Jen: Hello, I'm Jennifer. Welcome to Authentic Real English. I'm joined today by Li. Hi Li!
Li: Hi Jen!
Jen: I thought that Neil was supposed to be joining me today - where is he?
Li: Oh Jen, 你不知道啊?Neil 生病了，而且是重病呢。I heard the boss saying he has man flu!
Jen: Man flu! That's probably correct.
Li: 这个男性流感是不是很容易传染啊?我们是不是应该把办公桌都消毒一下?
Jen: I think we'll be OK, Li.
Is man flu as serious as it sounds?
Li: No... I think that we should all go to the doctor's to see if we can get an immunisation.
Jen: I really wouldn't worry too much about it.
Li: But Jen, you should take this more seriously! 所有的流感都很危险，不能掉以轻心，传染上了，可能会病上好几个星期呢!
Jen: Well, proper flu can, yes. Flu is short for influenza, which is a very infectious virus. It can cause fever, headaches, coughing… And some strains, or types of flu, can cause death!
Li: 流行性感冒 influenza, 简称流感 flu. 症状包括发烧，头痛，咳嗽，甚至死亡!I don't want Neil to die. Should we send him some flowers?
Jen: Hold on a second. Neil won't die. Man flu is a bit different to normal flu. In fact, it's not even a real virus.
Li: So what is man flu, then?
Jen: In English, when a man gets a minor cold or perhaps a sore throat, many women refer to it as man flu.
Li: 当一个男人得了小感冒或喉咙痛，人们说这是男性流感。Why?
Jen: Well, lots of men tend to exaggerate their symptoms when they have a minor illness; in other words, they make it sound worse than it is.
Li: I see! 原来老板告诉我 Neil 得了男性感冒的时候，她的意思是说 Neil 其实是小感冒，但夸大了他的病症。
Jen: That's right!
Li: Well, I want to talk to him. 我得给他打电话，这么点儿小毛病就不想上班了，那像什么话?
Jen: Oh dear...
Phone rings
Li: Hello Neil, yes, I've heard you're very sick... Yes, yes, it's terrible. I just wanted to let you know that we're having a party in the office tonight, and I'm going to bring some lovely food and cakes for everyone. It's a shame you can't come because you're too sick... Oh really... OK then!
Li puts phone down
Li: 他说他一会儿就来上班。
Jen: Why did you tell him we're having a party?
Li: I thought if I told him there was going to be food and cakes that he might decide to come into work, after all!
Jen: Wow Li, I think you've found a cure for man flu - cake!
Li: 那就叫我莉医生吧 Doctor Li. Sounds good!
Jen: Join us again for another edition of Authentic Real English from bbcukchina.com. Bye for now!
Li: Bye!
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