With apologies, you admit to doing something to upset another person.如果你做出道歉,那就表示你承認(rèn)自己做了某些打攪到別人的事。
Apologies can be informal:
Sorry一詞比較口語,多用于非正式化的道歉,例如:
I am sorry that I was late.對不起我遲到了。
I shouldn't have done that. Sorry, I'll never do it again.我不該做出那種事的。對不起,以后不會了。
Apologies can be formal:
Apology(名詞)以及apologize(動詞)常用于正式化的道歉,例如:
I do apologize for this interruption, Mr Jones.很抱歉打斷你了,瓊斯先生。
Mr Jones sends his apologies for not attending the meeting.瓊斯先生為不能出席會議致歉。
Things to say with apologies:
?、俳忉屧颍?/p>
We apologize for the delay, which has been caused by a traffic jam.很抱歉,我們因為堵車而延誤了時間。
I'm sorry about my homework, Ms Li, the dog ate it.李老師,對不起我沒交作業(yè),它被狗吃掉了。
?、?表示并非有意而為之:
I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up.對不起,我不是故意吵醒你的。
可以用提問的方式:
Oh, I'm so sorry. Are you ok? 噢對不起,你沒事吧?
Sorry I'm late. Were you waiting long? 對不起我來晚了,等很久了嗎?
也可以用感嘆句:
Oh no! I do apologize. Let me help you pick it up.噢不!非常抱歉,我?guī)湍銚炱饋戆伞?/p>
?、?插入一些詞加強道歉的語氣:
I'm sorry.
I'm very sorry.
I'm really very sorry.
I'm really so very sorry.
I'm really so very sorry indeed.
I apologize.
I do apologize.
I do most sincerely apologize.
I do most sincerely and abjectly apologize.
Excuse me
We say Sorry because we feel bad that someone is upset. We Excuse me if we think we are about to upset someone.因為打攪到別人而難過,我們說Sorry;因為將要打攪到別人,我們說Excuse me。例如:
Excuse me, do you have the time? 對不起,能占用你一點時間嗎?
另外可以用please來加強語氣,例如:
Excuse me please, I need to get off.對不起(讓一下),我要下車。
* 這里要說明下,在Sorry和Excuse me的使用上,英英和美英是有區(qū)別的:
英國人很喜歡用Sorry,所以有時他們會用Sorry代替Excuse me,例如:I'm sorry, but do you think you could move your car?
而美語中則可以用Excuse me表示Sorry的意思,例如:Excuse me, I didn't see you there。
又如,當(dāng)你沒有聽清或理解別人的話時,英國人用"Pardon?"或者"Sorry?";美國人則用"Pardon?"或者"Excuse me?"。
二、Not really apologizing 看似道歉非道歉
?、?道歉是為了攻擊:
有時人們在發(fā)起攻擊性言論前會先說句道歉,有時他們跟你說對不起其實是說你應(yīng)該向他們道歉。例如:
Excuse me, you are sitting in my place.不好意思,你坐的是我的位子。
如果是真的道歉,那么所使用的語調(diào)應(yīng)為降調(diào),所以如果你聽到的"sorry"是升調(diào),那就表示對方是在攻擊你;另外,非道歉的道歉常常會加上一個but,例如:
I'm sorry, but you will have to leave.不好意思,但你必須離開。
?、诘狼甘菫榱艘鰤氖拢?/p>
I'm sorry, your car needs expensive repairs.抱歉,你的車修理起來要很多錢。
I'm sorry to say he won't pass the exam.抱歉,我不得不說他考試肯定不及格。
③ 道歉只是表示遺憾:
Sorry一詞不一定表示道歉,有時它只表示遺憾、悲嘆、懊悔。你希望某些已經(jīng)發(fā)生了的事從未發(fā)生,所以你說Sorry。例如:
I'm sorry to hear about your accident.聽說你出了事故我很難過。
I feel sorry for people with no homes.我為那些沒地方住的人感到悲哀。
對于Sorry的兩種意思,我們可以通過丘吉爾在國會上致歉時說的一句妙語來感受下,你能讀出其中的雙重含義嗎:You say that I called you an idiot. It is true and I am sorry。
答案:【此句中的"It"和"sorry"都可以有2種理解,于是就可以得到2句意思完全不同的話:a.你說我把你叫做白癡,確有此事,我對我所說的表示道歉。b.你說我把你叫做白癡,你確實就是個白癡,我為你感到難過?!?/p>