这是一个星期六的下午， Michael和李华比较放松，他们正在校园里散步。 李华会学到两个常用语：critter和mug。

L: 今天天气真好，你看那个人在跟他的狗玩，那小白狗真好玩！

M: Yes, he is a cute little critter. 

L: Critter是什么？Critter是狗的一个品种吗？

M: No, a critter is just an animal, usually one that is relatively small and furry.  The word is used a lot in the Southern part of the US.

L: 噢，critter就是毛耸耸的小动物。那么，松鼠也可以说是个critter，对不对？

M: Yes, squirrels are definitely critters.  But you know a lot of people don't like squirrels.  They think that they are dirty and look like rats with bushy tails.

L: 还有人不喜欢松鼠的呀？怎么会说它们象老鼠呢！我觉得它们真可爱，看起来毛耸耸，软棉棉的。我最喜欢看它们用前面两条腿捧着一颗花生啃。哎哟，那样子真好玩！

M: Well, I would not try to feed those little critters if I were you, they bite and can carry diseases. 

L: 不要喂它们吃东西？它们会咬人？嗨， 你站得远一点扔给它们不就行了吗？我倒是听说过它们会传染疾病，是要小心点。Michael, 那象耗子那样的小动物也能够叫做critters吗？

M: Yes, those are critters, too.  Speaking of which, did you hear that my roommate got a new-born sharpei?

L: 你的室友养了一只刚出生的沙皮狗！那肯定很好玩。

M: I don't think so.  As far as I'm concerned, that little critter looks ugly.

L: 你觉得沙皮狗难看啊？不少人家里养沙皮狗都觉得它们可爱。我还没有见过刚出生的沙皮狗呢！Michael, 你带我去看一看，好不好吗？
 
M: You want to take a look at that ugly critter? Ok, we'll go.

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M: Look, Li Hua, here is my roommate's sharpei.  Look at that furry mug.  He looks like he should be friendly.

L: 哟，这就是你室友的沙皮狗呀！好可爱哟！Michael, 你说什么furry mug？Mug不是用来喝咖啡或喝茶的杯子吗？沙皮狗和mug有什么关系呀？

M:   No, not a coffee mug.  Mug is slang for a face, usually an ugly one.  His little mug is his face. 

L: 噢，在这里，mug不是指杯子的意思，而是指一张脸，而且往往是指难看的脸。我觉得这只狗的脸挺可爱的。Michael, 我能不能摸摸它啊？

M: Go ahead, but I'm sure he'll bite you. 

L: 它会咬我？那就算了，我就看看它吧。哎，Michael, 我们能不能把人的脸称为mug呢?

M: Of course.  For example, my brother has a really ugly mug. 

L: 你弟弟的脸很难看? 哎哟，Michael, 你怎么能这么说啊？再说，你弟弟的脸没准跟你的脸很象啊！

M: I was just trying to give you an example.  I don't really think my brother has an ugly face.

L: 哎哟，你真是的，要给我举例子也得找个适当的例子嘛。怎么能拿你弟弟来举例子，破坏他的形象呢？对了，我还得弄弄清楚, mug一般是指难看的脸，是贬意，对不对？

M: Yeah, we usually don't say a person has a pretty mug.  But, if you like the look of that dog, you can say: "Oh, what a cute mug this little dog has!"

L: 噢，你的意思是，可以用mug这个词来指一个动物的脸很可爱，但是不能用来形容人的脸。

M: That's right.

今天李华学会说critter。这是指毛耸耸的小动物。今天她还学会一个词，那就是mug。Mug在这里是指动物和人的脸，一般是指难看的脸。