1.After you.你先请。
这是一句很常用的客套话,在进/出门,上车得场合你都可以表现一下。
2. I just couldn't help it.我就是忍不住。
想想看,这样一个漂亮的句子可用于多少个场合?下面是随意举的一个例子:I was deeply moved by the film and I cried and cried. I just couldn't help it.3. Don't take it to heart. 别往心里去,别为此而忧虑伤神。
生活实例:This test isn't that important. Don't take it to heart.4. We'd better be off.我们该走了。
It's getting late. We'd better be off .5. Let's face it. 面对现实吧。
常表明说话人不愿意逃避困难的现状。
参考例句:I know it's a difficult situation. Let's face it, OK?6. Let's get started.咱们开始干吧。
劝导别人时说:Don't just talk. Let's get started.7. I'm really dead.我真要累死了。
坦诚自己的感受时说:After all that work, I’m really dead.8. I've done my best.我已尽力了。
9. Is that so?真是那样吗?常用在一个人听了一件事后表示惊讶、怀疑。
10. Don't play games with me!别跟我耍花招!11. I don't know for sure.我不确切知道。
Stranger:Could you tell me how to get to the town hall?Tom: I don't know for sure. Maybe you could ask the policeman over there.12. I'm not going to kid you.我不是跟你开玩笑的。
Karin:You quit the job? You are kidding.Jack: I'm not going to kid you. I'm serious.13. That's something. 太好了,太棒了。
A: I'm granted a full scholarship for this semester.B: Congratulations. That's something.14. Brilliant idea!这主意真棒!这主意真高明!15. Do you really mean it? 此话当真?Michael:Whenever you are short of money, just come to me.David: Do you really mean it?16. You are a great help.你帮了大忙17. I couldn't be more sure. 我再也肯定不过。
18. I am behind you.我支持你。
A: Whatever decision you're going to make, I am behind you.19. I'm broke.我身无分文。
20. Mind you!请注意!听着!(也可仅用Mind。
)模范例句:Mind you! He's a very nice fellow though bad-tempered.21. You can count on it.你尽管相信好了,尽管放心。
A:Do you think he will come to my birthday party?B: You can count on it.22. I never liked it anyway.我一直不太喜欢这东西。
当朋友或同事不小心摔坏你的东西时就可以用上这句话给他一个台阶,打破尴尬局面:Oh, don't worry. I'm thinking of buying a new one. I never liked it anyway. 23. That depends.看情况再说。
例:I may go to the airport to meet her. But that depends.24. Congratulations.恭喜你,祝贺你。
25. Thanks anyway.无论如何我还是得谢谢你。
当别人尽力要帮助你却没帮成时,你就可以用这个短语表示谢意。
26. It's a deal.一言为定Harry:Haven't seen you for ages. Let's have a get-together next week.Jenny: It's a deal许多中国人爱用俗语、成语、俚语。
由于中美两国文化、风俗、思想、习惯的差异,如果照字直译,或把单字「堆在一起」,老外听了,也许就会「满头雾水」、「迷迷糊糊」,成了他们所说的「只有你们中国人听得懂」的「中国英文」(Chinese English)。
在此,把一些常见的中文俗语与一般老外的说法相对比较,或许可供有兴趣的读者参考。
1. 人山人海:有人直译为:People mountain people sea.这就是「中国英文」,老外很难理解。
他们指「人多」时,通常只说:「There is a large crowd of people.」如果看到电影院门前大排长龙,也只说:「There is (was) a long movie line.」不过在诗词用语(poetic expression) 里,老外也有使用:「a (the) sea of faces」,颇有咱们「人山人海」的味道。
例如:Looking out upon the sea of faces, Mr. A delivered a touching speech.(望着一片人山人海的听众,A先生发表一篇动人的演说。
)Standing at his podium, President Clinton saw a sea of faces waving at him.(柯林顿总统站在讲台上看到人山人海的人群挥手向他致意。
)可见,说话者通常要在台上或高处,才有「人海」的感觉。
因此,可以说:I saw a sea of faces from the top of the building. 但在平地的人群中,就不说:「I saw the sea of faces.」也不说:「There is a sea of faces.」只说:「I saw a large crowd of people.」2. 家家有本难念的经:有人译成:Every family cooking -pot has a black spot. (意思是:每个家庭的锅子都有黑色的污点)这样说法,老外恐怕不能充分了解。
不过老外最常的说法是:Many families have skeletons in the closet. (许多家庭的衣柜里都有骨骸) (骨骸就是指家丑)或者说:Every family has its own source of shame. (每个家庭都有自己的丑事)说白些,就是:Every family has its own problem.3. 天下无不散的宴席:有人直译为:There are no feasts in the world which do not break up at last.老外听后,也许很难体会其中意义。
如果按照美语说法,也许更易理解:All good things come to an end. (意思是:所有好的事情,总有结束的一天。
)假如是指好友最后也有分别的一天,那么可以说:Eventually, all bosom friends will drift apart. (bosom friend 是指知心的好友)4. 平时不烧香,临时抱佛脚:有人照字直译为:When times are easy, we do not burn the incense,but when the trouble comes, we embrace the feet of the Buddha.这种说法,老外也会「一知半解」。
美语里一般说法是:Worship God every day; not just in times of adversity. (要每天敬拜神,不是只在困难时。
)对学生也可以说:If you study hard every day, exams will not seem overwhelming. (如果你每天用功,考试就不会形成压力。
)5. 挂羊头,卖狗肉:有人照字直译为:He advertises mutton, but sells dog's flesh. 或He hangs up a sheep's head at the shopfront and sells dog meat.这两种译法,恐怕老外都难理解,尤其谈到「狗肉」,他们更会「反感」,因为狗是他们最爱的宠物,不过老外倒有相近的说法:He applied bait-and-switch factics in business. (他经商的策略是先引诱顾客来,再改变货物的品质。
)(Bait-and- switch 当名词用) (也可不用连字号)This store uses bait and switch policy.或者简单的说:Let the buyer be aware! (让消费者提高警觉) ; 或Say one thing and do another.6. 一言既出,驷马难追:有人译成:One word lets slip and four horses will fail to catch it. 或 A statement that once let loose cannot be caught by four galloping horses.这两种说法,中文味道嫌重,老外未必理解。