بتكيف The term is as broad as the suggestions you have received so far
Explanation: This answer is not for grading. I support Nesrin's answer for the reason I stated in my comment. I have heard people use the word كيف in all the senses suggested by the answers given, so in a sense, I support them all. But if one has to select a rendition, and the intended meaning cannot be gleaned from other indications in the text, I would go with the most basic rendition. Where I grew up, the verb كيَّف is used in a sense that has nothing to do with the context of this question. It means to be intensely glad about something specific and personal, like important good news one has just heard. It is a very peculiar usage, and it has no relation to this question. In connection with cigarettes or other mood altering substances or behaviors (like running), I have heard people use the word in a variety of senses that correspond to all the suggestions offered so far: 1. Some people use it simply as a fancy word to mean "feelin' good." It is not earth shaking joy, just plain "fine," which, through a full modern day of hustle, would be a welcome state to be in; 2. Other people use it to mean a state of relaxation, serenity, and placidness. In such a state, all troubles fade away, and the mind enjoys being still and unperturbed; 3. Others use it to mean a state of gleefulness, good humor, and ease of temper, as one would feel when having a playful time with a bunch friends; 4. sttill others use it in the sense of a state of ecstasy that we associate with intense pleasures. Other names for this mental state include طرب and سلطنة. Most people assoicate this state with narcotics or music that they find almost intoxicating. It is, therefore, not surprising that a cigarette would produce this state because all addictive substances, including nicotine, produce this state in addicts. In fact, that is what it means to be addicted. A cigarette is nothing but a vehicle for the delivery of nicotine, a mood altering substance. If nicotine did not induce this state, it would not be addictive. It is hard to know exactly what the speaker meant. Even though we know for sure that cigarettes induce a state that is describable in terms of item 4 above, we do not know that the speaker himself meant that. In fact, most smokers are in denial of their addiction and are unaware of the interplay between cigarettes and their psyche. Most of the time, they are only aware of a generalized positive feeling (item 1). If you ask them to be more specific, they may describe a state of relaxation (item 2). For this reason, unless you know what the speaker meant from other indications in the text, I would go with Nesrin's suggestion simply because it is the most basic. Based on my experience with the expression, all other suggestions are correct.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 day 6 hrs 58 mins (2005-03-31 02:34:46 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Another suggestion that is also safe because it is general and basic is Randa\'s suggestion. It has the additional virtue of mentioning mood, which is the operative term here, whithout specifying which particular mood.
| Fuad Yahya Works in field Native speaker of: Arabic, English PRO pts in category: 4
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