要不要上厕所?
(下午,在室里,谈话正好告一段落,也到了休息时间。提姆主任请张先生享用咖啡、蛋糕及点心。)
Tim: They just brought in refreshments. Please help yourself.
茶点已经准备好了,请用。
Mr.Zhang: Thank you.
谢谢。
张先生想在吃茶点前先去厕所,所以当提姆主任说:
Tim: Would you like to refresh yourself?
以为提姆再次请他去享用refreshments(茶点)的张先生说:
Mr.Zhang: Thank you, but before that I would like to go to the rest room.
谢谢,但是我想先去洗手间。
Tim: Of course. This way.
请往这边。
(提姆露出诧异的神色一边说着,一边告诉张先生厕所的位置。)
【Note】
“Would you like to refresh yourself?”、“Would you like to wash your hands?”与“Would you like to go to the rest room?”是同样的意思,乃委婉地表示“你想不想上厕所?”之意。它另外还有“一鼓作气”的含意。