ruse, Self-checkout. For Trump, Secret Flight Was a Stunning Ruse. For Putin, ‘a Regular Tuesday.’

Self-checkout is a retail system where customers independently scan, bag, and pay for their items using an automated terminal without the assistance of a cashier. Shoppers scan barcodes themselves, follow screen prompts, and pay via card, mobile wallet, or cash before leaving the store. [1, 2]
Understanding the mechanics and evolution of this shopping method highlights why it is a staple in modern retail environments:
How It Works: Customers take their items to a kiosk, use a built-in laser or camera to scan each product's barcode, weigh fresh produce to determine the price, and finalize their transaction using the machine's integrated payment reader. [1]
Staff Role: While designed for independent use, self-checkout areas are usually monitored by a store attendant. Staff members are typically on hand to verify age-restricted purchases (like alcohol), void accidental double-scans, or troubleshoot technical errors. [1, 2]
Pros and Cons: The system is prized for reducing wait times and increasing customer independence during quick shopping trips. However, disadvantages can include an increase in scanning errors, higher rates of retail theft, and frustration when machines malfunction or require human intervention. [1, 2, 3]
Alternative Names: It is often referred to as a self-service checkout or a self-scan checkout. [1, 2]
To explore how these automated systems work in person, you can visit local supermarkets that feature these stations, such as Carrefour or PX Mart in Taipei, many of which now offer hybrid or fully automated self-checkout zones. [1]








For Trump, Secret Flight Was a Stunning Ruse. For Putin, ‘a Regular Tuesday.’

President Trump’s Air Force One subterfuge pales in comparison to the secrecy surrounding Russia’s president, whose fixation on security has reached new heights in recent years.對川普而言，秘密飛行是一場驚天騙局；對普丁而言，這只是「一個普通的星期二」。

與俄羅斯總統的保密程度相比，川普總統的「空軍一號」行動簡直不值一提。近年來，普丁對安全的重視程度達到了前所未有的高度。

A Russian state media photo of President Vladimir Putin in his office in the Kremlin last month. The secrecy around Mr. Putin’s movements means journalists have resorted to tracking his activity by assessing the wilting of the plants in his office.Credit...Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik

「Ruse」在英文中指「詭計」或「謀略」；它也常指二戰題材即時戰略遊戲《R.U.S.E. 心戰詭陣》，核心玩法是以心理戰和欺敵為主。 [1, 2, 3]

英文單字含義

定義：指企圖透過製造假象來誤導或欺騙他人的手段。
同義詞：包含 trick（詭計）、stratagem（謀略）、feint（佯攻）等。
常見搭配：ruse de guerre（意為「戰爭中的詭計」或兵不厭詐）