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This week we answer a question from Terrence in Vietnam. He writes:
本周，我们将回答来自越南的特伦斯的提问。他写道：
Which of the following forms is more correct in English usage?
以下哪种形式的英语用法更正确？
"Yes, we can go out but we need to be social distant from one another." or
“是的，我们可以出去，但我们需要彼此保持社交距离（be social distant）。” 还是
"Yes, we can go out but we need to be social distanced from one another."-- Terrence, Vietnam.
“是的，我们可以出去，但我们需要彼此保持社交距离（be social distanced）。”-特伦斯，越南
Dear Terrence, Thank you for this timely question.
亲爱的特伦斯：感谢你的提问，这个问题问得正是时候。
The expression "social distancing" is new to everyday English.
“social distancing”（“社交疏离”）这一表达是日常英语中新出现的。
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses it to describe the practice of avoiding gatherings and keeping about two meters distant from other people.
疾病控制与预防中心（CDC）用它来描述避免人群聚集并与他人保持约2米距离的做法。
One sign of this social distancing is the markings on floors of some shops: they show where we should stand in relation to others.
这种“社交疏离”的迹象之一就是一些商店地板上的标记：这些标记告诉我们，相对于其他人，我们应该站在什么位置。
The World Health Organization (WHO) is using a new term, however.
但是，世界卫生组织（WHO）正在使用一个新的术语。
"We're changing to say physical distance and that's on purpose because we want people to still remain connected," said Maria Van Kerkhove, an infectious diseases expert at the WHO.
“我们正在改变这种说法，称之为‘physical distance’（物理距离），这样做是有其目的的，因为我们希望人们仍然保持联系，” 世卫组织传染病专家玛丽亚·范·科霍夫说道。
"Technology right now has advanced so greatly that we can keep connected in many ways... without being in the same room," she noted.
“现在的技术已经取得了巨大进步，我们可以通过很多方式保持联系……即便不在同一个房间内，” 她指出。
Terrence, in your sentences, you use "social distance."
特伦斯，在你的句子里，你使用的是“social distance”。
But the term under discussion employs a different noun, "distancing," to talk about the method of avoiding disease.
但我们讨论的术语使用的是另一个名词“distancing”来表述避免疾病的方法。
I would change your first sentence this way:
我会这样修改你的第一句话：
Yes, we can go out but we need to practice social distancing.
“是的，我们可以外出，但我们需要实行社交疏离。（to practice social distancing）”
That is using the expression as a noun. The verb is "practice."
以上是把这个表达当作名词使用。搭配使用的动词是“practice”。
In March, the Merriam-Webster dictionary expanded its definitions for many of the words we use to talk about the spread of COVID-19.
3月，《韦氏字典》扩展了很多词语的定义，我们用这些词语来谈论COVID-19的传播。
The dictionary now includes a medical definition for the verb socially distance: to distance physically from other people or avoid any unnecessary contact with others during the outbreak of a contagious disease..."
该词典现在包含了动词“socially distance”的医学定义：在传染病爆发期间，与他人保持身体距离，或避免与他人不必要的接触……”
For your second sentence, you can use this verb form:
对于你提到的第二句话，可以使用以下动词形式：
Yes, we can go out but we need to socially distance ourselves from each other.
“是的，我们可以出去，但我们需要在社交上彼此保持距离（to socially distance）。”
You could also say,
你还可以说：
We need to physically distance ourselves from one another, but I would love to meet you in a video call tonight.
“我们需要在物理上彼此保持距离（ to physically distance），但我很愿意今晚可以和你视频见。”
Another new expression we have is "flatten the curve."
另一个新表达是 “flatten the curve” （“压平曲线”）。
That basically means to slow the spread so that medical systems do not get overwhelmed.
其基本意思是减缓传播速度，以免医疗系统不堪重负。
And you may have heard the term "front line workers."
你可能已经听说过“一线工作者”一词。
Those are the people employed in health care, delivery services, emergency services, food production and food stores.
这些人从事卫生保健、送货服务、紧急服务、食品生产或在食品商店工作。
They are the people who cannot work from the safety of their homes. And we are very thankful for them.
他们无法安全地居家工作。我们非常感谢他们。
So, if your friend asks you:
因此，如果朋友问你：
Why are we social distancing?
“我们为什么要社交疏离？”
You can answer:
你可以回答：
To flatten the curve and protect front-line workers.
“为了‘压平曲线’，保护一线工作者。”
And that's Ask a Teacher for this week.
以上就是本期名师答疑的全部内容。
I'm Jill Robbins.
我是吉尔·罗宾斯。
