实用办公室英语
1. I'm supposed to go on a diet/get a raise.
我应该节食/涨工资。
2. I'm afraid that it's not going to work out.
我恐怕这事不会成的。
3. Do you mind if I take tomorrow off?
你介意我明天请假吗?
4. It really depends on who is in charge.
那纯粹要看谁负责了。
5.I would rather not say.
别人问你不愿公开的问题,切勿用"It's my secret, don't ask such a personal question."回答,一来显得你没有个性,二来也让对方觉得你气短。你可以说"I would rather not say."(还是别说了吧)。
6.It's on the tip of my tongue.
有时候,你想说什么,可是想不起来,你可以说"Well…"、"Let me see."、"Just a moment."或"It's on the tip of my tongue."等。相比之下,最后一个句型是最地道的。
7. While I remember…
交谈时,你可能会转换话题,不要只说"By the way",实际上,"To change the subject"、"Before I forget"、"While I remember"、"Mind you"都是既地道又受欢迎的表达。
8. I got it.
遇到你不懂的问题时可别不懂装懂,"I know"可能是被中国人用得最多,而最不被美国人接受的一句话。当一个美国教师向你解释某个问题时,你如果连说两遍"I know",我敢保证他不会再跟你说什么了。用"I got it."就顺耳得多,要是不懂就说"I'm not clear about it."。不过如果你会说"It's past my understanding."或"It's beyond me.",你的教师一定会惊讶不已的。
下面我们再来看几句在办公室经常会用到的句子:
9. The meeting was scheduled for two hours, but it is not over yet.
会议原定两个小时,不过现在还没有结束。
10. Would you care to see it/sit down for a while?
你要不要看/坐一会呢?
11.You're in the pink!
要想说人气色好,"You look fine!"当然不错,可如果你说"You're in the pink!"就妙得多了。实际上,在英语口语中,巧妙使用一些表示颜色的词能使得句子非常形象生动。
12.He is bouncy.
要表达"他精力充沛",美国人通常说"He is bouncy." 而不说"He is energetic"。牢记一些日常对话中的句式是你生活中一把必备的钥匙,如:久仰,"I get mind of you."比"I heard a lot about you."轻松得多。
13.Did you get lost?
有人开会迟到了,你若对他说"You are late.",听起来像是废话。若说"Did you get lost?"则更能让他感到歉疚,可千万别说成"Get lost!",那可是让人滚蛋的意思。
14.Do you have the time?
别人征求你的意见,问能否开窗户等,你要是说"You can do that."就有点土了,用一句"Do you have the time?"就好多了。实际上,问他人的姓名、地址都可以这么用,"May I have your name?"要比"What's your name?"礼貌得多,不过警察例外。