Live互動英語雜誌  
 
  每月新書限時優惠
 
2014 年 01 月 17日 (No.650)
 
   
   
 
  ★這麼用...........................
  用於表示對方若不是太忙的話,可以一起來參與某個活動。
   
If you're not too busy, come with us to have a bite to eat.
  如果妳不忙的話,就過來跟我們吃點東西吧。
   
If she's not too busy, she can come with us to the park to have a picnic.
  如果她不忙的話,可以跟我們到公園野餐。
   
If John's not too busy, he can come with us to have Thanksgiving dinner.
  如果約翰不忙的話,他可以跟我們一起享用感恩節大餐。
   
If they're not too busy, they can come with us to have a look at our new house.
  如果他們不忙的話,可以跟我們到我們的新家看看。
   
  ★延伸應用..........................
   
Come with us to the theme park if you're not too busy.
  如果你不忙的話,就跟我們去主題樂園吧。
   
If you're not too busy, can you come with me to help me open a new bank account?
  如果你不忙的話,可不可以跟我到銀行,幫我開新帳戶?
   
  ★你知道嗎?.........................
 

各地的待客之道(hospitality)不同,尤其是東西方更大異其趣。如果你到日本人家家裡作客,主人會殷勤地招待你,但在美國的待客之道是讓客人覺得就像在自己家裡一樣,因此主人可能會遞上電視遙控器給你,告訴你冰箱的東西請自取等等。在美國南方,客人離開時主人還會說:Ya'll come back here real soon, you hear? 意思就是「歡迎再度光臨,把這裡當作是自個兒家。」

 
 
 
 
   
 
 

此為同意對方的說法,對於別人的意見我們不只聽到了而且認同時,就可以這麼說。

   
A: This is the best Mexican food I've ever had.
  這是我吃過最好吃的墨西哥食物了。
   
B: I hear you. I'm really impressed.
  我同意。我也覺得很棒。
   
  ★你還可以這麼說.......................
I agree.
  我同意。
   
I'm with you.
  我也是。
   
I feel the same way.
  我也這麼覺得。
   
I hear ya.
  我瞭。
   
Amen to that.
  我同意。
   
A: There's so much I want to do.
  有好多事我都很想做。
   
B: I hear ya. There's not enough time in a day.
  我瞭。一天的時間是不夠的。
   
A: Mr. Brown is the hardest teacher at the school.
  布朗老師是學校裡最嚴格的老師。
   
B: Amen to that, brother. I had him last semester and almost failed.
  我同意,老兄。上學期我修了他的課還差點被當。
   
  ★你知道嗎?.........................
  amen 即是禱告中會聽見的「阿門」。這個詞源自希伯來文,amen 除了有「同意、贊同」的意思之外,還有「是的、的確如此」之意,所以 amen to that 引申就有「我同意你說的;我贊成」的意思。
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
  ★大師開講..........................
   
  press 表示「壓;推」的意思,impress 為「im-(上方)+ press」,可從「重壓到裡面」聯想為「使銘記;使留下……印象」。另外,pressure(壓力)也是很常見的字。
   
  ★必學應用字彙........................
   
  compress v. 壓縮;濃縮
Large computer files can be compressed to save memory space.
 
大的電腦檔案可以壓縮以節省記憶體空間。
   
  depress   v. 使沮喪;蕭條
She has dark thoughts when she is depressed.
  她沮喪時就會有負面的想法。
   
  express  v. 表達;表露 adj. 快速的 n. 快遞;特快車
Steve expressed his disappointment in the meal.
  史帝夫表達他對餐點的失望。
   
  oppress  v. 壓迫;壓制
The government was criticized for oppressing the minority group for years.
  該政府因為長年壓迫少數團體而飽受批評。
   
  repress  v. 壓抑;鎮壓
Eric is a very repressed man, so don't expect him to tell you how he feels about you.
  艾瑞克是內歛的人,所以別期望他會告訴你他對你的感覺。