圣人瓦伦丁是一名为维护爱情而牺牲的烈士，为此，人们把2月14日定为他的纪念日。不过，这个日子后来演变成一个爱情纪念日——情人节。现在，有许多人对情人节颇有看法，认为这个节日铜臭味太浓。可话又说回来，虽然它日趋商业化，但其营造的气氛甚是浪漫，对那些沐浴在爱河中的人来说，是一个非常有意义的日子。所以，本期《体验双语时代》就将以情人节为题，为你送上亲情贴士，帮你与爱人度过一个最最浪漫的情人节！
　　
　　Gifts from the Heart
　　Valentines Day is a great excuse to shower your beloved with gifts. (Flower and chocolate companies will certainly agree!) Money can't buy you love, so there's no need to break the bank. Naturally, to keep it romantic, it's best to give them something with a personal touch. At least make it look like you took a bit of time to pick the gift out. The way a gift is presented can also influence the overall effect. Still unsure? Read these suggestions.
　　
　　Chocolates
　　It is believed that chocolate causes a chemical reaction in the brain similar to that experienced when in love. Enough science! Chocs are one of the most traditional Valentine's presents you can get and are still a favourite. Splash out on something special. Handmade truffles with rich praline, mint, fruit and alcoholic fillings are a good bet. The better brands come in fancy wrapping and you can attach a personal note with some slushy message. Don't just hand them to the receiver; surprise them by putting it in a place where you know they'll find it themselves.
　　
　　
　　Flowers
　　Say it with flowers! There's not a woman on the planet who doesn't like to get flowers. (If you know one, she's lying!) Which flower is the most romantic of them all; that's right, red roses. Different cultures have different customs about how many you should give but generally speaking, the more the better. Again, surprises are best. Arrange to have the flowers sent to her at work. She'll act embarrassed but secretly will be delighted that she has made the rest of her female colleagues insanely jealous.
　　
　　心灵之礼
　　要给爱人奉上大礼，情人节是一个绝佳的理由。（花卉和巧克力公司肯定会同意这个观点的！）金钱不能为你买来爱情，所以没有必要大肆破费。当然，要使情人节不失浪漫的话，最好送一些个性化的东西。而且至少要能看得出你在挑选礼物上是花了点心思的。而送礼物的方式也会影响到整体效果。还没有想好？那就读读这些建议吧。
　　
　　巧克力
　　据说，巧克力能在大脑中引起一种化学反应，它与恋爱时所引起的化学反应是相似的。不谈这个科学知识了！巧克力是最传统的情人节礼物之一，而且仍为人们所钟爱。在购买一些特别的东西时不要吝惜金钱。含有大量果仁、薄荷、水果和酒心夹心的手工软糖应是个不错的选择。有一些更好的品牌会把包装弄得花哨别致，而你可以在上面附上一张写有甜言蜜语的私人便条。不要就这样把它们交给对方，把它们放在一个你知道对方可以自己找到的地方，以便给他们一个惊喜。
　　
　　鲜花
　　用花来表达心声吧！在这颗星球上没有一个女人不喜欢收到鲜花。（如果你知道有一个的话，那她就是在撒谎！）所有鲜花当中，哪一种才是最浪漫的呢？没错，红玫瑰。在送多少支合适的问题上，不同的文化有不同的风俗，但总体来说，越多越好。最好还是要有惊喜。安排在其上班时把花给她送去。她会感到尴尬，但也会感到窃喜，因为她使其他的女同事嫉妒得要命。

　　
　　Jewellery
　　Diamonds are forever, as the saying goes. If you feel like putting a huge dent in your bank account why not wow your love with some shiny stones? They have a real lasting impression. Speaking of which, should you decide that this girl is the one, Valentine's Day is the perfect time to pop the question, backed up with a ring.
　　珠宝
　　就像谚语说的那样，钻石恒久远。如果你想大把地花钱，为什么不用一些亮晶晶的宝石给你的爱人来一个惊喜呢？它们具有一种真正的恒久感。对了，如果你断定这个女孩就是意中人，那情人节就是用一枚戒指来提出求婚的最佳时刻。
　　
　　Lingerie
　　In the West, sexy lingerie is a very popular Valentine's gift. This is a fun gift usually given in long-term relationships and marriages. (If a girl is given a see-through nightdress by some bloke she knows for just one week, there could be misunderstandings.) Anyway, ①pluck up the courage to enter the underwear section of a women's clothes shop and pick out something delicate, lacy and frilly.
　　You may notice that these gifts are very much female oriented. To be honest, the gift giving on Valentines Day tends to be one-sided. Guy gives girl things. Girl is happy. Guy is in her good books. Guy is happy too. If you really want to get the man in your life a Valentines gift, just get something he likes. Don't worry about it being romantic or not, most guys aren't that fussy. Otherwise, you could give him a kiss and see what happens after that!
　　
　　女式内衣
　　在西方，性感的女式内衣是一种非常流行的情人节礼物。这是一种充满情趣的礼物，通常是在双方维持了很长一段时间的关系或已经结婚时使用。（如果一个女孩跟一个小伙子刚认识一个礼拜，就被送了一件透视睡衣的话，那就可能会产生误解了。）无论如何，要鼓起勇气，进入女装店的内衣区，选一些精致的、带花边和镶褶边的东西吧。
　　你可能注意到了，这些礼物都是非常倾向于女性的。老实讲，在情人节赠送礼物往往是单方面的。男孩送给女孩东西。女孩高兴。女孩对男孩产生了好感。男孩也高兴。如果你真的想给你生命中的男人一份情人节礼物的话，就找件他喜欢的东西吧。不用担心其浪漫与否，大多数的男孩都不是那么挑剔的。或者，你可以给他一个吻，看看随后会发生什么！
　　
　　truffle /`tr7f(9)l/ n.(和甜酒制成的)软糖
　　praline /`pr3l1n/ n.果仁糖
　　embarrassed /im`b2r9st/ adj.尴尬的
　　insanely /in`seinli/ adv.疯狂地
　　wow /wau/ vt.使叫绝
　　lingerie /`l2nE9ri/ n.女用内衣
　　see-through /`s1`Fr6/ adj.透明的
　　lacy /`leisi/ adj.花边的
　　frilly /`frili/ adj.镶褶边的
　　① pluck up the courage
　　 鼓起勇气
　　
　　Speak From the Heart
　　Sending sweet SMS messages to your sugar-pie will help boost the Valentine mood. Where can you learn how to say those sweet nothings in English? Why, right here in Bilingual Experience of course! SMS one of the following St. Valentine's Day greetings to that special someone and their heart will be sure to melt instantly.
　　
　　On St. Valentine's Day, I'll give you anything you want except my heart. I've already lost it to you!
　　Your kisses make me sizzle!
　　Sending a Valentine's smooch to you, from a heart that beats just for you!
　　I want you, I need you, I love you...
　　Each moment I spend with you is like a beautiful dream come true!
　　I just want to K.I.S.S. Keep it simple and say... love you!
　　Love is in the air. You are in my heart. Everything is where it should be!

[1] [2] [3] 下一页