Remember Your Manners
注意礼节
如果你忘了该怎么说会委婉些,那就不要开口。如果你已经说出口,那就解释一下,他们会理解你不是有心的。
下面,我们来看看那些粗鲁的说法以及婉转的表达方法,以后就要注意自己的用词了。
1. It's none of your business.
不关你的事。
当你拒绝朋友或同事的询问时,最好不要用上面的说法。因为有时他人是出于热情或礼节,太过直白的拒绝会曲折了他们的好意。你可以说Sorry, it's not relevant to you. 或者Sorry, It's private. I can't talk about it. 都能避免双方不必要的尴尬。
2. I'm done with you.
就到这里吧。
在与人共事时,如果工作告一段落,千万不要高兴得忘乎所以,随便开口说I'm done with you。虽然done with也是结束的意思,但是指人与人关系的了断。所以I'm done with you.就是说“我和你断交了。”
OK, we're finished here. 或者You can go, thanks.都是不错的工作结束语。
3. Shut up.
别说了。
如果你需要独处安静的环境,可不要轻易地说shut up,这样会显得你很粗鲁。在很多情况下,人们会用quiet代替shut up,表达自己想要他人闭嘴的请求。有时说Can you be a little quieter? 抑或是OK, that's enough.更能有效地使周围安静下来,而不像shut up那样引起矛盾、冲突。
4. You need to leave now.
你该走了。
如果朋友来访,不巧你又很忙,在短暂寒暄后,你是不是很想脱口而出You need to leave now?这时你可以说It was nice meeting you. take care.要么就说I'm very sorry. I've no time free at the moment. Goodbye. 你的朋友都会理解你的。
When It's Too Late
亡羊补牢
有时,我们只有在木已成舟的时候才意识到自己的鲁莽。那么有没有补救的办法呢?你可以试着用下面的句子解释自己的有口无心。
1. I'm sorry, that didn't come out the way I meant it.
2. Please excuse my English; I still have a lot to learn. I didn't mean to be rude.
3. Oops, that's not the right way to say that, is it? I apologise. Damn my English!
4. I'm so embarrassed! That's not the correct way to say what I wanted to say.
5. It's rude to say that? I'm very sorry. I didn't realize. English isn't my native tongue. Please accept my apologies.
Softening a Sentence
如何说得婉转?
在表达辣评的时候,不要把话说得太无情,下面的修辞可以使你的口气不那么生硬。
1. I hope you can understand, but …
... I hope you can understand.
【例句】Ben, it's none of your business. I hope you can understand.
2. I don't mean to be rude, but …
【例句】I don't mean to be rude, but that was a little dumb.
3. Please don't take offense, but …
【例句】Please don't take offense, but you need to leave now.
但如果人们认定你就是毒舌的时候,怎样的粉饰都不可能掩盖你的鲁莽。
