[图片来源:Getty Images]
有人贴心地为我们准备礼物是令人分外开心的事情。主持人 Neil 为佳莹准备了一份小礼物,佳莹知道之后,用了一个地道的英语说法来表达自己的惊喜和谢意,但 Neil 却因只理解了字面意思而差点闹了误会。听两个人的对话,学习这句英语客套话的实际含义和用法。
(关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。)
Jiaying
大家好,欢迎收听 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目,我是佳莹。
Neil
… and me, Neil.
Jiaying
你今天看起来可真喜庆!哎,那个大袋子里装的是什么呀?
Neil
Well, as it’s Christmas, I’ve bought you a present.
Jiaying
Oh, Neil, you shouldn’t have!
Neil
I shouldn’t have? Really? Well, I’ve still got the receipt, so I suppose I could return it.
Jiaying
No, no! Don’t do that – I love presents. I just meant it’s unexpected. 我刚刚说的 “you shouldn’t have” 是英语里的一句客套话。当我们接受别人送的礼物时,就可以用这句话来表达自己的惊喜和谢意,就像汉语里说的 “哎呀,你真是太客气了”。
Neil
Right. So when you say, ‘you shouldn’t have’, you really mean ‘you should have’?!
Jiaying
No. It’s just a way of saying ‘thank you, what a nice surprise’. And now I have some examples for you.
Neil
Oh, you shouldn’t have!
Examples
Thanks for my birthday present, but you really shouldn’t have.
Flowers, for me?! Oh, you shouldn’t have!
You’ve been so generous with your gift – you shouldn’t have.
Jiaying
你正在收听的是 BBC英语教学的 “地道英语” 节目。圣诞节就要到了,我们正好在介绍收到礼物时可以说的一句客套话 “you shouldn’t have”,意思相当于 “你太客气了”。这不,Neil 就给我准备了一个惊喜。
Neil
Have I? Oh, yes! It’s in this bag.
Jiaying
A huge bag – it must be a huge present.
Neil
Err, well, no – it’s a small one, right at the bottom… There you go – Happy Christmas!
Jiaying
Thanks, Neil. Oh, a signed photo of you! Hmm, maybe this time – you really shouldn’t have.
Neil
It’s the thought that counts. Happy Christmas, Jiaying.
Jiaying
Happy Christmas, Neil.