如何在英語中「聽出弦外之音」——迷你英語微課：英語精讀講義

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

你知道有時候別人說一句話，其實指望你能聽出言外之意嗎？

Hello, is Sara there?

你好，Sara 在嗎？

Oh, oh,

噢，噢，

yes, she is.

是的，她在。

Okay, bye.

好的，拜拜。

Hello?

喂？

In today's mini English lesson,

在今天的英語微課中，

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

我們要聊聊人們言辭背後真正的含義。

When people expect you to read between the lines, 慣用語

當別人期望你能聽懂言外之意時，

it can be really difficult,

這可能會非常困難，

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

尤其是當英語是你的第二語言時。

So, let's dive in. 片語搭配

那麼，我們開始吧。

I'm going to share with you three tips

我將與你分享三個小技巧，

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

幫你解讀別人話語背後的含義。

Number one,

第一，

what's the means of communication? 用詞

溝通方式是什麼？

Is it on the phone?

是在打電話嗎？

Are you speaking in person,

你們是在親自交談，

face to face, 片語搭配

面對面，

or is it on a text message?

還是在傳訊息？

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

同一句話在不同語境下可能會有不同的意思。

For example,

例如，

if you're on the phone and you ask,

如果你在打電話並問，

"Is Sara there?" 語氣意圖

「Sara 在嗎？」

you probably want to speak to Sara.

你可能是想和 Sara 說話。

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

但如果你在傳訊息並說，

"Is Sara there?"

「Sara 在嗎？」

you could possibly be wanting to share a secret

你可能想分享一個秘密，

and you don't want Sara to know,

而且不想讓 Sara 知道，

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

所以你在確認她本人是否在那裡。

Tip number two.

技巧二。

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

說話的人是誰，他們是什麼關係？

Are they colleagues?

他們是同事嗎？

Are they partners?

是伴侶嗎？

Are they friends?

是朋友嗎？

Or maybe they don't even know each other.

或者可能他們互不相識。

Look at this conversation between two colleagues.

看看兩個同事之間的這段對話。

Ooh, uh it's a bit chilly in here. 講解

噢，呃，這裡有點冷。

Uh what does she need?

呃，她需要什麼？

Uh Ooh, I ooh.

呃，噢，我……噢。

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

我想她希望我把冷氣關掉。

Let's look at the same scenario, 表達脈絡

讓我們看看相同的場景，

but now between two partners.

但現在是兩個伴侶之間。

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

噢，呃，這裡有點冷。

It's chilly,

有點冷，

it's chilly,

有點冷，

it's chilly.

有點冷。

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

噢，我想她希望我對此做點什麼。

Uh I'd better give her my jacket. 文法

呃，我最好把我的外套給她。

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

如果你們是初次見面呢？

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

噢，呃，這裡有點冷。

It's chilly,

有點冷，

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

呃，噢，我想他們只是在找話聊。

Yeah, it is chilly in here.

是的，這裡的確很冷。

You're right.

你說得對。

Number three.

第三。

Understanding cultural differences.

理解文化差異。

In some cultures,

在某些文化中，

direct communication is preferred. 文化背景

較傾向於直接溝通。

But in some cultures,

但在某些文化中，

maybe indirect communication is used.

可能使用的是間接溝通。

And that could be difficult

這可能會很困難，

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

如果你來自一個習慣直接溝通的文化，

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

並且習慣於直截了當地表達你的意思。

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

想像一下，你看到有人提著個沉重的包很吃力。

A direct communicator might ask,

習慣直接溝通的人可能會問：

"Can I help you with this bag?" 語氣意圖

「需要我幫你拿這個包嗎？」

But someone from an indirect culture,

但來自間接文化的人，

when they see someone with a heavy bag,

當他們看到有人提著重重的包時，

they might say,

他們可能會說：

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

「噢，那個包看起來很重。」

To a direct communicator,

對於一個習慣直接溝通的人來說，

that might be confusing

這可能令人困惑，

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

因為他們可能認為對方只是在陳述事實。

But in indirect communication,

但在間接溝通中，

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

這裡的潛台詞是，如果你提出請求，他們很樂意幫忙。

So, remember,

所以，記住，

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

在許多英語系國家，

indirect communication is often used.

間接溝通經常被使用。

Remember not to take everything they say word for word. 慣用語

記住不要把他們說的每句話都照字面意思解讀。

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

要牢記他們來自的文化、

means of communication,

溝通方式，

and the relationship you have with them.

以及你和他們的關係。

But don't worry,

但別擔心，

if something is not clear for you,

如果有不清楚的地方，

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

不要害怕請對方澄清。

It's a bit stuffy in here, 語氣意圖

這兒有點悶，

you guys, don't you think? 講解

大家覺得呢？

Everyone, everyone,

各位，各位，

I think Serene is hot. 用詞

我想 Serene 覺得熱了。

we need to open the window.

我們需要打開窗戶。

Open the window now.

現在就把窗戶打開。

Yes.

是的。

Thank you.

謝謝。