How do you know when a British person is joking? Or why they're joking, for that matter? Here are the categories you need to know to survive:
怎么辨别英国人是否在跟你开玩笑？或者他们为什么要开玩笑，开什么玩笑？要了解这些，你需要知道以下几种幽默类别。
1. Sarcasm and irony
1．反讽与挖苦
Sarcasm is the use of irony to say one thing while meaning the opposite. For example saying "At least you don't have to worry about fixing that puncture now" to a friend whose bike has just fallen into a pond.
反讽是指用挖苦的语气说一件事，其真正想表达的意思正好相反。例如跟自行车刚刚掉入池塘的朋友说“至少你现在不用再为修好轮胎上的刺孔而担忧了。”
2. Understatement
2．轻描淡写
It's when someone deliberately makes out that something is less significant than it is. For instance, by saying "It's a little bit windy, isn't it?" when there's a raging hurricane outside is an understatement."Deadpan humour" is also one element of understatement.
轻描淡写是指使某人故意让某件事看起来不那么重要。例如：当外边狂风大作时，别人却说“外边有微风，不是吗？”这就是轻描淡写。冷面幽默也是轻描淡写的一种。
3. Satire
3．讽刺
Satire involves using humour to criticize people and institutions with power, like politicians. Satire is popular in the UK because taking people "down a peg or two " is part of this culture.
讽刺是指用幽默来谴责像政客这种有权人士或机构。讽刺在英国很流行，因为用其来“灭某人的威风”是英国文化传统。
4. The absurd
4．荒谬之事
Absurd humour focuses on the silly, ridiculous or surreal . Much of British comedy is about noticing the absurd things in everyday life. Like the way everyone squishes onto the train even though there is another one in just one minute.
荒谬幽默常常讲一些愚蠢、荒诞或者离奇的事情。很多英式喜剧都非常关注日常生活中的荒谬事情，如尽管一分钟后就有另一趟列车过来，但是所有人还是拥挤上本趟列车。
5. Banter
5．戏谑
Banter is basically a jokey conversation between friends that involves good-natured teasing. Along with crisps and quizzes, it's a big part of pub culture in the UK. So while you're studying here, make a point of socialising with some locals—that way you can perfect your bantering skills.
戏谑通常是指朋友间谈话中出现的善意的逗弄或者玩笑话。其与薯片、恶作剧并成为英国酒吧三大文化组成部分。所以，当你在英国学习时，别忘记与当地人多多交流，那样肯定能提高你的戏谑技巧。
