Jay: So, I've heard traf? c in Taiwan is a little crazy.
Catherine: I hate to say it, but that's a bit of an understatement.
Jay: Oh no, really !?
Catherine: No, just kidding... It's actually not that bad,
especially here in Taipei.
Jay: When is it the worst?
Catherine: During rush hours, of course.
Jay: Thanks, good to meet you, too.
Jay: What's best to take at those times?
Catherine: You had a long ? ight, you must be tired.
Catherine: Uh, doesn't matter much. You're going to be
Jay: Yes, and the food was horrible!
waiting in line and getting squished no matter
Catherine: what!Oh, sorry to hear that. But, don't worry! Taiwan
has plenty of great things to eat. First, let's get
Jay: Oh, sounds great!
ay: Great! How will we be getting there?
杰: 我聽(tīng)說(shuō)臺(tái)灣的交通有點(diǎn)糟。
Catherine: 凱瑟琳: 喔,我實(shí)在不想說(shuō)破,但這樣形容有點(diǎn)太客氣了。My car is in the parking lot, let's go this way. Let
杰: 喔, 不會(huì)吧?!me help you with your bags.
凱瑟琳: 沒(méi)有啦,開(kāi)玩笑的。其實(shí)沒(méi)有那么嚴(yán)重,尤其是在臺(tái)北。
杰: 什么時(shí)候情況最糟呢?
凱瑟琳: 當(dāng)然是尖峰時(shí)刻啰。
杰: 這些時(shí)段搭什么交通工具最好?
凱瑟琳: 這個(gè)嘛……其實(shí)沒(méi)什么差別。不管搭什么,你都得在大排
隊(duì)長(zhǎng)龍中等待,在人群中擠來(lái)擠去。
杰: 哇,聽(tīng)起來(lái)還“真不賴”。
單詞與短語(yǔ)
understatement 不充分的陳述 the worst 最糟糕的
rush hour 上下班尖峰時(shí)間 to get squished 被擠扁
1. I hate to say it …
我不想這樣說(shuō)……/我不想說(shuō)出來(lái)……
此句通常用于要抱怨某事之前,或者宣布一件壞消息之前;但也可以用
來(lái)開(kāi)玩笑,比如此對(duì)話當(dāng)中的用法。
近義用語(yǔ) I hate to break it to you...
我不想說(shuō)破……
Sorry to inform you...
很抱歉通知你……
2. That's a bit of an understatement.
那樣說(shuō)有點(diǎn)太客氣了。
這是一個(gè)慣用的俚語(yǔ),當(dāng)你認(rèn)為他人對(duì)于某事物的評(píng)價(jià)或描述低于實(shí)際
情況時(shí),就可以這么說(shuō)。
近義用語(yǔ) Yeah, you can say that again.
是啊,你說(shuō)的一點(diǎn)也沒(méi)錯(cuò)。
That's putting it lightly!
這樣說(shuō)有點(diǎn)太過(guò)了!
通運(yùn)輸相關(guān)用法 Saying that some Americans are overweight is a bit of
an understatement!
有些美國(guó)人過(guò)度肥胖這個(gè)說(shuō)法有點(diǎn)兒太客氣了。
George Bush tends to understate the need for a new
economic plan.
布什對(duì)于新經(jīng)濟(jì)計(jì)劃需求的說(shuō)法太保守了。
3. Uh, doesn't matter much.
Jay: Thanks, good to meet you, too.
喔,沒(méi)什么太大的差別。
Catherine: You had a long ? ight, you must be tired.
此句通常用以表示某件事在任何情況下都不會(huì)有太大的差別,并不會(huì)造
Jay: Yes, and the food was horrible!
成任何嚴(yán)重的后果;也可以用以表示深深的遺憾。
Catherine: 近義用語(yǔ) It doesn't make much difference what you take.Oh, sorry to hear that. But, don't worry! Taiwan
不管你搭什么車都沒(méi)什么太大的差別。
has plenty of great things to eat. First, let's get
It doesn't really make a difference what you take.
you to the hotel.
不管你搭什么車都沒(méi)什么太大的差別。
Jay: Great! Which one you take is of little signiHow will we be getting there? ? cance.
不管你搭什么車都沒(méi)什么太大的差別。
Catherine: My car is in the parking lot, let's go this way. Let
相關(guān)用法 It doesn't matter much what I do; she doesn't love me
me help you with your bags.
anymore.
我做什么都沒(méi)有用了,因?yàn)樗辉賽?ài)我了。
At this point, it doesn't matter much if I do a good job;
I'm already ? red.
此時(shí)不管我是否把工作做好都無(wú)所謂了,因?yàn)槲乙呀?jīng)被炒魷
魚(yú)了。