世界公民文化中心
)I'll see / walk you to the door.
事前告知,用excuse me:Excuse me for a moment.(容我失陪一下。)事后告知,用sorry:Sorry for the delay.(抱歉事情延误了。)
)I read it in the newspaper.在报纸上读到某则新闻用read,不用saw。还有,为什么是in the newspaper,不是用on呢?因为on是表面,in是里面,你读新闻当然是读内容、内涵,所以是用in。
)She married late in life.年纪大了才结婚,我们会用late in life
Don't leave the office in a mess.out of order是指东西坏了,不能用于搞得乱七八糟这样的状况,要用leave… in a mess才正确。
(○)I make a lot of phone calls.打电话要用make phone calls
)Is there any room for me in the car?room和place都有空间的意思。room有两层含义:一是“房间”,很具体;二是“空间”或“余地”,比较抽象。可构成make room for,意思是“给……让出地方”。place是指“场所”或“位置”,是可数名词,常用的词组有take one's place(就座、入席); in place是指在适当的位置。
)I didn't catch that.
;No sweat表示“没问题”,跟No problem用法和意思都差不多。
The cold doesn't bother me.
○)I am here to see Mr. Johnson.visit和see都有“探望、拜访”的意思,如果是计划拜访某人,你可以说:I plan to visit some potential clients next week. 但已经到门口,事先已经预约好的,用see比较自然。
(○)I'm going to Singapore on business.出差的英文是go on a business trip,没错,但英文习惯先讲重点,到新加坡出差是重点,所以应该说go to Singapore on business。
(○)You don't know how tight the schedule is for this business trip.人很忙碌用busy,行程很紧凑用tight。
(○)I had never been here.既然用here
1谢谢,欢迎再度光临(×)Thank you. Welcome again.(○)Thank you. Please come again.
3你们开店到多晚?(×)When is your restaurant closed?
(○)How late are you open?
4我点的菜还没上。
(○)My order hasn't come yet.
2我们公司有12个员工。(×)Our company has twelve employees.(○)There're twelve employees in my (our) company.用英文表达人或物“存在”,应该用there is / are的句型;has / have是变成具体“拥有”,例:I have two kids, a son and a daughter.(我有两个孩子,一儿一女。)
(○)I'm not feeling well.
(○)This price is too high!指产品本身太贵,可用expensive,例:This computer is too expensive.(这部计算机太贵)。但若句子中有price / cost / fee等表达价格之意的词,就应该用high或low来形容高或低。
(○)I gave her a book.馈赠对方礼物,多半用give(送、给)做动词,send比较像是以邮寄或快递方式送货。
○)My supervisor left for Japan this morning.解析:从原本的所在地动身前往另一个目的地,可以说go to或者leave for,配合这两个动词使用的介词请勿混淆。例:We are leaving for New York next Monday.(我们将在下周一启程前往纽约。)
(○)This is not a good / big salary to me.解析:中文说“高”薪,但英文要用good salary或big salary。例:A good salary is very important to job satisfaction.(高薪对工作满意度至关重要。)
(○)I am a store keeper. Here's my business card.解析:boss是一种“职位”称呼,要向人介绍自己的“职业”是店老板,应该说store keeper。另外,名片的正确用词是business card,name card比较像是指印上名字的员工识别证。
(○)eat soup还有一个也容易错,喝汤要用eat soup或have soup。“喝汤”让人联想成drink soup,其实是错的,稀稀水水的东西才用喝的,而外国人喝的汤多半比较浓稠,像玉米浓汤、蛤蜊浓汤,基本上是用“吃”的。
(○)Please help yourself.一起用餐,是礼貌性邀请别人享用,我们会说:“请用餐吧!”有些人直接英译就说Please eat。首先,这句话有点儿像是命令人吃;其次,eat这个词是吃的动作,表达太直白了,可以用Please help yourself,这句话就像是中文的“不用客气,请你自己来”。
(○)Congratulations on your promotion!虽然for有表明原因的意思,如Thank you for helping me out,但“恭喜别人”的congratulations后面须用on,再加上原因。注意congratulations是复数。这句也可说成更简单的Congratulations! You got promoted!
(○)His hard work has gained the recognition of the boss.这个词recognition(认可、赏识),在英文注重时态的逻辑里,需要用到完成时has gained,来清楚表达“老板目前已认可此人的表现”。
3 Helen is not worried about the exam; it was a piece of cake for her.a piece of cake这个俗语是指一件事很容易办成;
(○)My computer crashed. crash原本有“冲撞”“坠毁”之意。如果只是计算机死机,你也可以很简单地说My computer is not working。
(○)It was nearly 10:00 am, but only I had got down to work. get down to work的意思是“以严正的态度开始认真工作”,这是
make it最常发生在医院急诊室。 例: I'm sorry. She didn't make it.(很遗憾,她没有撑过去。)
英文的recent或recently,指的是从以前到现在的一段时间,多用于现在完成时或过去式,
(○)I am going to move in two months. “in+一段时间”表示未来一段时间内,例:I'll be there in 5 minutes。(我5分钟之内会到。)
(○)We are looking forward to hearing from you. 这句话在E-mail文末最常出现,look forward to是“期待”之意,其中的to是介词,后面须接动名词或名词。
○)Thank you for all the good advice you have given here. advice是“忠告、建议”,是不可数名词,不管有多少忠告,都是advice,不加s。
(○)With reference to our recent discussion, I would like to demonstrate this new model for you. with是介词,后面须接名词,所以refer须更正为reference。
(○)Do those foreign workers have the necessary expertise to produce our products? “专门技术”的英文是expertise; experience指的是“经验”,两者请勿混淆。
但英文的逻辑严谨,job是一个“东西”,而职位像engineer、teacher、secretary、manager、director指的是“人”,两者不对等。因此要说成: (○)I'm an engineer. (○)I'm a teacher. (○)I'm a product manager.
今天的工作很忙,听起来似乎有道理,但很忙的其实是人,不是工作。你可以说I'm busy with work,语法没错,但较少听到外国人这么说,他们更常说的是It's a busy day。
换房间,你可以说change rooms,从这一间到那一间,所以是复数。换工作呢?最简单的当然是change jobs,也可以用career move或career change。
4 We are open around the clock. 这句话真正的意思是24小时营业,around the clock是日夜不停的,像时钟一样,有人会误以为这是指准时营业。其实准时营业应该是We open on time。
I have no idea,意思是“没有答案”,
变成I have no ideas,就变成了“没主意,还没想好,无法做决定”。
近几年来流行的智能手机叫smart phone,相对于智能手机而言,功能性手机就叫作feature phone,
○)R&D 在研发部门工作,研发英文是research and development,简称R&D。我
safari这个词的本意指打猎、冒险,特别是指在非洲草原上打猎、冒险式的旅行,也是苹果计算机开发的浏览器名字。它的重音在第二个音节。重音念错了完全像另一个词suffering,意思是吃苦,差别很大。
(○)[pə'ræmətɚ] 这个词一般人不那么常用,但工程师常用,意思是“参数”,重音在第二个音节,不要变成了para+meter。
7 Uber, Kinect, Amazon, app, Skype 叫车服务Uber,这个词其实是一个德文词,发音比较接近“呜ber”,不是you ber。
app是[æp], Skype是[skaip],这两个单词念错的人很多。
蛇snake [snek]是双元音,念起来像ei, i的声音一定要出来;零食snack [snæk]是短元音。
警察police, p后面的o轻念,以[s]的清音结尾,念成[pə'lis];请please[pliz], p的后面直接带过去,与l连在一起,以[z]的音结尾。
飞机上/船上aboard [ə'bɔrd],登机证叫boarding pass / card;国外abroad [ə'brɔd],其中的road有道路的意思,道路通往国外,可以这么记。
13 employer vs employee 雇主/老板employer,很多人会自动省略掉y的发音,直接念成emplore,这是错误的读法,应该念成[ɪm'plɔɪɚ]。员工employee,注意第一个e的发音是[ɛ],重音在尾音,念成[ˌɛmplɔɪ'i]。
15 analyze vs analysis 动词analyze(分析),重音在第一音节,念成['ænəˌlaɪz]。 名词analysis(分析),重音在第二音节,念成[ə'næləsɪs]。
26 half (×)h-a-l-f 正确念法:[hæf] 往往一看到这个词,便不多想地念成h-a-l-f,这么一来,就跟字意一样,只对了“一半”。第三个字母l不需出声,念成h-a-f。
27 receipt (×)recei-p-t 正确念法:[rɪ'sit] p在这里不用发音。
英文里很多成语(idioms)、俚语(slang)、词组(phrases), 每个词都认得,整句连起来,却与字面意思天差地别; 这些英文讲错了,弦外之音会让人尴尬、会错意,甚至招来麻烦。 从熟悉的简单词句中,学习“第二个意思”及应用情境, 事半功倍,展现最自然的英文表达。
○)How do you think of my performance? feel会让人误解,以为是男女之间喜不喜欢对方的那种感觉,如果你要问一个人对某事情的“感觉”,应该用think of。
(○)My memory is getting worse.
(○)He's so fun. funny也不见得不好,但意思是很搞笑、滑稽。fun和funny都可以当形容词。fun意为“有趣的、愉快的、好玩的”,而funny意为“有趣的、滑稽的、好笑的”; fun是令人愉快的事物或喜欢与之相处的人,funny是令人发笑或逗趣的人或事物。
4 You can say that again! (×)你可以再说一遍! (○)你讲的没错! 有些人听到外国人说You can say that again,以为是要他再说一遍,于是照做,有点儿糗。这句话在英文里的意思是,你说对了。
1 That does it!是“搞定了”,也是“受够了”
Take it easy! I will call you tomorrow.(保重!我明天会打电话给你。)这里是指,双方道别时,请对方凡事小心、多珍重。
Let's stay in the ballgame! Don't be distracted by the minor details.(大伙专心干活吧!别被不重要的小细节分散注意力了。)
1 a babe in arms 扶不起的阿斗 解析:babe(注意!不是“baby”)在这里解释为“天真,不谙世故而易受骗者”,如同“襁褓中的婴儿”。
There's a saying, “Two heads are better than one.” You may consult others when making big decisions.(有句话说:“三个臭皮匠胜过一个诸葛亮。”当你做重大决定时,不妨咨询他人。)
out to lunch是俚语用法,意指疯狂或心不在焉,摆明是在教训别人。 例: It seems that you were out to lunch in class. (你上课时似乎心不在焉。)
confidence是“自信、信任”没错,但confidence man却是俚语用法,专指诈骗钱财的骗子或欺诈者。 例: We finally realized that he was a confidence man. (最终我们发现他是个骗子。) “有自信的人”正解:I am a confident man.
1 You're not even close! (×)你还没有关门。 (○)你还差太远。
in good hands是指“被可靠的人所照料”,如:David is an experienced tour guide. We are in good hands.(大卫是位有经验的导游,我们是被可靠的人所照料。)
4 Knock it off ! (×)敲敲门。 (○)别闹了。
Why don't you ask Bill? He knows the company inside out.(为何不去问比尔呢?他对那间公司了如指掌。)
Let's complete the task successfully.(让我们完成这项工作吧。) Good call!(我赞成!)
In order to save my parents' face, I have to tell a white lie.(为了顾全父母的面子,我必须撒一个善意的谎言。)
4 save the situation 挽救情势、渡过难关 例: We are giving ground under the fierce attacks. Reinforcements are needed immediately to save the situation.(我们在猛烈的攻击中节节败退,需要立即增援来解除危机。)
3 I am with you. (×)我和你一起。 (○)我支持你。 如果要表达I support you、I agree with you、I am on your side,更口语的讲法就是I am with you。
There's a saying “, No pain, no gain.” Therefore, I brace my heart to prepare for tomorrow's presentation.(有道是:“没有付出,就没有收获。”因此我打起精神准备明天的简报。)
What else is new?那有什么稀奇的?
常用在商场交涉的过程中,有“拖延时间、争取时间”的意思。例:They are trying to buy time by prolonging the negotiations.(他们尝试以延长谈判过程来拖延时间。)
字典对hello的解释很有趣:hello:“an expression used to indicate that the speaker thinks his or her listener is naive or slow to realize something.”
A:I just got a job as a Japanese translator.(我刚找到日语翻译的工作。)B:Hello! You don't speak Japanese.(有没有搞错!你根本不会说日语。)
发展成现在我们熟悉的hello,其实是爱迪生的功劳。据说这位大发明家为节省时间,总是拿起话筒就简单地说句hello。此后,崇尚简洁的美国人就一直将它沿用下来,并作为见面的问候语。hello可用作名词,是“打招呼、致意”的意思:
My uncle knows a thing or two about doing business.
可是know a thing or two实际的意思却是“知道很多、见多识广、很有能力”。因此,上述这个例句就应该理解为“我的叔叔很会做生意”。
1We enjoyed your company. 我们很谢谢有你陪伴。解析:上述英文句的原意是客气地感谢对方善尽陪伴之谊,相当于It's been our pleasure(深感荣幸)。就company而言,“陪伴”大概是继“公司”之后,最常使用的意思。
He is slow of understanding.(他理解力较差。)He is so slow that I have to explain everything several times.(他太迟钝,我得解释好几遍。)
Be slow to promise but quick to practice.(承诺可慢,实践要快。)
great job、well done、nice work这几句
中文以人为本,主观色彩浓郁,主语大部分是人。西方文化中强调客观,于是有很多句子以物为主语。习惯说中文的人,讲英文的时候,其实要经过一道结构转换,才能把语言弄顺,调出英文味。怎么调,我们来看一些例子:
1我花了一个小时才到你办公室。你会说:I spent one hour getting to your office.改成:It took me one hour to get to your office.花一段时间做某事,可以用spend或take,但意思不太一样。假如花的时间是我们可以控制的,那主语是人,动词用spend。例:I'llspend two weeks in Tokyo.如果事情无法人为控制,而且这件事本来就要这么久,那主语是事,动词用take。
2我突然想到个好点子。你会说:I suddenly think of a good idea.改成:A good idea occurred to me.“想到”,很多人脑海中浮现的第一个英文单词就是think, occur则是“发生”或“某事被某人想起”,不是刻意去想而想到,而是这事就突然出现在脑子里。
改成:Chances favor the minds that are prepared.“机遇”才是重点,所以要当主语。
4不知怎么了,我一时想不起她的名字。你会说:I don't know why but I don't remember her name.改成:Her name, for some reason, escapes me for the moment。她的名字才是重点,不说“我想不起来”,而说“名字突然溜掉”。
(自以为是)Actually, you can do this under menu tools.(其实,你可以在设置菜单“工具”选项下这么做。)(客气有礼)Sure thing, you can do this under menu tools.(当然,你可以在设置菜单“工具”选项下这么做。)第一句话暗示对方想错了,第二句却是先肯定他,再带出主要信息,是不是让人舒服多了
You always do…(你总是……)You never do…(你从来都不……)always和never是破坏人际关系杀伤力最大的武器。这两种说法大部分都是过度夸张情绪,只会引起争执,请直接删除。
2I'll walk you out. 我送你出去。送到门口也可以用see / walk:I'll see / walk you to the door.
4你是开玩笑的吧。(×)You are crazy.(○)You can't be serious.当你极不认同对方的想法或提议时,请把心中暗骂的“发神经”换成口中的“开玩笑”,听起来比较和缓。