新概念英语口语宝典第一册 第68课:日本人的习惯

 　　Lesson 60 Possibility and Uncertainty¹

　　第60课 可能性和不确定性

　　A:How is your new job, Peter?

　　A：彼得，新工作还好吗？

　　B:Oh, working in international business is great. I meet and work with people from all over the world. It can be a bit frustrating² at times,though.

　　B：哦，做国际贸易棒极了，能和来自世界各地的人们结交共事。不过有时候也会让人有点挫折感。

　　C:How's that?

　　C：此话怎讲？

　　B:For example, when we work with Japanese businesses. It seems that they are very polite and friendly, but then they delay signing a contract for weeks.

　　B：比方和日商做生意吧。他们好像非常有礼貌，很友好，但又拖着几个星期不签合同。

　　A:Maybe they're trying to trick you.

　　A：他们可能耍什么伎俩吧。

　　B:I don't think so； they are very kind and honest.

　　B：我不这么想。他们很和气也很诚恳。

　　A:It could be that they just don't understand English very well.

　　A：或许他们听不大懂英语。

　　C:I worked in Japan for two years and I think I know what the problem is.

　　c：我在日本工作过两年，我想我知道是怎么回事。

　　B:Really? What is it?

　　B：是吗？怎么回事呢？

　　C:Well, Japanese people don't like to say "no". In their culture, it's considered very impolite. So they will try to agree to things, but then they must figure out a way to change things so that it can be acceptable³ to all involved. If you try to change the way you ask them questions, I'm certain you'll be able to communicate more effectively.

　　C：是这样，日本人不喜欢说“不”字。他们的文化认为说“不”很不礼貌，所以他们会尽量取得一致，但同时为了让大家都接受，他们得想办法做一些修改。如果你试着改变一下你问他们问题的角度，我肯定你们的沟通会更有效率。

　　B:Wow! I didn't know that. I understand now. Thank you. You two sure know a lot about this kind of thing. Maybe I'm not cut out for this job. Do you think I'll do alright?

　　B：哇！我从来不知道这些。现在我明白了。谢谢。你们在这方面懂得真多。也许我并不适合干这行。你们觉得我能干好吗？

　　C:I'm certain you will.

　　C：我确信你能干好。

　　A:I know you will too.

　　A：我也知道你能行。

1 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

2 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》

3 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。