商務英語情景口語:Delivering Bad News 傳遞壞消息

Delivering Bad News

Dialogue 1

A: Bob, can I talk to you for a minute? There have been some developments for the Stewart case that I really need to talk to you about.

B: Yeah, what's the matter now? We've had so much trouble with this case already. Don't tell me there's More bad news.

A: Well, I'm afraid there is. I have some bad news for you about the results of the forensic e won't be any results.

B: What? What does that mean? Why won't there be any results?

A: I hate to tell you this, but it seems that every shred of evidence that would help us to convict were destroyed in a laboratory fire. There's nothing left. I'm so sorry...

B: Oh, no, you can't be serious. I never expect anything like this would happened. What are we going to do?

A: There's nothing that can be done. Everything is gone. I wish I could tell you differently, but what has happened has happened. We will just have to figure out a way to move on.


鮑勃,我能和你聊一會嗎?斯圖爾特的案子有些進展,我真的想和你談談這件事.
可以,現在有什麼問題嗎?這個案子我們已經有太多麻煩了.你不會又要告訴我有什麼壞消息吧?
哎,恐怕是這樣.我要告訴你的壞消息就是法醫檢驗的結果…不會有什麼下文了.
什麼?這是什麼意思?爲什麼會沒有結果?
我不願告訴你這些,但是好像任何一絲蛛絲馬跡能幫助我們證明他們有罪的證據都在實驗室的一場大火中被毀掉了.什麼也沒留下.我非常抱歉.
噢,不,這話不是當真的吧?我從來就沒想到會發生這樣的事情.那我們該怎麼辦?
我們無能爲力.一切都化爲烏有.我希望我能告訴你別的消息,可是該發生的都已經發生了,我們只能想辦法繼續做下去.


Dialogue 2

A: I got an email from our supplier yesterday about this quarter's order.... It doesn't look so good. Here, take a look.

B: "Dear Mr. Hardy, I am sorry to inform you that your shipment will be delayed. Due to circumstances beyond our control, our warehouse has been temporarily closed. There has been a problem with fire hazard violations in our industry and government officials have closed several warehouses without warning." Wow, that's bummer.

A: So that means that we'll be late in getting our order....

B: Did they say how long we have to wait until the order is filled?

A: Keep reading....

B: "We deeply regret any inconvenience this has caused you. We apologize for this unexpected delay in the shipment of your order. We can assure you that this will not happen again. We expect normal shipment service to resume soon. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help in the meantime. Sincerely." Looks like they don't have a date for us when the order can be filled.

A: They say "soon", but who knows how soon "soon" will be.


昨天我從供應商那裏受到一封電子郵件,是關於本季度訂單的問題.看起來沒有那麼樂觀,這兒呢,你看一下.
"親愛的哈代先生,我很抱歉的通知您,您的貨物裝船要延期.由於我們無法控制的外界因素,我們的庫房暫時被查封了.我們企業存在火災隱患問題,政府官員在沒有提出警告的前提下就已經查封了幾個庫房.” 哇,真倒黴.
那意味着我們晚些時候才能拿到貨物了...
他們有沒有說我們要等多長時間才能提貨?
接着往下看…
"此事給你們帶來了不便,我們深表遺憾,對此次未能預料的運貨延遲向你們道歉.我們向你們保證,以後這種事情不會再發生.據我們估計正常的船運很快就能恢復.在此期間還有什麼需要我做的,請告訴我. 真誠的…”好像他們沒有說明具體的送貨時間.
他們說"很快",但是誰知道"很快"有多塊.


Trouble: a problem, worry, difficulty, etc. or a situation causing this 問題；憂慮；困難；苦惱
We've been having trouble getting staff.
我們在聘請僱員方面一直有困難。
He could make trouble for me if he wanted to.
他要是想找麻煩就能給我找麻煩。
The trouble with you is you don't really want to work.
你的問題在於你並不是很想工作。
Her trouble is she's incapable of making a decision.
她的問題是自己沒有能力做決定。

Forensic: connected with the scientific tests used by the police when trying to solve a crime 法醫的
forensic evidence/medicine/science/tests
法醫證據／學／科學／檢驗
the forensic laboratory
法醫檢驗室
a forensic pathologist
法醫病理學家

Shred: a very small amount of sth 極少量；些許；一丁點
There is not a shred of evidence to support his claim.
沒有絲毫證據支持他的說法。

Convict: to decide and state officially in a court of law that sb is guilty of a crime 宣判（某人）有罪
a convicted murderer
已定罪的謀殺犯
He was convicted of fraud.
他被判犯有詐騙罪。

Supplier: a person or company that supplies goods 供應者；供貨商；供貨方
a leading supplier of computers in the UK
英國一家主要電腦供應商

Order: a request to make or supply goods 訂貨；訂購；訂單
I would like to place an order for ten copies of this book.
這本書我想訂購十冊。
an order form
訂貨單
The machine parts are still on order(= they have been ordered but have not yet been received)
機器零件尚在訂購之中。
These items can be made to order(= produced especially for a particular customer)
這幾項可以訂做。

Warehouse: a building where large quantities of goods are stored, especially before they are sent to shops/stores to be sold 倉庫；貨棧；貨倉

Hazard: a thing that can be dangerous or cause damage 危險；危害
a fire/safety hazard
火災╱安全隱患
Growing levels of pollution represent a serious health hazard to the local population.
日益嚴重的污染對當地人民的健康構成了重大威脅。
Everybody is aware of the hazards of smoking.
大家都明白吸菸的禍害。

Violation: 違反;違背;違犯
violation of safety regulations in a factory
違反工廠安全規章

Resume: if you resume an activity, or if it resumes, it begins again or continues after an interruption 重新開始；（中斷後）繼續
to resume talks/negotiations
重新進行會談／談判
She resumed her career after an interval of six years.
經過六年的間歇之後她又重新上崗。
The noise resumed, louder than before.
噪聲再起，比先前更大。
There is no sign of the peace talks resuming.
沒有任何恢復和談的跡象。
He got back in the car and resumed driving.
他回到車上，繼續開車。


Figure out:弄清楚,理解
I can't figure him out.
我看不透他.

Move on:繼續前進

Beyond one's control:超出某人的控制能力

Without warning:沒有警告

Bummer:令人不愉快的人,事或經歷
It's a real bummer that she can't come.
她不能來,實在令人失望.

Fill an order:供應訂單

In the meantime:在這期間