中英法翻譯的走跳生活

談到點心，大家一定馬上想到snacks這個字。不過，點心有百百種，從一般的零食餅乾糖果、下午茶的小蛋糕茶點，到夜市的豆花、鹽酥雞，真的可以全部用snack(s)這個字一網打盡嗎？

一談到定義，先來看看字典怎麼說 ：

According to the Cambridge dictionary, snacks mean "a small amount of food that is eaten between meals, or a very small meal"

所以可以得知，snacks強調的不是點心的類別或攝取的量，而是吃的時間。

eg. Fresh or dried fruit makes an ideal snack.

eg. Many snack foods are high in salt, sugar, and fat.

eg. I have been snacking all day. 這句超實用，現在疫情影響，大多都待在住處，真的整天都在吃！

 
所以這個拼盤上的食物都可以是snacks喔！水果的話可以叫 healthy snacks~吃的健康安心的小點心

接下來是 nibbles 

這個字動詞代表小口咬，名詞用來代稱小零嘴，剛好中英都很像，真是太酷了！

According to the Wikidiff, nibbles(in the plural) mean "small snacks such as crisps/potato chips or nuts, often eaten to accompany drinks.

所以像是樂X洋芋片、Janet萬X牌開心果、堅果、杏仁小魚就可以用nibbles來形容

 
這是我最喜歡的口味～

最後是tidbits

According to the Cambridge dictionary (Sorry, but I love Cambridge dictionary), a small piece of interesting information, or a small dish of pleasant-tasting food.

eg. Grandma always has a few tidbits for the children if they're visiting at lunchtime.

 
像是下酒菜的小點心乳酪塊、小香腸都可以用tidbits來稱呼
 

回到標題，台灣是美食天堂，夜市文化更是繁榮發展，那麼，夜市食物到底對照英文可以怎麼說呢？

According to Taiwan Inside Out's Recommended by Locals: 9 Taiwanese Markets Foods You Can't Miss

可以發現，最籠統的當然可以直接用food一字，而文中有舉例tidbits可以用來形容哪些食物

“The vendor will chop the chicken into small pieces and put it into the oven.
You will find organs of every size and shape on offer, from chicken breast to chicken bottom.
Other tasty tidbits on offer include chicken legs, chicken hearts, and other yummy delights.
After roasting the skin gets crispy, fat well rendered and the meat is succulent.”

（圖片來源）

補充：文章內的good expressions

locals 當地人

Food and the act of sharing food is a cornerstone of life in Taiwan.

Taiwanese local dishes

seems like an adequate adjective to describe

Taiwan is an island state surrounded by sea.

offered in juicy, bite-sized portions 一口大小

side dishes 小菜

melts in the mouth 入口即化