赴海外出差,或是接待海外來訪的同事,如果問How long will you live here?(要在這里住多久?)雖然外國人腦筋轉(zhuǎn)個彎也聽得懂,但力求精準會更好。以下列舉幾個與出差有關(guān)的錯英文的例子:
1 要在這里住多久?
(×)How long will you live?
這種短暫的“住”不是live,而是stay。這句話可以說成:
(○ )How long are you staying ?
(○ )How long will you be staying ?
2 我想拜訪約翰遜先生。(在柜臺前和服務(wù)人員的對話)
(×)I would like to visit Mr. Johnson.
(○ )I am here to see Mr. Johnson.
visit和see都有“探望、拜訪”的意思,如果是計劃拜訪某人,你可以說:I plan to visit some potential clients next week.但已經(jīng)到門口,事先已經(jīng)預約好的,用see比較自然。
3 我要到新加坡出差。
(×)I am going on a business trip to Singapore.
(○ )I'm going to Singapore on business.
出差的英文是go on a business trip,沒錯,但英文習慣先講重點,到新加坡出差是重點,所以應該說go to Singapore on business。
4 你不知道,這次出差行程安排得有多緊湊。
(×)You don't know how busy the schedule is for this business trip.
(○ )You don't know how tight the schedule is for this business trip.
人很忙碌用busy,行程很緊湊用tight。
5 我以前從沒來過這里。
(×)I have never been here before.
(○ )I had never been here.
既然用here,表示我們?nèi)艘欢ㄔ谀莾海髅魅艘呀?jīng)在那兒又說沒有到過,有點兒矛盾。這時候只要用過去完成時,表示以前沒來過就合理了。