学了多年英语的我们出国后往往会尴尬地发现,自己所说的并不是地道的英语,而是“中式英语”(Chinglish,指 Chinese English)。几年前在浙江大学任教的美国外教Chuck Allanson,把在中国五年任教期间所听到、所看到的各种Chinglish说法编写下来,至今广为流传。下面就来看看自己有没有说过类似的Chinglish吧!
No.1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!
提示: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,一般只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! 是北美店员向顾客标准的道别语。流行的美式道别语则是:Have a good one!
No.2这个价格对我挺合适的
Chinglish:The price is very suitable for me.
English:The price is right. / The price is appropriate. / The price is good.
提示:suitable的意思虽然也是“合适的”,但其最常见的用法是以否定的形式出现在告示或通知上,如:下面的节目不适合儿童(观看)。The following programme is not suitable for children.
No.3你是做什么工作的呢
Chinglish:What’s your job?
English:Are you working at the moment?What kind of work are you?
提示:what’s your job这种说法难道也不合适吗?是的。因为如果您的谈话对象刚刚失业枪哥无词英语怎么样:What's your job不礼貌?10大中式英语表达,你中枪了吗?,如此直接的问法会显得十分唐突失礼,所以应该说:目前您是在上班吗?Are you working at the moment?从而引出自己的问题:目前您在哪儿工作呢?Where are you working at?/ Where do you work?或者您从事哪个行业呢?What line of work are you in? / What type of work do you do?
No.4这个用英语怎么说
Chinglish:How to say?
English:How do you say this in English?
提示:How to say是最为泛滥的中式英语之一,这并不是一个完整的句子枪哥无词英语怎么样,也不是地道的英语说法。正确的说法是: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?
No.5明天我有点事
Chinglish:I have something to do tomorrow.
English:I am tied up all day tomorrow.
提示:I have something to do是“我有事情做”的意思,不能用来表示很忙,因为每时每刻我们都有事情要做,这也完全是中式的说法。所以可以说我脱不开身:I’m tied up. 或者:I can’t make it at that time. I’d love to, but I can’t, I have to do my homework. 我那时去不了。我很想去,但是不行,我得做作业。
No.6我的歌也唱的不好
Chinglish:I don’t sing well too.
English:I am not a very good singer either.
提示:当我们想表达不擅长做什么事情的时候,英语里面通常用not good at something,或者直接说:我不是一个好的歌手/舞者。
No.7现在几点了
Chinglish:What time is it now?
English:What time is it, please?
提示:What time is it now也是一个直接从汉语翻译过来的句子,问时间的时候没有必要说now,因为我们不可能问what time was it yesterday, 或者what time is it tommorow?所以符合英语习惯的说法是:请问现在几点了?还有一种说法是:How are we doing for time? 意思是:How much time have we got left? Are we pressed for time? 即问:我们还有多少时间?(用于时间紧迫时候)
No.8我的英语不好
Chinglish:My English is poor.
English:I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
提示: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. / I am learning to be fluent, and I am making good progress! 简单的说法还有: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。
No.9我没有经验
Chinglish:I have no experience.
English:I don’t know much about that.
提示:I have no experience也是一种中式表达,因为只需要说那方面我懂得不多,或者这方面我不在行枪哥无词英语怎么样,就可以了。比如:I am not really an expert in this area.
No.10能请你帮个忙么
—Could you do me a favor?
Chinglish:—Of course!/certainly.
English:—Sure.
提示:以英语为母语的人很少使用of course,只有在回答众所周知的问题时枪哥无词英语怎么样,才说 of course 或 of course not:“当然(不)是这样啦!”certainly 一般用在句中作副词,表示确知某事、确定会做。如:我肯定会再光顾那家旅店的。I’ll certainly stay in that hotel again.因此,of course带有挑衅的意味。在交谈时,用sure或certainly效果会好得多。
Tips: How are you?Fine, thank you. And you?是我们从小学到大的,那么有哪些句子可以替换这一相对正式刻板的说法呢?
How are you doing? How’s it going? 很普遍的问候语。回答一般是:Good. 或是:Awesome.(很棒)
How are you (recently)? 你(最近)好吗?很平常的询问。
Everything ok? 都好吧?用于查问亲友是否都好。
Are you ok? 不确定对方是否发生状况,而关切询问:你还好吗?
Are you doing ok? 一般指工作、财务、学业或手头正在做的事是否进展顺利。
Have you been well? 用于询问近期身体怎么样。