按照漢語的語用習(xí)慣,問對方忙不忙是有求于對方的一種“先行詞”,英語問別人“Are you busy?”更多是表示關(guān)心的一種方式。不過也有老外在請你幫忙前會先問你忙不忙的。
有求于人時用什么話開始好呢?其實(shí)可以開門見山地說“Mr. Lee, could you do me a favor?”或者“I wonder if you could do me a favor?”注意,用過去時要比用現(xiàn)在時客氣得多;再客氣一點(diǎn),還可以說“I had been wondering if you could help me.”或“I beg a favor of you.”頗有點(diǎn)官腔。
很正式的請求用語以前還有“May I venture to ask you for a favor?”或“Please excuse me to make bold to ask you to do me a favor.”這些用法顯得有點(diǎn)迂腐,現(xiàn)在已沒有人這樣說了。如果只是想問個問題,耽誤對方幾分鐘,也可以說“Could you spare me a few minutes, Mr. Lee?”
上面這些都是比較正式的請求,更正式的書面語可以說“We / I would be very much obliged if you could/would…(很有點(diǎn)“萬分感激”的意思)”如果是很熟的朋友之間,可以用比較隨便的口氣,如:Be a sport and lend me a hand(這里sport意為“氣量大度的人”),請別人幫忙還可以說“Would you give me a hand?”(問異性Would you give me your hand? 則是求婚。)
至于向陌生人問時間,可以說“Excuse me, but could you tell me what time it is now? ”現(xiàn)在英語也趨向于簡單明了,很少說“Would you be kind enough to tell me the time?”一類的話了。
親們,即使出國旅游向外國人問路,也不會擔(dān)心被人拒絕,相反他們會認(rèn)為你很有素養(yǎng)、很有文化!