谈话时突然想到另一件事为了转变话题常用“By the way…”中文常译为“顺便一提…”．其实这应该译为“喔，对了……”．但“By the way…”是句子间的连接词组，，比如“你回家的时候可以顺便帮我买包香烟吗？”这样的句子就不能用了。  
“你回家的时候可以顺便帮我买包香烟吗？”中的“顺便”其实是含有“方便”的意思．用英文说，就是conveniently, (while you are) in it, (do something in addition to what is already doing) without extra effort, incidentally…．实际上的词组用词可以用in passing, at your convenience, take this opportunity…甚至于不用任何词组，而从整个句子的语气上得来！ 
例： 
I mention this point now in passing and shall refer to it again. 这一点现在先顺便提一下，以后还会再提到． 
I take this opportunity to report to you about a matter.顺便向各位报告一件事． 
On your way home, could you please get a pack of cigarettes for me, at your convenience? “你回家的时候可以顺便帮我买包香烟吗?”． 
甚至不用at your convenience，从语气上on your way home就有“顺便”的气氛。I often look in at the bookstore on my way home from work.我下班回家，常（顺便）到书店看看． 
When you go to the library, please return this book for me.你去图书馆的时候，（顺便）把我这本书还了吧．（本句中When…for me就有“顺便”的气氛）。 
Please take this study material with you to the class.你把这份讲义拿到班上去．（本句中When…with you就有“顺便”的气氛）。 Hxen.com
When you go shopping, please buy me a pair of small scissors.你去买东西的时候，（顺便）替我买一把小剪刀．（本句中只用　　When…而不用其它任何词组，从语气上来看，就有“顺便”的气氛）。 
When my cousin came to Taipei on business, he stayed with me for two nights. 我表弟来台北出差时，（顺便）来我家住了两晚．本句中只用When…而不用其它任何词组，从语气上来看，就有“顺便”的气氛。 
When you go to Kingstone Bookstore, please ask when this month’s issue of World Movie will be in.你去金石堂书店的时候，请（顺便帮我）问一下新的一期“世界电影”杂志什么时候到。

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