學習拒絕這件事很困難,
但當自己都自顧不暇時,真的需要適度婉拒給予他人幫忙,
但要如何用英文來表達婉拒呢?
[學習目標]: 學習在辦公室要拒絕同事請求的相關的字詞
Practice Target: Learn how refuse requests in the office in English.
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Dialogue: (對話)
Hope:Joey, would you please help me out with this project? I don’t know how to start with it.
Joey: Oh, but I have got a lot on my plate right now. (我也有很多要做。) When do you need it by? (什麼時候要?)
Hope: The boss said he wants it by tomorrow.
Joey: Have you talked with the manager?
Hope: Yes, but she was going to the meeting with Ms. Lee just now. (她剛好要和Ms. Lee開會。)…… So, what do you
think if we try negotiating with our clients and see if it is possible to reach a compromise? (你覺得要不要先跟
客戶溝通,看是否能取得共識?)
Joey: Well, it might work, but you see, I’d love to help you, but I am under a lot of deadlines. (我很想幫你,但
我手邊還有很多即將到期的工作要做。)
Hope: I understand you are also swamped with lots of work at the moment. (我也知道你現在忙得不可開交。) I guess I
have to work overtime today. I hope I can meet the request within the time frame. (希望我能在期限內完成。)
Joey: Okay, I can help you out as soon as I am done with my part. (好,我一完成我的部分,我就來幫你。) Why don’t we
talk about it an hour later? (我們一小時後再討論吧。)
Hope: Okay. Thanks a lot.
Joey: No problem.
*Tip: Don’t burn your bridges with your colleagues. 不要和同事關係搞不好。
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Vocabulary(單字)
1.refuse v. 拒絕 He always refuses to give others any help.
2.decline v. 婉拒,謝絕 I invited him to the party, but he declined.
3.turn sb down 拒絕提議或請求
*She turned down the job offer because it is too far. (她拒絕這個工作,因為太遠了。)
4.turn to sb 求助於 She felt she had no one to turn to. (她找不到人幫忙。)
5.negotiate v. 談判,協商
6.reach a compromise 達成共識
7.compromise n. 妥協;折衷;讓步;和解
8.swamp with too much work 忙得不可開交
*I have been swamped with too much work. (我忙得不可開交。)
9.time frame 時間範圍 deadline 截止期限
10.When do you need it by? (I need it yesterday./ I need it before lunch. / I need it by tomorrow.)
11.Put something on the back burner. 把不重要的先放一邊
12.I cannot meet the request within the time frame. 在期限內無法完成。
13.I need to talk to you about my workload. 我需要跟你談談我的工作量。
14.I’d love to help you but I am under a lot of deadlines.
(我很想幫你,但我手邊還有很多即將到期的工作要做。)