【大家说英语】 第350期:支付账单(1)

 　　What are you looking at, Alex? 阿莱克斯，你在看什么？

　　I am looking at my power bill. I think. 我在看我的电费账单。我想应该是吧。

　　What do you mean? 你指的是什么意思？

　　Well, I don't understand this bill. 我看不明白这个账单。

　　Let me help you. What don't you understand? 我来帮你吧。你不理解什么？

　　When is it due¹? And how do I pay it? 什么时候缴款到期？我要如何支付呢？

　　Let's see. Hmm... It tells you right here. 让我看看。恩，就在这里啊。

　　In Taipei, I never have a problem with bills. 在台北，我从来没遇到过账单的问题。

　　Really? How do you pay them? 真的吗？你是怎么支付的呢？

　　You go to a convenience² store. 你可以去便利商店。

　　Well, you can't usually do that here. 在这里你通常不能这么做。

　　I know. That's my problem. 我知道。这就是我遇到问题。

　　That's not your only problem. How old is this bill? 这不仅仅是你的问题。这个账单有多久了？

　　I don't know. Why? 我不知道。怎么了？

　　You didn't pay this bill on time. It's overdue³! 你没有及时支付这份账单。已经过期了！

　　Oh, no! 哦，不！

　　You have to pay this bill today. 你今天必须要支付这份账单了。

　　Is it that bad? 情况这么糟糕？

　　Yes. The electric company might turn off your power. 没错。电力公司可能会断掉你的电的。

　　But without power, I can't cook. 但是没有电，我就没法做饭了。

　　So pay the bill. Do it today. 所以要支付账单啊。今天就付。

　　How can I pay it today? 我今天要怎么支付？

　　You can go to the power company's office at lunch. 吃午饭时你可以去电力公司办公室。

　　OK. I can do that. 好的。这我做得到。

1 due   

n.应得物；adj.预定的，应付的，到期的，应有的

参考例句：

• I received nothing except what was due to me.除了我应得的东西，我并未接受任何东西。
• The rocket is due to lift off at noon on Friday.火箭定于星期五中午发射。

2 convenience   

n.便利，方便，有益，有用的，方便的用具、机械、安排等

参考例句：

• Come by to pick me up at your convenience.在你方便的时候来接我。
• Please reply at your earliest convenience.请在您方便时尽早答复。

3 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。