接待國外賓客,在送客時說:“Thank you. Welcome again.”等于是直譯中文的“歡迎您再度光臨”,但其實是錯誤用法,因為這句話是指“再度歡迎您光臨”。餐廳里的口誤英語有哪些?
1 謝謝,歡迎再度光臨。
(×)Thank you. Welcome again.
(○ )Thank you. Please come again .
2 我們一行4個人,我想訂一桌4個人的座位。
(×)We have four people. I'd like to reserve four seats.
(○ )We are a group / party of four . I'd like to reserve a table for four .
一行有幾人用group或party,所以,問對方一共有多少人就說How many (are there) in your party?此外,中文訂位都說訂n個座位,但英文都說一桌n個人。
3 你們開店到多晚?
(×)When is your restaurant closed?
(○ )How late are you open ?
店家的“開”“關”,在中文和英文里都有兩種意思:開門、關門,或營業(yè)、歇業(yè)。第一句close當動詞,用被動式,反倒象是問店家何時歇業(yè)、關門大吉。適當的用法是問對方開到幾點,open在此為形容詞。
4 我點的菜還沒上。
(×)My meal hasn't shown up yet.
(○ )My order hasn't come yet.
中文的問法直接,英文則偏含蓄,不管是點飲料或主菜,直接用order即可。order是名詞,表示“點的東西”。上菜不用show,因為這不是展示,用come即可。