Letters to Juliet 給茱麗葉的信 Need relationship advice? Shakespeare’s famous lover is here to help.
需要些愛情箴言嗎？莎翁筆下知名的情人在此為你提供建言。
Nearly everyone knows the tragic love story of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. But not everyone knows it’s possible to write a letter to the leading lady of the story, Juliet, and ask her for romance guidance. Being a fictional character, Juliet of course doesn’t actually reply to the letters. Instead, volunteers patiently respond to the thousands of letters that are sent to her.
Many years ago, people started sending letters addressed to Juliet to her hometown of Verona, Italy. At first, no one knew what to do with all of the letters, until a local man began replying to them. After he retired from the task, a team of volunteers formed Juliet’s Club, whose members are called Secretaries of Juliet. Following the release of the 2010 movie Letters to Juliet, even more letters began to pour into the city from all over the world.
People can apply to become a Secretary of Juliet and help answer letters. People of all ages, including many young people, mail in letters. Perhaps they just need someone to talk to, and Juliet never judges them. Some letters are touching, some are heartbreaking, and some ask for help finding the perfect partner—but not even Juliet can help with that!
1. advice n. 建議（不可數）
a piece / word of advice 一項建議
Sarah gave me a piece of advice on how to study English.
莎拉給了我一項關於如何學英文的建議。
2. tragic a. 悲慘的，不幸的
To this day, Ian hasn’t forgotten that tragic accident.
伊恩至今仍無法忘掉那場悲慘的意外事故。
3. romance n. 浪漫的關係／情調
Generally speaking, office romances are not a good idea.
一般來說，談辦公室戀情並不是一個好主意。
4. guidance n. 指導，指引
Megan has always depended on her tutor for guidance on writing essays.
梅根在撰寫論文上遇到問題時總是仰仗她的導師指點迷津。
5. fictional a. 虛構的，編造的
The novel is based on a real event in history, but all the characters are fictional.
這本小說是根據真實歷史事件所寫成，不過裡面所有角色都是虛構的。
6. volunteer n. 義／志工，志願者 & vi. & vt. 自願從事……；當志工
The survey was carried out by volunteers.
這項問卷調查是交由志工們進行的。
I was very touched when I learned that so many of my coworkers volunteered to help me with my work.
獲知有那麼多同事都自願協助我的工作時，我好感動。
7. retire vi. 退休；退役；退職
Mr. Johnson made a formal statement at the meeting that he would retire at the end of this year.
強森先生在會議上發表正式聲明他將於今年年底退休。
8. release n. 上映；發行；公開
The book you’re looking for should be in the new releases section.
你要找的書應該是放在新書發行區。
本篇無補充單字唷！
心痛還是有分別的！
heartbreaking, heartbroken, heartache 這些都是表「心痛（的）」，那到底該怎麼用呢？形容詞 heartbreaking 表「（某事物）使人心碎的／極度失望的」、形容詞 heartbroken 表「（人）感到極度傷心的／心碎的」，而 heartache 不同於前兩者，為名詞表「痛心，傷心」。讓我們來看看生活上的實例：
Luke was heartbroken over his breakup with Lisa, who he kept seeing in his dreams.
（路克與麗莎的分手令他傷心欲絕，讓他不斷地在夢裡見到她。）
This heartbreaking relationship was just another heartache on my list.
（這段令人心碎的戀情只是我另一次心痛的回憶罷了。）
