Business Etiquette 礼节美语 第007讲

Ann. 陈豪去年大学毕业以后，就到北京的美国ABC公司工作。今天他去出席了一个午餐会以后回到公司，还没有走进自己的办公室，就被同事Mary叫住了。

(Office ambience)

M: Hey, Chao Hao, I need to talk to you。

C: What's wrong?

M: Did you offer John in the Technology Department a ride to the lunch today?

C: (恍然大悟) 哎哟，我忘得一干二净了。

M: He waited a long time for you today!

C: 啊呀，害他等我半天。Oh dear, what should I do?

M: Find him immediately and apologize!

C: 你说什么？Apologize?

M: Apologize, A-P-O-L-O-G-I-Z-E， 就是道歉！

C: 我可不能对他说我忘了，总得找个理由吧！

M: 不要找出种种理由来解释。 It's always best to be truthful¹ and sincere when you apologize。

C: 也是。要道歉嘛还是老老实实，找借口让人听起来不诚恳。好，我这就去找John。

******

C: 行了，没事了。

M: 你跟他道歉了？

C: 不，John已经走了，我给他写个email就行了。

M: 写email 不太好。Email is too impersonal² when you need to ask forgiveness。你要道歉最好还是当面说好，更正式一些。

C: 那，我给John的手机打个电话，好吗？这样不是又快，又能直接讲话嘛！

M: That's a good idea。

(Making cell phone call)

C: Mary, John没接电话，所以我给他留了言，说今天忘了带他去午餐会，我感到很抱歉。这下总算结束了这件事。I'm glad that's over。

M: Over? No way! 留个言就算完啦？不行， 你得做得更慎重一些。

C: 哎，我去找他，他不在。我打手机，他不接。我留了言，道了歉。这还不行呀？

M: 你最好今天在他桌上留个条。亲自写个条表示道歉会让他感到你很有诚意。要更地道的话，你还可以给他留个小礼物。A small gift as a sign of your sincerity³。

C: 我哪知道他喜欢什么呀？

M: 他喜欢看篮球。

C: OK, I have an idea! 我去买两张篮球比赛的票。我跟他一起去.....当然，要是他不再生我气的话。

M: Great! So remember: when you make mistakes, the best thing is to apologize immediately. When a verbal apology is not enough, write a note and give a small gift.

C: 知道了，知道了。我这就去买票。谢谢Mary.

M: You're welcome!
 

1 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

2 impersonal   

adj.无个人感情的，与个人无关的，非人称的

参考例句：

• Even his children found him strangely distant and impersonal.他的孩子们也认为他跟其他人很疏远，没有人情味。
• His manner seemed rather stiff and impersonal.他的态度似乎很生硬冷淡。

3 sincerity   

n.真诚，诚意；真实

参考例句：

• His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
• He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。