商務英語情景口語:Polite Questions 禮貌提問

A: Hello! You have reached the offices of Maddox and McKnight, can I help you?

B: Yes, my name is Max Richards. May I please speak to George Nelson? I have already called several times. It seems I always catch him out of the office.

A: Oh, I'm sorry. Mr. Nelson is away at the moment. I'm sorry that you keep missing him while he is out of the office. Would you like to leave a message?

B: I'm sorry, I didn't hear you clearly. Could you repeat that please?

A: Certainly. Mr. Nelson can not take your call at the moment because he is away. He stepped out of the office for the whole afternoon and is not expected back until tomorrow morning. His schedule is very unpredictable at times, so the best way to reach him is to first make an appointment by email or text messaging.

B: Can I leave a message for him please?

A: Of course, can you leave your name and number? I'm sure Mr. Nelson will return your call as soon as he is able.

B: My name is Max Richards, my phone number is 898-3423. Could you ask him to call me back as soon as he gets back, please? I have a rather timely matter to discuss with him.

A: Can you tell me what it's about? I can make a note of it, so Mr. Nelson is aware and prepared when he returns your call.

B: Yes, please let him know I would like to discuss the Girard case with him.


你好,這裏是麥德奧克斯和麥耐特辦公室,有什麼需要我幫忙的?
是的,我叫馬克思理查茲.請問我可以與喬治.納爾遜通話嗎?我已經打過好幾次電話了,好像我總碰到他不在辦公室.
哦,很遺憾,納爾遜先生此刻不在辦公室.我非常抱歉,他不在辦公室,你又找不到他了.你想給他留個口信嗎?
對不起,我沒有聽清楚你的話,請你重複一下好嗎?
當然可以.納爾遜先生現在出去了,不能接你的電話.他整個下午都不在辦公室,估計到明天早晨才能回來.他的日程安排不可預測,所以聯繫他的最好辦法是先通過電子郵件或留口信的方式預約一下.
請問,我能給他留個口信嗎?
當然可以,你能把名字和電話號碼留下嗎?我敢肯定納爾遜先生一有可能就會給你回電話的.
我的名字是馬克思.理查茲,電話號碼是898—3423.請你讓他一回來就給我打電話,好嗎?我有非常緊急的事情要和他討論.
你能告訴我是什麼事嗎?我可以記錄一下,這樣威爾遜先生就會在給你回電話時有所瞭解和準備.
好的,請告訴我想和他討論有關吉拉德的案子.


Dialogue 2

A: Would you like to have something to drink?

B: Yes, please, that would be very nice. Do you have any hot coffee?

A: I'm sorry, we don't have any coffee. Would tea to be all right?

B: Yes, that would be fine.

A: Is there anything else that I can offer for you? Would you like some light refreshments?

B: No, no, no.... Actually, I'll just have some tea if that is not too much trouble. I had a very late and very large lunch, so I don't expect to eat anything else for the remainder of the day.

A: I know you're probably off your jet lag, but I'm wondering what time we should set for our budget review. What time are you available tomorrow for our meeting?

B: Don't worry about me. I'll try to hit the sack a little early tonight and I'll be fine by the time tomorrow comes. I have a meeting early on, and I should be available at 11 o'clock.


你想喝點什麼?
噢,那太好了.有熱咖啡嗎?
很抱歉,我們沒有咖啡,茶可以嗎?
可以,那樣也不錯.
還要什麼東西嗎?小點心怎麼樣?
不必了…真的,如果不太麻煩的話,我喝點茶就行.我午飯吃的太晚,吃得也多,所以午飯以後我不準備吃什麼東西了.
我知道你可能在倒時差,但我想什麼時間我們應該做一個預算評估.明天你什麼時候有空我們見面談談?
別爲我擔心.我今晚儘量早點兒上牀睡覺,明天就會沒事的.我一早有個會議,不過11點以後應該有空.



Reach: to communicate with sb, especially by telephone (尤指用電話)聯繫,與…取得聯繫
Do you know where I can reach him?
你知道我在哪兒能跟他聯繫上嗎?

Unpredictable: that cannot be predicted because it changes a lot or depends on too many different things 無法預言的;不可預測的;難以預料的
unpredictable weather
變幻莫測的天氣
The result is entirely unpredictable.
結果是完全無法預料的.

Timely: happening at exactly the right time 及時的;適時的
A nasty incident was prevented by the timely arrival of the police.
警察的及時到來阻止了一次嚴重事故.
This has been a timely reminder to us all.
對我們大家來說這個提醒非常及時.

Remainder: the remaining people, things or time 其他人員;剩餘物;剩餘時間
I kept some of his books and gave away the remainder.
我保留了一些他的書,其他的都送了人.


jet lag:時差

Light refreshments 小點心

Out of office 不在辦公室

In the office 在辦公室

At the moment 此刻

Step out of the office 從辦公室出去了

At times 有事

Make an appointment 預約

Return a call 回電話

Call back 回電話

Get back 回來

Make a note of 把…記錄下來

Fight off 竭力擺脫,擊退

Set a time 安排個時間

Hit the sack 上牀睡覺

Early on 一大早