By最常見解作在某人旁邊:Stand by。同時,Stand by也解作支持,亦解作隨時候命。什麼時候有什麼意思,則靠讀者留意上文下理(to read between the lines)。在一間教堂,聽到新人的結婚宣誓(marriage vows): I will stand by you no matter what happens throughout the rest of my life,自然就不會解作隨時候命了。如果說「When the referendum campaign starts, you cannot just stand by and watch. You need to get involved!」這裏的stand by and watch有袖手旁觀的意味,所以「公投」開始之時,記住爭取民主機會難逢,定必親身參與!
此外,by也有方法的意味。I go to work by tram every day,我每天都乘電車上班。Hong Kongers will not gain their right to vote by luck,香港人爭取民主不能光靠運氣。By all means(當然)we need to fight for it ourselves,by no means則有絕對不會的意思。By far則有至目前為止的意味:By far the unprecedented referendum is the most important movement for the cause of real democracy,史無前例,這次公投是我們爭取民主的最重要運動。站在人民一方,We will win by majority,我們會以大比數勝出,因為投票正是民主的真諦。
爭取民主,我們一向都奉公守法,we always abide by the law。同時,各黨派站在同一陣線,這場公投運動絕不應被政黨政治所沾污,by no means shall the referendum be tainted by partisan politics,因為我們都只有一個共同目標:A government elected by the people,由市民普選出來的政府。此所謂「民治」政府:The Government BY the people。
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