第三招 誠實的你
Honesty
美國詩人桑迪斯說過,“誠實是高貴得以發(fā)展的萌芽”( Honesty is the germ from which all growth of nobleness proceeds.)。世間還有什么品德是比誠實更可貴的呢?世間還有什么樣的人會比誠實者更受人信賴呢?蕭伯納認為,“說謊者所受到的懲罰絕不是沒有人相信他,而是他不會相信任何別人”(The liar's punishment is not that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.)。
Key Words
關(guān)鍵詞
actually, confess, direct, fact, frank, frankly, honest, sincere, straight, true, truth
The Most Common Expressions
最常用表達法
Actually, it is all my fault.
實際上,都是我的錯。
As a matter of fact, I know nothing about literature.
事實上,我對文學一竅不通。
OK, I'll tell you what. It is I who wrote the anonymous letter to the headmaster.
好,我告訴你怎么回事,給校長的那封匿名信是我寫的。
To tell you the truth, I don't have the slightest interest in your proposal.
坦率地說,我對你的提議沒有絲毫興趣。
I'm afraid I have some bad news. The doctor told me that your chances of recovering are slim.
我有些壞消息要告訴你,醫(yī)生告訴我說你痊愈的可能性極小。
I hope you don't mind my saying so, but that's a terrible dress you're wearing!
希望你不要介意我的話,可你這身衣服真是糟透了!
I'm embarrassed to say this, but I forget your name.
真不好意思,但我確實不記得你的名字了。
I'm sorry, but I have to say that I don't get your point at all.
抱歉,不過我得說,我一點兒也不懂你的意思。
I promise I'm telling the truth.
我保證,我說的是實話。
[ 模仿最準確、發(fā)音最到位、速度最流利;“三最一口氣”背誦記錄時間:45〞]
The Informal Expressions
非正式場合表達法
To be frank, even though I'm trying my best, I cannot do it.
坦白講,盡管我盡自己的最大努力,也還是做不到。
To be honest, this poem of yours is the worst I've ever read.
說老實話,你這首詩是我讀過的最糟的詩。
I understand what you're saying, but I must disagree.
我明白你所說的,但我不能同意。
I wish you were right, but I'm afraid you're not.
我希望你是對的,但恐怕事與愿違。
I've kept nothing from you. I give you my word.
我對你毫無隱瞞,我保證。
I swear I'm not telling a lie.
我發(fā)誓,我沒有撒謊。
I've got to apologize to you. I broke your favorite vase just now.
我得向你道歉,我剛才把你最心愛的花瓶打碎了。
I'm not exactly sure how to put this but I have read your diary. I know I don't have the right to do so, but I was so curious that I couldn't help reading it.
我不知道該怎樣說才好,我看了你的日記。我知道我沒權(quán)利這樣做,但我就是太好奇了,忍不住要去看。
Um, this isn't easy to explain. I'm not going to work today. In fact, I haven't been to the office in two weeks because I was laid off. For the past two weeks, I leave home every morning as usual because I don't want you to be worried.
嗯,這挺不好說的。我今天不上班。實際上,我這兩個星期就沒上過班。我下崗了。這兩個星期,我早上照常出去是因為我不想讓你擔心。
[ 模仿最準確、發(fā)音最到位、速度最流利;“三最一口氣”背誦記錄時間:50〞]
The Formal Expressions
正式場合表達法
I hope you will not feel offended, but I really don't agree with you.
我并不想得罪你,但我確實不能同意你的看法。
I don't honestly think that opera is particularly enjoyable.
說實在的,我覺得歌劇并不是很有意思。
To be quite frank with you, I do not appreciate your way of handling the dispute.
坦白告訴你,我不欣賞你這種處理爭端的手法。
If I am to be completely honest with you, I must admit that there is risk in any course we may take.
如果要我對你說老實話,我必須承認,無論我們采取什么步驟都會有風險。
What is the truth? The truth is that our company is faced with a serious crisis, which will lead to bankruptcy within a month.
實情是什么?實情就是,我們公司正面臨嚴重的危機,一個月之內(nèi)就會破產(chǎn)。
I intended to find some clues to prove myself innocent. That was all I intended. I never did intend to spy on any of your secrets.
我想找到一些線索以證明我的清白,僅此而已,我并沒有任何刺探機密的意思。
We lag far behind them in strength, even with the advantage of mental quality.
盡管在心理素質(zhì)上有優(yōu)勢,但我們的實力較他們?nèi)韵嗖钐h。
[ 模仿最準確、發(fā)音最到位、速度最流利;“三最一口氣”背誦記錄時間:51〞]
Dialogue
對話
A: I'm afraid I have something to tell you. It's hard to say, but I read your diary the other day.
恐怕我有些事情要告訴你,不過這很難開口,有一天我看了你的日記。
B: You did? How dare you!
你看了我的日記?你怎么敢?
A: Well, it was by chance. You put your diary on the desk and I couldn't help being curious about it.
嗯,那純屬偶然。你把日記本放在桌上,我控制不住我的好奇心。
B: I hate you!
我討厭你。
A: Oh, don't say that. I didn't mean to. I could have concealed my misbehavior but since you're my best friend, I have to be honest with you. To tell you the truth, I wish I hadn't done that.
噢,別這么說。我不是有意那么做的。我本可以不告訴你,但你是我最好的朋友,我必須坦誠相待。說真心話,我真希望我沒那么做。
Sentence Structures
增值句型
[句型1]
To put it bluntly…
例:To put it bluntly, I think you have made a complete mess of things.
恕我直言不諱,你把事情搞得一團糟。
[句型2]
To tell it as it is...
例:To tell it as it is, the situation is not promising at the moment.
實話實說,此刻的情形不容樂觀。
[句型3]
To be candid…
例:To be candid, I don't like your way of behaving.
老實說,我不喜歡你的行為方式。
[句型4]
Personally…
例:Personally, what you said just now is sheer fantasy.
就我個人而言,你剛才所說的話簡直就是天方夜譚。
[句型5]
I must confess…
例:I must confess I didn't believe you at first.
必須承認,起初我并不相信你。
Useful Phrases
表達口頭禪
Let's be honest here.
讓我們開門見山吧。
Take my word for it.
相信我的話。
Trust me.
相信我。
I should be the one to apologize.
應該道歉的是我。
Sorry, my mistake.
對不起,我搞錯了。
I can't say that I share with your view.
我不能說我贊同你。
This may hurt you but I must say it.
這也許會傷你的心,但我非說不可。