學了多年英語而留美的很多中國學子,以及真正與外國人做日常交流的中國人,往往會尷尬地發現,自己所說的並不是地道的英語,而是「中式英語」(Chinglish,指 Chinese English)。幾年前,一位自言在浙大當了五年英語外教的亞蘭森(Chuck Allanson)在大陸博客上發表了一篇對比中式英語與正宗英語表達的博文,至今廣為流傳,雖然不無爭議,但也有一些很值得參考。這裡以他的博文為參照,為讀者羅列15句常見的Chinglish,以及更標準的英語表達,相信會讓很多讀者會心一笑。
1. 價格挺合適/挺好的。
Chinglish: The price is very suitable.
English: The price is right. / The price is appropriate. / The price is good.
提示:suitable(合適的、相配的)最常見的用法是以否定的形式出現在告示或通知中,如:這部影片兒童不宜。This movie is not suitable for children.
2. 你是做什麼工作的呢?
Chinglish: What’s your job?
English: Are you working at the moment?
提示:前一種說法的語氣顯得生硬唐突,因為對方可能目前並未上班。後一種說法——「目前你是在上班嗎?」可以引出你要問的問題:目前你在哪兒工作呢?Where are you working at?/ Where do you work?或者:你從事哪個行業呢?What line of work are you in? / What type of work do you do?最簡單的問法當然還是:What do you do?
3. 用英語怎麼說?
Chinglish: How to say?
English: How do you say that in English?
提示:How to say 不是一個完整的句子,而是引領分句。同類的例子還有:請問這個單詞怎麼拼?How do you spell that please? 請問這個單詞怎麼讀?How do you pronounce this word?
4. 明天我有事。
Chinglish: I have something to do tomorrow.
English: I am tied up all day tomorrow.
提示:要表達脫不開身,可以說:I』m tied up. 或:I can』t make it at that time. I』d love to, but I can』t, I have to stay at home. 即明天不行啊,我很想去,但沒辦法,得待在家。
5. 我想我不行。
Chinglish: I think I can』t.
English: I don』t think I can.
提示:英語的表達習慣是,「我不認為我可以。」
6. 我的舞也跳得不好。
Chinglish: I don』t dance well too.
English: I am not a very good dancer either.
提示:表達不擅長做甚麼事情,英語裡面常用not good at something,或者直接說:我不是一個好的舞者。
7. 現在幾點了?
Chinglish: What time is it now?
English: What time is it?
提示:講英語的時候沒有必要說now。還有一種說法是:How are we doing for time? 意思是:How much time have we got left? Are we pressed for time? 即問:我們還有多少時間?
8. 我的英語不好。
Chinglish: My English is poor.
English: I am not 100% fluent, but at least I am improving.
提示:要說自己外語不好,外國人一般不用poor這麼重的詞,而是會說: I am still having a few problems, but I am getting better. / I am learning to be fluent, and I am making good progress!
簡單的說法則有:My English is not so good. 我的英文不太好。My English is pretty limited. 我的英文水平非常有限。
9. 你願意參加我們的晚會嗎?
Chinglish: Would you like to join our party on Friday?
English: Would you like to come to our party on Friday night? / Would you join us on Friday night?
提示:join往往是指和某個人群一起活動,或參加俱樂部、協會等組織,如:join a health and fitness club.(參加健身俱樂部。)常常與 party 搭配的動詞是 come 和 go。如:Please come to my birthday party.
10. 我沒有經驗。
Chinglish: I have no experience.
English: I don』t know much about that. 或:I am not an expert in this field.
提示:只需要說:那方面我懂得不多,或者這方面我不在行,就行了。
11.
——能請你幫個忙嗎?
——當然。
—Could you do me a favor?
Chinglish:
—Of course! / Certainly.
—English: Sure.
提示:以英語為母語的人很少使用 of course,只有在示意答案眾所周知時,才說 of course 或 of course not,隱含反詰的意思:「當然(不)是這樣啦!」certainly 一般用在句中作副詞,表示確知某事、確定會做。如:我肯定會再光顧那家旅店的。I』ll certainly stay in that hotel again.
請問 sure 和 certainly 兩個詞有區別嗎?當然有區別啦!Of course! There is certainly a difference between them!
12. 你覺得這個計劃如何?
Chinglish: How do you feel about the plan?
English: How do you like the plan?
提示:一般要問別人對某人或某事物的看法或意見時應該用 How do you like …? 或 What do you think of / about …? 這兩個句式才對。
當使用 think (of / about…) 這個動詞時,疑問詞要用 what 而不能用 how。例如:What do you think about the plan?
13. 我把午餐忘在家裡了。
Chinglish: I』ve forgotten my lunch at home.
English: I』ve left my lunch at home.
提示:forgotten中文是遺忘,但把東西落在某處,應該用 leave。或者只說:I forgot to bring my lunch. 我忘帶午餐了,就可以啦!
14. 祝你有美好的一天!
Chinglish: I wish you have a nice/good day.
English: Enjoy your day! / Have a wonderful day! / Have a good one! /Have a nice/good day!
提示:I wish you have a nice/good day. 是純粹的中式英語。在英語裡,wish 後面只需加名詞,即:I wish you a nice/good day. 不過,這個句式很古板,一般用於聖誕賀卡或節日歌詞,如:I wish you a Merry Christmas. 日常只說:Enjoy your day! Have a wonderful day! 而Have a nice/good day! 是美國店員向顧客標準的道別語。流行的美式道別語(也用作回應)則是:Have a good one!
15. 再見啦!
Chinglish: Bye-bye!
English: Bye. /See you. /Later. 或:I』ll see you later.
提示:「Bye-bye!」比較孩子氣,或帶調侃。
你知道嗎?
更多中式英語
1. 黃頭髮:在英語中是金髮,即 blond / blonde。
2. 真遺憾:It’s a pity. 是老式表達,更常用的是:That’s too bad. / It’s a shame.
3. 廁所:不說WC,一般常說 restroom。
4. 褲子:很少說大陸英語課本上的 trousers,通常說 pants 或 jeans(休閒褲、牛仔褲)。
英語的豐富性
英語表達力之豐富,從一句簡單的問候就可以看出:你好嗎?
How are you doing? How’s it going? 很普遍的問候語。回答一般是:Good. 甚或是:Awesome.(很棒。)
How are you (recently)? 你(最近)好嗎?很平常的詢問。
Everything ok? 都好吧?用於查問親友是否都好。
Are you ok? 不確定對方是否發生狀況,而關切詢問:你還好嗎?
Are you doing ok? 一般指工作、財務、課業或手頭正在做的事是否進展順利。
Have you been well? 用於詢問近期身體怎麼樣。