一人们往往把两种语言中类似的说法或概念等同起来。例如,人们常把汉语中“单位”一词与英语中的“place of work”(工作地点)相提并论。其实,汉语中“单位”不光是指任职的公司,机关等。对一个中国人来说,“单位”也可能就是家庭住址,也是领导们决定给不给你加薪,让不让你升官,甚至决定让不让你出国,结婚,生孩子的地方。然而,“单位”这个概念也许还不难解释,一般不会引起误解。 One often equates similar expressions or concepts in both languages. For example, the term “unit” in Chinese is often compared with “place of work” in English. Actually, “unit” in Chinese refers not only to the companies and agencies that serve. For a Chinese, the “unit” may also be the home address, and it is also the place where the leaders decide not to give you a raise, so that you will not let you go, or even decide not to let you go abroad, get married, have children. However, the concept of “unit” may not be difficult to explain, and generally does not cause any misunderstanding.