如何在英语中“听出弦外之音”——迷你英语微课：英语精读讲义

You know when people say something and they expect you to understand more than just their words? 表達脈絡

你知道有时候别人说一句话，其实指望你能听出言外之意吗？

Hello, is Sara there?

你好，Sara 在吗？

Oh, oh,

哦，哦，

yes, she is.

是的，她在。

Okay, bye.

好的，拜拜。

Hello?

喂？

In today's mini English lesson,

在今天的英语微课中，

we're going to talk about what people really mean beyond the words they use.

我们要聊聊人们言辞背后真正的含义。

When people expect you to read between the lines, 習語

当别人期望你能听懂言外之意时，

it can be really difficult,

这可能会非常困难，

especially if you're learning English as a second language. 用詞

尤其是当英语是你的第二语言时。

So, let's dive in. 短語搭配

那么，我们开始吧。

I'm going to share with you three tips

我将与你分享三个小技巧，

to help you decode the meaning behind what people say. 短語搭配

帮你解读别人话语背后的含义。

Number one,

第一，

what's the means of communication? 用詞

沟通方式是什么？

Is it on the phone?

是在打电话吗？

Are you speaking in person,

你们是在亲自交谈，

face to face, 短語搭配

面对面，

or is it on a text message?

还是在发短信？

The same sentence can mean different things in different contexts. 表達脈絡

同一句话在不同语境下可能有不同的意思。

For example,

例如，

if you're on the phone and you ask,

如果你在打电话并问，

"Is Sara there?" 語氣意圖

“Sara 在吗？”

you probably want to speak to Sara.

你可能是想和 Sara 说话。

But if you're sending a text and you say,

但如果你在发短信并说，

"Is Sara there?"

“Sara 在吗？”

you could possibly be wanting to share a secret

你可能想分享一个秘密，

and you don't want Sara to know,

而且不想让 Sara 知道，

so you're checking if she's physically there.

所以你在确认她本人是否在那里。

Tip number two.

技巧二。

Who are the people speaking and what's their relationship? 語氣意圖

说话的人是谁，他们是什么关系？

Are they colleagues?

他们是同事吗？

Are they partners?

是伴侣吗？

Are they friends?

是朋友吗？

Or maybe they don't even know each other.

或者可能他们互不相识。

Look at this conversation between two colleagues.

看看两个同事之间的这段对话。

Ooh, uh it's a bit chilly in here. 講解

哦，呃，这里有点冷。

Uh what does she need?

呃，她需要什么？

Uh Ooh, I ooh.

呃，哦，我……哦。

I think she wants me to turn the air conditioning off. 短語動詞

我想她希望我把空调关掉。

Let's look at the same scenario, 表達脈絡

让我们看看相同的场景，

but now between two partners.

但现在是两个伴侣之间。

Ooh, uh it's a bit chilly in here.

哦，呃，这里有点冷。

It's chilly,

有点冷，

it's chilly,

有点冷，

it's chilly.

有点冷。

Ooh, I think she wants me to do something about that. 短語搭配

哦，我想她希望我对此做点什么。

Uh I'd better give her my jacket. 語法

呃，我最好把我的外套给她。

What about if you're meeting someone for the first time? 表達脈絡

如果你们是初次见面呢？

Ooh, uh it's a bit chilly in here.

哦，呃，这里有点冷。

It's chilly,

有点冷，

uh ooh, I think they're just making conversation. 短語搭配

呃，哦，我想他们只是在找话说。

Yeah, it is chilly in here.

是的，这里确实很冷。

You're right.

你说得对。

Number three.

第三。

Understanding cultural differences.

理解文化差异。

In some cultures,

在某些文化中，

direct communication is preferred. 文化背景

更倾向于直接沟通。

But in some cultures,

但在某些文化中，

maybe indirect communication is used.

可能使用的是间接沟通。

And that could be difficult

这可能会很困难，

if you're coming from a culture that uses direct communication

如果你来自一个习惯直接沟通的文化，

and you're just used to saying what you mean. 語法

并且习惯于直截了当地表达你的意思。

Imagine you see someone who is struggling with a heavy bag. 短語搭配

想象一下，你看到有人提着个沉重的包很费劲。

A direct communicator might ask,

习惯直接沟通的人可能会问：

"Can I help you with this bag?" 語氣意圖

“需要我帮你拿这个包吗？”

But someone from an indirect culture,

但来自间接文化的人，

when they see someone with a heavy bag,

当他们看到有人提着重重的包时，

they might say,

他们可能会说：

"Ooh, that looks like a heavy bag." 語氣意圖

“哦，那个包看起来很重。”

To a direct communicator,

对于一个习惯直接沟通的人来说，

that might be confusing

这可能令人困惑，

because they might think that they're just stating facts. 語氣意圖

因为他们可能认为对方只是在陈述事实。

But in indirect communication,

但在间接沟通中，

there's an implication here that they're happy to help if you ask. 講解

这里的潜台词是，如果你提出请求，他们很乐意帮忙。

So, remember,

所以，记住，

in a lot of English-speaking countries, 文化背景

在许多英语国家，

indirect communication is often used.

间接沟通经常被使用。

Remember not to take everything they say word for word. 習語

记住不要把他们说的每句话都按字面意思理解。

Keep in mind the culture they come from, 短語搭配

要牢记他们来自的文化、

means of communication,

沟通方式，

and the relationship you have with them.

以及你和他们的关系。

But don't worry,

但别担心，

if something is not clear for you,

如果有不清楚的地方，

don't feel afraid to ask for clarification. 短語搭配

不要害怕要求对方澄清。

It's a bit stuffy in here, 語氣意圖

这儿有点闷，

you guys, don't you think? 講解

你们觉得呢？

Everyone, everyone,

各位，各位，

I think Serene is hot. 用詞

我想 Serene 觉得热了。

we need to open the window.

我们需要打开窗户。

Open the window now.

现在就把窗户打开。

Yes.

好的。

Thank you.

谢谢。