過年出遊，碰上難得的豔陽天，一群人走上坡路有點吃力。一會兒有人問我氣喘的英文怎麼說，我氣喘兼熱壞了，想也不想就回答：asthma。後來在回家的捷運上總算腦袋清醒過來，知道自己誤會了。

如果這一段讓教我翻譯的老師看到，一定大搖其頭：「怎麼不先問清楚是怎麼喘的？什麼原因造成的？」

同樣的中文，可不一定對應到同樣的英文。

當時的情境，應該是指「運動造成的氣喘吁吁」，對應的英文說法有：

1. pant (v.)

    The hikers were panting by the time they reached the top of the hill.

2. puff (v.)

    He was puffing and panting from running.

3. gasp (v.) 這就喘的有點嚴重囉！

    The hill was very steep, and they were all gasping by the time they reached the top.

4. breathless (adj.)

    The workout left me breathless.

5. out/short of breath (adj.)

    I'm a little out of breath from walking up all those stairs.

6. can’t catch my breath (v. + n.)

    Give me a moment to catch my breath.

所以，不是身體健康出問題—那真的是 asthma，氣喘病—只是運動中換氣換得快了點，不必找醫生，嘻。