老外最想聊的100個英語口語話題（25)：禮尚往來

　　Giving a Gift 禮尚往來

　　dialogue 1

　　Sara: Jessica is going back to Holland next week. I've been thinking a lot about what to give her as a parting gift, but I still have no clue.

　　杰西卡下周就要會荷蘭了,我一直在想該選個東西作為分別的禮物,但是還沒有頭緒.

　　Nick: is that the girl you spent almost every weekend with?

　　是那個你哦幾乎每周都和她在一起的女孩嗎?

　　S: yeah, that's her. We had a lot of wonderful times together. She is really a special friend, and I want to get her something meaningful.

　　嗯,就是她.我們在一起有過很多快樂的時光.她是一個很特別的朋友,我想送給她一件有意義的禮物.

　　N: I am not good at picking gifts. Maybe you can ask if there's anything she needs to make it easier?

　　我也不太會挑禮物.要不你先問問她想要什么,這樣就能容易點兒?

　　S: I don't think so. That way it would lose all the charm. I want it to be a surprise. I want to show her that I care about her and I hope our friendship will last.

　　不要這樣,否則就沒有意思了.我想給她個驚喜,想讓她知道我很珍惜她,希望我們的友誼能夠持久.

　　N: yeah, that's nice.

　　嗯,這樣不錯.

　　S: hmm, I think I've got an idea. Maybe I can get her an ever-green plant to take back home.

　　我有主意了.或許我可以送給她一盆長青的植物帶回家去.

　　N: a plant? That's creative. I'm sure ever time she waters it she'll think of you. But there is a problem. Do you think it'll be able to go through the customs?

　　一盆植物?挺有創(chuàng)意的,我相信她澆水的時候總能想起你.但是有一個問題,你覺得植物能過海關(guān)嗎?

　　S: I hope so. I'll make sure to get a small one so she can put it into her suitcase. I hope it won't cause her trouble at the border.

　　希望吧.我會選個小的,這樣她就能放在箱子里面了,我不想過海關(guān)的時候給她惹麻煩.

　　N: I don't know. I think the idea of a plant going across borders with a friend is really exciting but maybe seeds would be safer. You don't want to get her in trouble.

　　不清楚.我覺得送朋友植物,帶著它穿越國界,這想法本身就讓人特別興奮.但是可能種子會更安全一些吧,你畢竟不想給她帶來麻煩.

　　dailogue 2

　　Elizabeth: Hi, Bob, everything okay?

　　嗨,鮑勃,一切都還好吧?

　　Bob: more or less. There;s just one thing bothering me.

　　還好.就是最近有件事比較煩.

　　E: oh? What's that?

　　哦?什么事?

　　B: well, you know I have some students studying for their master's degree. One of them tried to give me a gift that kinda made me uneasy.

　　你知道我?guī)Я藥讉€研究生,有一個想送我一件禮物,讓我覺得很不舒服.

　　E: what gift?

　　什么禮物?

　　B: it's an Egyptian carpet. The student came to my office the other day and brought the carpet to show his gratitude. Seeing what gift was, I was really uncomfortable. I mean it's too expensive a gift for a student to give a professor. I don't think I've done anything to deserve that gift, so I refused it.

　　一條埃及地毯.有一天,那個學(xué)生帶著地毯來我的辦公室,要送給我以表謝意.看到禮物是什么以后,我覺得很別扭,對學(xué)生而言,這件禮物太昂貴了.我覺得自己沒做什么,不是是不敢當(dāng),所以就拒絕了

　　E: you refused the gift? That's terrible.

　　你拒絕了,這可有點兒不好啊.

　　B: I know, but I really can't accept such an expensive gift. I explained to him why, but he seemed really upset about it. I think he might have taken it the wrong way.

　　我知道,但我真的不能接受這樣一件昂貴的禮物.我跟他解釋了為什么,但他看起來很難過.我擔(dān)心他可能誤會了.

　　E: perhaps. He probably thinks you considered the gift a bribe for a higher grade.

　　有可能.他可能認(rèn)為你把這個禮物看成是他對你的賄賂,這樣你就會給他更高的分?jǐn)?shù).

　　B: that's what I am worried about. I do understand the respect attached with the gift and I am honored. But I really don't think it's proper for a student to spend a fortune in a gift for a professor. I think we need to have a talk to make sure we are on the same page.

　　我就是擔(dān)心這個.我明白他送我禮物是為了表示尊重,我也覺得很榮幸.但是我確實覺得學(xué)生花一大筆錢給教授送禮物很不合適.我想我應(yīng)該和他談?wù)?確保我們的理解是一致的.