目前你是在上班吗?“Are you working at the moment?”在得到肯定回答后,接下来你再问:目前你在哪儿工作呢?“Where are you working these days?”或者你从事哪个行业呢?“What line of work are you in?”这样既避免了尴尬,又问得明白。
用英语怎么说?
误:How to say?
正:How do you say this in English?
点评:“How to say”是在中国最为泛滥成灾的中国式英语之一,这只是中国的地道英语说法,但它绝对与老外的说话方式搭不上一点边儿。
同样的句子有:请问这个词如何拼写? “How do you spell that please?”请问这个单词怎么读? “How do you pronounce this word?”
明天我有事情要做。
误:I have something to do tomorrow.
正:I am tied up all day tomorrow.
点评:只有中国人才用I have something to do来表示很忙,老美根本就不知道还有这种用法!因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,用鼻子喘气、躺在那里睡大觉都是事情。所以如果你想表示自己很忙,脱不开身,可以用:“I’m tied up.”其他的说法即:“I can’t make it at that time. I’d love to, but I can’t, I have to stay at home.”