國立教育廣播電臺

Hope:

How’s it going, Joey?

Joey:

So far so good. What about you, Hope?

Hope:

Not bad.

Joey:

Hey, Hope, do you know that today is Black Friday?

Hope:

Black Friday? Yes, I do. It’s the day right after Thanksgiving Day. and yesterday was the Thanksgiving.

Joey:

Yes, some big stores in Taiwan are providing 黑色星期五特賣會, the Black Friday Sale.

Hope:

Actually, I saw that on my way here. Isn’t that crazy? I mean waiting in such a long line for so many hours,

just because they can have the chance to get something with big bargains.

Joey:

Yes, I heard that the prices of some products are 很有吸引力!

Hope:

True, to many people, the prices that the stores offer are really appealing. Some of them are almost half of the price.

Joey:

Appealing, 吸引力嗎?

Hope:

Right.

Joey:

Unfortunately, we have to work today or we could also 趕流行一下.

Hope:

You bet. But I think most of the items you can find in those stores are some appliances,

such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, microwaves, etc.

Joey:

Really?

Hope:

Here in Taiwan, this is the case. You know in the US, some people even camp out just to buy a refrigerator!

Joey:

I know, 我知道, 大家電在折扣價格上比較有感.

Hope:

At some stores in the US, it is reported that people may wait outside at the gate of a store and as soon as the store open,

people would rush into the store, making it so crowded. There is fighting at times and some may even get hurt. It is usually chaotic.

Joey:

Seriously? 認真? Chaotic? 很混亂? Just like the anniversary sales in Taiwan.

Hope:

Yes, very much the same. So, Joey, are you willing to fight for a dishwasher?

Joey:

No, of course not.

Hope:

I think only when your appliance is broken do you feel it necessary to get a new one at this time, right?

Joey:

對呀, 只有家電壞了，你才會有著種需求。But對那些有家電需求的人, this kind of sales is definitely appealing!是絕對有吸引力的!

Hope:

Yes. To those who need new appliances, it is definitely appealing.

Joey:

I agree. But why do they call this day “Black Friday”?

Hope:

Well, in English, when you say a business is “in the black,” it means it is making money.

So, I guess, to many businesses, it is the day they make the best profit. And the record is in the black.

Joey:

What about losing money?

Hope:

Then you say the business is in the red. It means you are losing money.

Joey:

That’s interesting. So, after people have a big meal on Thanksgiving Day,

it’s time for them to go shopping and the businesses can make lots of money than normal day.

Hope:

Literally right. But I guess some people just can’t miss deals.

Joey:

Yes, they can’t miss deals. 絕對不能錯過好康.

Hope:

By the way, have you also heard about Cyber Monday?

Joey:

Cyber Monday? No. What’s that?

Hope:

It is the Monday following the Thanksgiving weekend.

It is thought to be the second biggest shopping day and the biggest day for online sales.

Cyber is related to the Internet.

Joey:

Ah~ I see. If you haven’t gotten enough the things you want on Black Friday,

Cyber Monday, the online sales is waiting for you!

Hope:

That’s right!