BBC曾在旅遊版刊出了一篇名為《The Island That Never Stops Apologizing》的文章,稱台灣為一個不斷道歉的島嶼,原因是台灣人常在生活上說「不好意思」,甚至以「不好意思」用做發語詞。在日常生活中,我們也有需要表達歉意的場合,但如何說抱歉,何時說抱歉卻因文化和風俗民情產生差異。話不多說,就讓我們來學學表達抱歉的英語口說方式,也是TOEIC測驗常見的用語喔!
從小錯誤到正式道歉
在發生一般小錯誤時,可以用 My bad!(我的錯!)來表達歉意。這個表現方式較常出現在美式英語中,意思即是I admit that it’s my fault。除了My Bad,你也可以用(It’s) My fault! 或 (It’s) My mistake!來表達歉意。
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而我們最常用來表達歉意的sorry,則可用在不同程度的錯誤,比如當我們不小心撞到人時,到較嚴重的錯誤都可用(I’m) Sorry about that。
如果要說明對什麼事情感到抱歉時,就可以用for +原因。for 為介系詞,所以後面需加名詞或動名詞。
I’m sorry for being late.
(抱歉,我遲到了。)
過去可能犯下的錯誤
另外,因為may 和might常用在「可能」(並非100%的肯定)的狀況,所以可以用may/might have + Vp.p. 來表示對過去可能犯下的錯誤。
I’m sorry for any inconvenience / problems that I may have caused.
(我對可能所造成的不便/問題感到抱歉。)
此外,也可以用should have + Vp.p. 或shouldn’t Vp.p.來表示過去「應該」或「不應該」的一種後悔或懊悔。
I should have checked the quality of our products more thoroughly.
(我應該更仔細的檢查產品的品質。)
I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that.
(抱歉,我不應該那樣做。)
如果要表達當時並非有意這樣做時的這種較無心之過,也可用I didn’t mean to V。
I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.
(我不是故意要讓你難過或不舒服。)
較正式的道歉
如果是較正式的道歉或書面上的道歉,一般上會用 apologize (v)、apology (n) 來表示,而介系詞則是用for。
1. I’d like to apologize for. . . .(我想為……而道歉)
2. I sincerely apologize.(我真誠地道歉。)
3. I owe you an apology.(我欠你一個道歉)
4. My (sincere / deepest) apologies.(我最深切的道歉。)
5. Please accept my apologies for. . . .(請接受我……的道歉)
6. I apologize for the error on the invoice.(我對發票上的錯誤感到抱歉。)
當人家跟你道歉時,如果你願意原諒,則可簡單地說apology accepted(也就是I accept your apology)。
此外,也可以用下面的表現方式來表示歉意外,並且願意負責。
I take full responsibility for my behavior / actions.
(我會對我的行為負全責。)
遺憾、抱歉、後悔
sorry 除了表現道歉,在某些情況下也可以表達「遺憾」,尤其是在聽到壞消息或要告知別人不好或失望的消息。譬如說,如果聽到某人的家人過世,或某人考試沒有通過,你可說I’m sorry to hear that.
I’m sorry for your loss.
(我對你失去親人感到遺憾。)
I’m so sorry to hear of the death of your mother.
(我對你母親逝世的消息感到遺憾。)
而在英文書信上,sorry也常常被用到:
We’re sorry to inform you that you have not passed the exam.
(我們很遺憾地通知你沒有通過考試。)
除了sorry,regret「遺憾」也可以當作動詞或名詞,做「遺憾、抱歉」或「後悔」解釋。
We regret any inconvenience caused by our delay in production.
(我們對於我方延誤生產所造成的不便感到抱歉。)
當「後悔」時,regret後面的動詞要用「-ing」的形式。
I don’t regret relocating to New York.
(我不後悔搬到紐約。)
不好意思
此外還有幾個場合,我們常常會用「對不起」或「不好意思」,但是英文不用sorry。譬如說跟人家借過,請人讓一讓,或在餐廳裡要請侍者過來,找人問路等情況,我們可以用Excuse me! 或 Pardon (me)!
Excuse me, can you tell me how to get to Taipei 101?
(不好意思,請問你可以告訴我如何去台北101嗎?)
甚至打噴嚏時也是說 excuse me.如果沒聽清楚別人說什麼,或希望對方能再說一次時,也可以用上揚的語調說Excuse me?、I beg your pardon?、Sorry?。
最後,如果是犯了錯誤或讓人覺得不舒服時,通常是用sorry;而在覺得不好意思要請人做事時,就常用Excuse me。
【TOEIC多益模擬試題】
1. We __________ our overhead expenses. As a result, we are currently operating at a loss.
(A) shouldn’t have underestimated
(B) should have been underestimated
(C) have not underestimated
(D) should underestimating
2. We regret _______ you that you have not been shortlisted for the interview.
(A) inform
(B) to inform
(C) information
(D) informative
【解析】
1. 本題為文法題。對過去的不應該的後悔需用should have + Vp.p.。本題題意為「我們不應該低估我們的營運成本。結果,我們現在處於損失的狀態。」因此,正確答案為(A)。(B)是被動式,(C)和(D)的語意和後面句子「處於損失的狀態」的意思不合。
2. 本題正確答案為(B)。本題為文法題,題意為「我們很遺憾的通知你你沒被選上參加面試。」由於是表示遺憾通知失望的消息,因此使用to V。如果是「後悔通知」,則會用regret informing。
SOURCE:https://www.englishok.com.tw/toeic/workplace-toeic/apologize-sorry-english-speaking-words
文章由TOEIC Program Taiwan · Chun Shin提供:
www.facebook.com/ToeicProgramTaiwan
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