Pygmalion is a play by George Bernard Shaw, first shown in 1913. Professor Henry Higgins, who studies speech, makes a bet: he will take Eliza Doolittle, a poor young woman who sells flowers and speaks with a strong Cockney accent, and teach her to talk and act like an upper-class lady.

Pygmalion isPygmalion是 a play by George Bernard Shaw蕭伯納寫的一齣戲 first shown in 19131913年首演。Professor Henry Higgins, who studies speech研究語音的Higgins教授 makes a bet打了個賭 he will take Eliza Doolittle他要把Eliza Doolittle a poor young woman who sells flowers這個賣花的窮女孩 and speaks with a strong Cockney accent她說話帶著很重的Cockney口音 and teach her to talk and act like an upper-class lady教到能像上流社會的淑女一樣說話、舉止。

The play is funny, but it is also sharp about class — in Britain then, the way you spoke could open or close doors.

The play is funny這齣戲很好笑 but 對階級的問題 it is also sharp about class也很犀利 in Britain then在當時的英國 the way you spoke你說話的方式 could open or close doors可以幫你打開門，也可以把門關上。

Shaw took the title from an old Greek story: a man named Pygmalion carved a woman in stone and fell in love with his own work; a goddess brought the statue to life. Higgins is a kind of Pygmalion, 'making' a new Eliza.

Shaw took the title from an old Greek story蕭伯納把劇名取自一個古希臘故事 a man named Pygmalion carved a woman in stone一個叫Pygmalion的男人用石頭雕了一個女人 and fell in love with his own work然後愛上了自己的作品 a goddess brought the statue to life一位女神讓這座雕像活了過來。Higgins is a kind of PygmalionHiggins就是某種Pygmalion "making" a new Eliza「打造」出一個新的Eliza。

Though actually, Shaw's play is less of a love story than people expect. The famous musical from 1956 and the film from 1964, both called My Fair Lady, take the same story and make it warmer and more romantic; that is the version most people know.

Though actually不過 Shaw's play is less of a love story than people expect蕭伯納這齣戲其實沒有大家想的那麼像愛情故事。The famous musical from 19561956年有名的音樂劇 and 1964年的電影 the film from 1964也是 both called My Fair Lady都叫《My Fair Lady》 take the same story用同一個故事 but 把它拍得 make it warmer and more romantic更溫暖、更浪漫 that is the version most people know那就是大部分人熟悉的版本。

In Chinese the play is 《賣花女》; the musical and film are 《窈窕淑女》。

In Chinese在中文裡 the play is這齣戲叫 《賣花女》《賣花女》 the musical and film are音樂劇和電影則叫 《窈窕淑女》《窈窕淑女》。