迈克：洋洋，我觉得中国人是世界上最勤劳的。    洋洋：哦？为什么？    迈克：每天早上我上班的时候，看到大街小巷都写着"早点"，我七点就起床了，还要早点吗？    洋洋：你逗死我了，迈克，这和勤劳不勤劳一点儿关系都没有。这个"早点"不是你说的"早点"。    迈克：你别这个那个的，到底是怎么回事？    洋洋：大街小巷写着的"早点"是"早餐"的意思，不是让你"早一点"的意思。    迈克：我说的嘛，我已经起得够早的了。     Mike: YY, I think Chinese people are the most diligent people in the world.
YY: Oh? Why?
M: Because I can see "zaodian" everywhere when I go for work in the morning. I get up at seven o'clock. Do Chinese people have to get up so early?
YY: You really crack me up, Mike. It has nothing to do with diligence. The "zaodian" you see doesn't refer to the meaning of what you think of.
M: Stop confusing me. What is the difference?
YY: The "zaodian" you see means breakfast rather than a little earlier.
M: I was really confused that why I should get earlier. Now I get it.


-- Jewel@

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In Chinese, "早点 (zăo diăn)" has two meanings. One means "a little earlier," the shortened version of "早一点 (zăo yī diăn)" The other means "breakfast". Today's joke is related to these two different meanings Lesson Content: Mike: YY, I think Chinese people are the most diligent people in the world.
YY: Oh? Why?
M: Because I can see "zaodian" everywhere when I go for work in the morning. I get up at seven o'clock. Do Chinese people have to get up so early?
YY: You really crack me up, Mike. It has nothing to do with diligence. The "zaodian" you see doesn't refer to the meaning of what you think of.
M: Stop confusing me. What is the difference?
YY: The "zaodian" you see means breakfast rather than a little earlier.
M: I was really confused that why I should get earlier. Now I get it.

• diligent [´dilidʒənt]   a.勤奋的   (初中英语单词)
• diligence [´dilidʒəns]   n.勤奋，努力   (初中英语单词)
• related [ri´leitid]   a.叙述的；有联系的   (高中英语单词)
• summary [´sʌməri]   a.&n.摘要(的)   (英语四级单词)
• version [´və:ʃən, ´və:rʒən]   n.翻译；说明；译本   (英语四级单词)