位师兄上月陪同某老外逛上海的豫园,途中老外内急,询问 People have a variety of normal physiological needs, including eating, drinking, pulling, and scattering. When we talk about the first two, we usually don’t have any scruples, but the latter two are generally considered taboo in a civilized society. Directly speaking to the mouth is often indecent. On the other hand, we cannot evade the expression of “relief and defecation” and need to know when receiving foreign guests. One of my brothers accompanied a foreigner to visit Shanghai’s Yu Garden last month.