When saying No‏

Have you ever wanted to say “no” but somehow ended up saying “yes?” Sometimes we just don’t know how to refuse effectively and still sound polite. Actually, we can say “no” without offending others. It just takes practice and a good dose of willpower/B>.
There are many ways to say “no” besides just a blunt “No!” Note the variety of expressions used to say “no” in the following situations.
你是否曾經想要說「不」，可是結果卻莫名其妙地說了「好」？我們有時候就是不知道
如何保持禮貌的語氣，而有效地拒絕別人。其實，我們是可以在不冒犯別人的情況下說
「不」，這只是需要練習和相當堅定的意志力。除了直說「不」以外，還有很多種拒絕
的方式。在下面的情況當中，留意各種表達拒絕的方式。* Hi, John! Are you free to join us for dinner tonight?
No, I can’t come this time. I’ve already made plans to eat with Sharon and Dave.
* Mark, we are getting together to play cards tonight. Would you like to come?
Sorry, I’m not free on Tuesdays. I’m taking a class at the community center this term.
★ 嗨，約翰！你今晚有沒有空和我們一起去吃晚飯？
不行，我這次不能去。我已經約好要和雪倫及大衛一起吃飯了。
★ 馬克，我們今天晚上要一起玩撲克牌，你要不要來？
對不起，我星期二晚上都沒有空，我這個學期在社區中心修了一堂課。* Hi, Susan. Trina and I are going bowling. We’d love to have you come along.
Thanks, but I’m really not interested in bowling. Call me next time you want to go swimming and I’ll be glad to join you.>/I>
* Beth, we want to invite you to our business women’s lunch at the Hilton Hotel.
I’ll have to decline. I’m really not comfortable with such formal lunches.
★ 嗨，蘇珊，翠娜和我要去打保齡球，我們希望妳可以跟我們一起去。
謝謝，可是我對打保齡球實在沒興趣。下次如果你們要去游泳就打電話給我，我會很樂意跟你們一起去。
★ 貝絲，我們想邀請妳來參加我們在希爾頓飯店舉行的職業婦女午餐會。
我必須要拒絕你的邀請，參加這種正式的餐會總是讓我覺得很彆扭。
Even with lots of ways to refuse, saying “no” can still be difficult for many of us. Why? We may wish to please the other person and avoid hurting his/her feelings. Or, perhaps we really want to do the suggested activity, but can’t for some reason. Notice how expressing a desire to say “yes” softens the refusal

in the following conversations.
雖然拒絕的方式很多，但是對許多人而言，說「不」仍然很困難。為什麼呢？可能是
我們想讓別人高興，避免傷他的感情；或者，也許我們的確想要參加別人所建議的活
動，可是卻因為某種緣故而不能去。在下面的對話中，留意那份想要答應的心意，是
如何緩和了拒絕的口氣。
* Shelly, these letters need to be written today. Will you do them right away?
I wish I could, Mr. Lane, but you told me this proposal is top priority. Which should I work on first?
* Hi, Jan. I want to introduce my cousin Anna to you while she’s visiting. Can you join us for coffee tomorrow? I’m eager to meet Anna. But tomorrow’s schedule is full. Can I take a rain check?
* Tom, could you be the chairman of the Red Cross project again this year?
Thanks for asking, but since I was chairman last year, I’m kind of burned out with the position. However, I’ll be glad to coach the person who leads this year.
★ 雪莉，這些信需要在今天寫完，你能不能馬上寫？
連先生，我真希望我現在就可以做，可是你告訴過我，這份提案是第一優先權，我應該先做哪樣呢？
★ 嗨，珍，我想趁我表妹安娜來拜訪我的時候，介紹你和她認識，你明天能不能跟我們一起去喝咖啡？
我真的很想認識安娜，可是我明天已經排滿了事情，可不可改天再去？
★ 湯姆，你今年能不能再當一次紅十字計劃的主席？
謝謝你的邀請，可是我去年已經當過了，這個職位實在讓我覺得心力交瘁。不過，我很樂意指導今年要帶領的人。
Sometimes you may want to sound like you’re saying “yes” when the actual answer is “no.” You can distract attention from the question by suggesting alternatives. See how the speakers in these conversations accomplish their purpose, but avoid using “no.”
* Hi, Ben. Would you like to go to a movie?
Actually, I was just on my way to try out that new bowling alley on Park Street. Want to join me?
有時候你也許想讓人覺得你在說「是」，而事實上你真正的答覆是「不」。你可以藉著
提出其他的建議，把注意力從這個問題移開。在下面這些對話中，看看說話的人是如何
達到他們的目的，而且避免直接說「不」。
★ 嗨，班，你想不想去看電影？其實我正要去公園街，去試試那家新開幕的保齡球館，
你要不要跟我一起去？
* Mommy, will you take Janie and me to the park today?
Honey, it looks like it’s going to rain. Let’s get out the box of old clothes under the bed and you two can play dress up.
* Let’s go to Denny’s Pizza for lunch! Doesn’t pizza sound good?
Really, I think it’s Pam’s turn to choose where to eat. What do you think, Pam?
No matter how you say it, “no” is still “no.” It’s an essential word in any language. With practice, you will find that you are able to be firm, yet polite, when using this word. Why not start today?
★ 媽咪，你今天可不可以帶我和珍妮去公園？
甜心，看樣子好像要下雨了，讓我們把床底下那一箱舊衣服拿出來，你們兩個人可以玩服裝表演的遊戲。
★ 讓我們去但尼披薩吃午餐！吃披薩是不是很棒呢？
可是我認為這次該輪到潘選擇到哪裡吃飯，你覺得呢，潘？
不管你用什麼方式說，「不」仍然是「不」，這是任何語言中都很重要的一
個字。只要多練習，你就會發現，你可以堅定立場說不，而且還保持禮貌。為
什麼不從今天就開始練習呢？


⊙Word Bankdose (n) 分量；部份
willpower (n) 意志力decline (v) 拒絕；婉謝
refusal (n) 拒絕；謝絕
proposal (n) 提案
top priority (n phr) 急需先完成的事情
rain check (n phr) 希望改天再去的要求
burn out (v phr) 必力交瘁；耗盡精神的體力
distract (v) 分散；轉移
alternative (n) 其他的選擇

distract (v) 分散；轉移
alternative (n) 其他的選擇

@The Day's Phrase
Life is like baseball
人生的棒球場
人生如棒球
Can you help me set the table?
你可以幫我把飯桌準備好嗎？
You look tired. What time did you go to bed last night?
你看起來很累。你昨晚幾點睡呀？
Durable is Chen’s middle name
「鶯」雄投手陳偉殷
耐力十足的陳偉殷

It's OK. I know you didn't mean to break the bowl.
沒關係。我知道你不是故意打破那個碗的。 
New experiences are waiting for everyone
遠離家園的家園
新的體驗正等待大家去經歷
Be careful not to spill your drink all over the table again.
小心點，不要又把你的飲料灑得整個桌子都是。

Where are my shoes? I can't find them anywhere.
我的鞋子哪裡去了？我到處都找不到。
The stories behind the kitchen inventions we couldn’t do without
食物的相關發明
來看看不可或缺的廚房幫手的發明經過
It is too hot outside. Let's just stay inside today.
外頭太熱了。我們今天就待在屋裡吧。

Are you almost finished in the bathroom? I need to get in.
你浴室快用好了嗎？我需要進去。