：Meticulous attention to words

Author: Mi Jinlong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-03-01
Features: "Is it Wise to 'Welcome' Disasters?"
In July 1996, a flood occurred in Zhejiang, causing severe losses to people's lives and property. The noon news on TV reported in detail the situation of the Zhejiang people resisting the flood. Later, the announcer emotionally called on everyone: "Be prepared to welcome new disasters!" Taking the word "welcome" literally, it means to make preparations and wait for a certain situation or season to arrive, carrying a sense of enthusiasm and anticipation. For example, welcoming National Day, welcoming the new century, etc.; or it implies a strong subjective desire, carrying the meaning of initiative and expectation, such as welcoming a new battle, welcoming a new school year, welcoming tests, etc. Wars and natural disasters are things people dislike and do not wish to accept. They do not expect them to come, so the word "welcome" should not be used. When using words and sentences, apart from ensuring grammatical correctness, attention should also be paid to usage habits and the emotional connotation of the words. This sentence could be phrased as: "Be prepared to fight (resist) new disasters!"
"What's the Difference Between 'Jump' and 'Leap'?" The teacher told Xiaoming, "Jump" means both feet lifting off the ground simultaneously; "Leap" means one foot forward and the other foot kicking back. Xiaoming noted it all down in his heart. One day, Xiaoming went to the countryside to visit relatives and encountered a small river blocking his path. There was no bridge over the river—how could he cross? Just as he was in a dilemma, a farmer walked over and said, "Just jump across." Xiaoming clearly remembered what the teacher had said: "Jump means both feet lifting off the ground simultaneously." He stood with both feet together and jumped at the same time, but with a loud splash, he fell into the river. The farmer rescued him and said, "You should leap forward with one foot in front and the other kicking back to cross." Xiaoming said angrily, "One foot in front and the other kicking back—that's not 'jump,' that's 'leap.'"
Taking the words literally, "jump" and "leap" are synonyms and are often used together to form the word "leap." Xiaoming rigidly clung to his so-called "definition," blindly applying it without flexibility, and ultimately failed to "jump" across a small river.
P4-5