James: Good morning, Professor Austin. How are you doing?

Professor Austin: Good morning, James. I am doing well. And you?

James: I’m great, thank you. This is my friend Emma. She is thinking about applying to this college. She has a few questions. Would you mind telling us about the process, please?

Professor Austin: Hello, Emma! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m more than happy to speak with you. Please stop by my office next week.

Emma: It’s a pleasure to meet you, professor. Thank you so much for helping us.

Professor Austin: Don’t mention it. Hopefully, I will be able to answer your questions!

• 问候语good morning/good afternoon/good evening（早上好/下午好/晚上好）在一天的不同时间使用。 “Good evening”（晚上好）常常用于晚上6点以后或太阳下山以后。

• “Good night”（晚安）不是问候语，而是用在离开的时候。例如：Thank you and good night!/Good night, and see you tomorrow.（谢谢你，晚安! / 晚安，明天见）。

• 在美国，人们见面时习惯相互握手。握手要有力，通常大约持续两、三秒钟，正好有足够的时间说“Nice to meet you.”（很高兴见到你）。

• “Don’t mention it.”是“You’re welcome.” （不用客气）的另一种表达法。“You’re welcome.”略微正式一些。而Don’t mention it. （不必提它）/No problem. （没问题）/Happy to help.（高兴帮忙）是在别人说thank you（谢谢）时比较轻松随便的回答方式。

James: Good morning, Professor Austin. How are you doing?

Professor Austin: Good morning, James. I am doing well. And you?

James: I’m great, thank you. This is my friend Emma. She is thinking about applying to this college. She has a few questions. Would you mind telling us about the process, please?

Professor Austin: Hello, Emma! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m more than happy to speak with you. Please stop by my office next week.

Emma: It’s a pleasure to meet you, professor. Thank you so much for helping us.

Professor Austin: Don’t mention it. Hopefully, I will be able to answer your questions!

Language notes

• The greetings good morning/good afternoon/good evening are used at different times of the day to greet people. “Good evening” is often used after 6 p.m. or generally when the sun has set.

• “Good night” is not a greeting: It is used when leaving a place or group of people. Thank you and good night!/Good night, and see you tomorrow.

• When people meet in the United States, it is customary for them to shake hands. A handshake should be firm and usually lasts for about two to three seconds — which allows enough time to say “Nice to meet you.”

• “Don’t mention it” is another way of saying “You’re welcome.” The phrase “You are welcome” is more formal. However, responses such as Don’t mention it/No problem/Happy to help are informal ways of responding to a thank you.