不給死線,又不失承諾
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禮貌拒絕給明確時間/期限,但仍給出承諾
「I cannot give you a timeline or date」語法沒錯,但太直白、有點防衛。母語者會用更圓滑的緩衝句型,先擋掉承諾期限、再遞出替代保證,聽起來更專業有掌控感。
I'm not in a position to commit to ___, but I can assure you that ___.
「我目前沒辦法答應___,但我可以向你保證___。」用來禮貌擋掉硬承諾,同時給對方一個實質的替代保證。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- I'm not in a position to commit to a specific date, but I can assure you that we'll move the moment the data supports it.
- I'm not in a position to commit to a firm timeline, but I can assure you that the team is treating this as a priority.
- I'm not in a position to commit to numbers today, but I can assure you that the full breakdown will follow after this call.
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把對方的問題重新框成幾個關鍵點,講清楚重點
學生常寫成「The important thing is...」這種生硬開頭。抽出這個「先報數量、再列點」的母語句型,可讓報告與答問更有條理、更好跟。
What's critical here is ___: namely, ___.
「這裡的關鍵在於___,也就是___。」用來把重點框起來、明確點出核心,讓聽者一聽就知道你要講幾件事、哪幾件。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- What's critical here is three things: namely, cost, timing, and ownership.
- What's critical here is the sequence: namely, we lock the scope before we touch the budget.
- What's critical here is one question: namely, whether the client can sign off by Friday.
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提出擔憂/點出風險訊號
名詞化的「clear indication of problems」偏生硬,像翻譯腔。母語者提出擔憂時會用更口語的「這是一個訊號,顯示...」句型,語氣更自然也更精準。
That's a clear sign that ___, which is exactly what worries us about ___.
「這明顯是一個訊號,顯示___,而這正是我們對___擔心的地方。」用來點出警訊並直接表達擔憂,比乾巴巴的名詞化說法更有人味也更清楚。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- That's a clear sign that liquidity is tightening, which is exactly what worries us about the current setup.
- That's a clear sign that the numbers were too optimistic, which is exactly what worries us about the timeline.
- That's a clear sign that the two teams aren't aligned, which is exactly what worries us about the launch.
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禮貌把發言權交給別人/指定負責人回答
「I'll offer the floor to」語意沒錯但略顯正式生硬。母語者在會議上把問題丟給指定的人時,會用更順的交棒句型,同時說明為什麼是他來答。
I'll hand this over to ___, since ___ is closest to it.
「這個我交給___來說,因為___最熟這塊。」用來自然地把問題交棒給指定負責人,並順帶說明他是對的人選,聽起來有條理又有分工感。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- I'll hand this over to my colleague, since she is closest to it.
- I'll hand this over to the point person, since she is closest to it.
- I'll hand this over to my colleague, since he is closest to it.
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對照過去 vs 現在、講清楚差異
名詞片語接在句子後面,結構鬆散、像逐字翻譯。母語者做前後對比時會用更清楚的「當時是...,現在則是...」平行句型,對比一目了然。
Back then, ___; now, by contrast, ___.
「當時是___;相較之下,現在則是___。」用來做前後對比,平行結構讓差異講得乾淨俐落,比鬆散的名詞片語專業得多。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- Back then, inflation was already at six percent; now, by contrast, we're starting from around two.
- Back then, we were flying blind on the data; now, by contrast, we have real-time trackers.
- Back then, the labour market was overheating; now, by contrast, it's solid but not hot.
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事先設下前提/提醒對方在下結論前注意某事
把兩個意思硬塞在一起,結構怪。母語者要提醒對方「解讀資料前先記住一件事」時,會用清楚的先設前提句型,避免對方誤讀。
Before you draw any conclusions, please bear in mind that ___.
「在你下任何結論之前,請記住___。」用來在對方解讀資料或做決定前先設好前提、預防誤讀,語氣禮貌但有份量。
聽真人怎麼講 (YouGlish)- Before you draw any conclusions, please bear in mind that these scenarios don't factor in future policy moves.
- Before you draw any conclusions, please bear in mind that the numbers are provisional.
- Before you draw any conclusions, please bear in mind that this only covers the first quarter.
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