当想用英语表达“给你”的时候,相信很多同学会脱口而出“give you”,其实这是典型的中式英语。
英语中,give you后面一般都要加上一个具体的东西,一般是不会单独使用的。
比如:
I can give you some apples.
我可以给你一些苹果。
“给你”地道的说法其实我们小学都已经学过,应该是
“Here you are”或“Here you go”。
例如:
Can I eat now?
我现在能吃吗?
Here you are.
给你。
Here you go,ma‘am. This is your boarding pass.
给您,太太。这是您的登机牌。
在跟老外交流的时候,我们讲的很多英语其实并不地道,在浙大当了5年英语外教的亚兰森(Chuck Allanson)曾经在网络上发表了一篇中式英语与正宗英语表达的博文,有很多值得我们参考的地方。
01你是做什么工作的呢?
Chinglish: What‘s your job?
English: Are you working at the moment?
What‘s your job这种说法会稍显生硬唐突。如果谈话对象刚刚失业,这样直接的问法会让对方有失面子,大家可以这样问:目前你是在上班吗,Are you working at the moment,接下来可以问:目前在哪儿工作呢,
Where are you working these days,或者从事哪个行业呢,What line of work are you in,顺带说一下,回答这类问题时不妨说得具体一点,不要只是说经理或者秘书。
02我很喜欢它。
Chinglish: I very like it.
English: I like it very much.
这个很典型,就不多做解释了。
03价格挺合适/挺好的。
Chinglish: The price is very suitable.
English: The price is right/reasonable.
suitable(合适的、相配的)最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知中。
This movie is not suitable for children.
这部影片儿童不宜。
04用英语怎么说?
Chinglish: How to say in English?
English: How do you say this in English?
How to say 不是一个完整的句子,而是一个分句。
同类的句子还有:
How do you spell that please?
请问这个单词怎么拼?
How do you pronounce this word?
请问这个单词怎么读?
05明天我有事情要做。
Chinglish: I have something to do tomorrow.
English: Sorry but I am tied up all day tomorrow.
用 I have something to do来表示自己脱不开身,这也是中国式的说法。因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,躺在那里睡大觉也是事情。
大家要表示自己忙,脱不开身,可以这样说:I‘m tied up.
或者:I‘m afraid I can‘t make it at that time. I‘d love to, but I can‘t,I have to stay at home.
06我的英语很糟糕。
Chinglish: My English is poor.
English: I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
有人开玩笑说,全中国人最擅长的一句英文是:My English is poor.
要说自己外语不好,外国人一般不用poor这么重的词,而是会说:
I am still having a few problems, but I am getting better.
简单的说法则有:
My English is not so good. 我的英文不太好。
My English is pretty limited.我的英文水平非常有限。
07我没有经验。
Chinglish:I have no experience.
English:I am afraid I don‘t know much about that.
I have no experience这句话听起来也会怪怪的,大家只需要说:那方面我懂得不多。
或者:
I am not really an expert in this area.
这方面我不在行。
08他的身体很健康。
Chinglish: His body is healthy.
English:He is in good health.
English: He‘s healthy.
09价钱很昂贵/便宜。
Chinglish: The price is too expensive/cheap.
English: The price is too high/ rather low.
10祝你有美好的一天!
Chinglish: I wish you have a nice/good day.
English: Enjoy your day! / Have a wonderful day! / Have a good one! /Have a nice/good day!
I wish you have a nice/good day. 是纯粹的中式英语。在英语里,wish 后面只需加名词,即:I wish you a nice/good day.
不过,这个句式很古板,一般用于圣诞贺卡或节日歌词,
如:I wish you a Merry Christmas.
日常只说:Enjoy your day! Have a wonderful day!
而Have a nice/good day!是美国店员向顾客标准的道别语。
流行的美式道别语(也用作回应)则是:Have a good one!
11 你觉得这个计划如何?
Chinglish: How do you feel about the plan?
English: How do you like the plan?
一般要问别人对某人或某事物的看法或意见时应该用 How do you like …? 或 What do you think of / about …? 这两个句式才对。当使用 think (of / about…) 这个动词时,疑问词要用 what 而不能用 how。例如:What do you think about the plan?
12 我把午餐忘在家里了。
Chinglish: I‘ve forgotten my lunch at home.
English: I‘ve left my lunch at home.
forgotten中文是遗忘,但把东西落在某处,应该用 leave。
或者只说:
I forgot to bring my lunch.
我忘带午餐了。
就可以啦!