礼节美语 Business Etiquette 157 Kickbacks (1)

　　项目主管Donny急冲冲地来找老板Simon.
Donny: Simon, there's something we need to talk about.
Simon: Go ahead, shoot.
D: I think maybe we better step into your office. It's a bit of a sensitive issue.
S: Oh, sure. Come on in. What's on your mind?
D: You know that project we have in the south of the country?
S: Do you mean the new processing plant we're building?
D: Yes. I'm afraid we've run into a couple of setbacks.
S: Oh? What's the problem?
Donny有事找Simon, 但是不方便在外面谈，说we better step into your office，最好去你办公室谈。原来是他们在南方兴建的加工厂遇到了麻烦。Donny说，we've run into a couple of setbacks. Run into something， 是遇到的意思，setback¹, 意思是挫折。
D: I just got a call from the on-site manager and he says the local area's building inspector² says our building is not up to code.
S: But that's impossible! I personally made sure that we followed all relevant local laws and I even insisted on a better standard than the code requires! How can this be?
D: Well sir, the on-site manager says the real problem is that we need to grease the wheels. In other words, there's nothing wrong with the building, the inspector just wants a kickback³.
原来，问题出在当地检查施工建筑的官员身上。他为了拿回扣，kickback, 居然说Simon公司的建筑not up to code. 不符合建筑规格。这里的code, c-o-d-e, code 指政府关于建筑标准的法规。按Donny的话说，要想达标也不难，we need to grease the wheels. grease is spelled g-r-e-a-s-e, grease. Grease，是上油的意思，wheels是车轮的意思，给车轮上油，引伸为让事情进行得更顺利。
S: I see. Hmm...this is frustrating⁴.
D: On the one hand, the inspector is not asking for very much, a couple of thousand dollars will make this problem go away. But on the other hand, bribery⁵ is illegal.
S: Bribery is certainly illegal, but even more important for me personally, it's immoral⁶. I've always tried to do the right thing in my business dealings and it's important to me that I run a clean shop.
Donny说，一方面，几千美元就能解决问题，make the problem go away, 让这个问题消失；但另外一方面，行贿是非法的, bribery is illegal. Simon说，行贿不仅非法，更重要的是，他个人认为这样做是不道德的，it's immoral. Simon还说，自己做生意一概奉公守法，努力run a clean shop. 这里的clean指正派的，遵纪守法的，shop 在口语里可以用来泛指生意、公司、店铺等等。Simon最终会让步吗？我们下次继续听。

1 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

2 inspector   

n.检查员，监察员，视察员

参考例句：

• The inspector was interested in everything pertaining to the school.视察员对有关学校的一切都感兴趣。
• The inspector was shining a flashlight onto the tickets.查票员打着手电筒查看车票。

3 kickback   

n.酬金；佣金，回扣

参考例句：

• Mike got a kickback from a merchant.麦克从商人那里得到了回扣。
• The company had to kickback a lot to the corrupt officer.这家公司必须给腐败的政府官员很大一笔佣金。

4 frustrating   

adj.产生挫折的，使人沮丧的，令人泄气的v.使不成功( frustrate的现在分词 )；挫败；使受挫折；令人沮丧

参考例句：

• It's frustrating to have to wait so long. 要等这么长时间，真令人懊恼。
• It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience. 那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 bribery   

n.贿络行为，行贿，受贿

参考例句：

• FBI found out that the senator committed bribery.美国联邦调查局查明这个参议员有受贿行为。
• He was charged with bribery.他被指控受贿。

6 immoral   

adj.不道德的，淫荡的，荒淫的，有伤风化的

参考例句：

• She was questioned about his immoral conduct toward her.她被询问过有关他对她的不道德行为的情况。
• It is my belief that nuclear weapons are immoral.我相信使核武器是不邪恶的。