21st Century
Spending a couple of hours in a club talking is enough for some.
AP
Revelers throw tomatoes during an annual food fight in Spanish town of Bunol.
21st Century
Topics Americans are least likely to discuss
| | WHEN I was a child, my parents always told me that I should never talk to strangers. This was part of a whole list of things I should never do: Never accept food or candy from strangers, never get in a car with strangers, and so on.
小时候,爸妈总告诉我“不要和陌生人说话”。这份“不要XX”名单还包括:“不要接受陌生人的食物和糖果”、“不要上陌生人的车”等等。
If we didn`t start a conversation with strangers, we`d never make new friends. We`d never get a job. We`d miss out on the joy that comes from talking with unfamiliar people about their lives.
可如果我们不试着与陌生人讲话,就交不到新朋友,连份工作也找不到,还将错过与陌生人分享另一种生活的乐趣。
Whenever you travel, it`s important to converse with the locals to learn what life in the place you`re passing through is like. It`s also good to strike up a conversation with other travelers. You can get some useful advice, hear amazing adventure stories, and maybe even pick up a partner for future trips!
当你旅游时,注重与当地人沟通能让你了解该处风土人情。此外,和其他同行者谈天说地也不错,这不仅能带来实用的建议,听到一些精彩冒险故事,说不定你还可以找到将来一起出行的旅伴!
The same thing applies to social settings closer to home. Talking with a stranger at a café or club could get you a new friend or even a romantic partner. It`s also a much more entertaining way to pass the afternoon or evening than sitting alone by yourself.
同样的道理也适用于本地社交活动。在咖啡馆、俱乐部与陌生人搭讪也能让你交到新朋友,幸运的话甚至可以找到一个恋人。而且,这总比你一个人枯坐整个下午或晚上有意思多了。
And, in a world where getting ahead professionally often depends on personal connections, the more people you know, the more likely you are to find someone who can help you find opportunities.
更何况,在如今这个社会,想在事业上出人头地就一定要有良好的人脉关系。你认识的人越多,就越有可能碰到那些能帮你带来机会的人物。
The following pages offer you the ultimate social guide, with some advice on how to mingle with strangers. You`ll learn what to say, what not to say, and how to make the most out of each conversation.
下文将提供一些社交指南,教你如何与陌生人搭讪。读了这个,你就知道什么该说,什么不该说,以及怎样最大限度地把握每一场谈话。
Try breaking the ice
开场白:如何打破沉默
Don`t just stare at your shoes. Go say "Hi" to that new guy. The ice-breakers that follow will help you get through the embarrassing moments when you find yourself in front of people from different cultures:
别只顾着低头看鞋,走过去和生人打个招呼。当你意识到自己正与文化背景迥异的人面对面,以下这些开场白将帮你度过尴尬时刻。
British: `Beautiful day, isn`t it?`
英式开场白:天气不错,对吧?
The weather in Britain is unpredictable. So, it`s one of the topics the British care most about. And there`s a simple rule governing weather-speak: Say, "Yes" whether you agree with the person`s comment on the weather or not. That`s because the British start a conversation using the weather so that they can find common ground and move on to something else.
英国的天气变化莫测。因此,天气是英国人最关心的话题之一。谈论天气时有个简单的秘诀:无论你是否同意说话人的观点,都要回答“对”。这是因为英国人常以天气为开场白,以达成一致立场,继而转谈其他话题。
French: `Where`d you go on holiday?`
法式开场白:你假期去哪了?
To approach a French person, the safest bet is to ask about his or her last holiday. French students enjoy a 10-to-15-day holiday every two months. French employees get more than six weeks of holidays per year. And the French are famous for their sense of conversing over a cup of coffee. All you need to do is keep your ears open.
如果想要接近法国人,最保险的方法就是问他/她最近的假期是怎么度过的。法国学生每2个月就有10-15天的假期。法国员工每年有6周多的假期。另外,法国人喜欢边喝咖啡边聊天。所以,你只要洗耳倾听就好了。
American: `So, where are you from?`
美式开场白:你来自哪里?
The US is so big and people move so frequently that location is always a source of talk. You can try to find a connection with the place they`re from. For example, if someone`s from Los Angeles, you could say: "Oh, I have a friend who studied there. He says he saw Brad Pitt several times on the street." And you`ll likely get an enthusiastic reply from your new friend.
美国幅员辽阔,人员流动频繁。因此,地域就成了一大聊天话题。你可以把自己和其来处联系起来,比如说,要是对方来自于洛杉矶,你就说:“哦,我有个朋友在那上学。他曾在街上见过好几次布拉德-皮特呢!”这样一来,你的新朋友肯定会给予热情回复的。
Conversation starters on Internet chat sites
如何在聊天网站打开话题
"Man, I`ve met some pretty weird characters online."(八卦一下你在网上遭遇的奇人,不仅是开心的谈资,同时也打消对方的顾虑:你不是怪人。不过并不是所有人都喜欢评价别人,如果你觉得这个话题并不是你想聊的,也不要紧,你只需顺势转换话题,比如 "It takes all kinds to make a world. What are your hobbies?"这个转移话题的方法可以以此类推用到其他时候。)
“嗨,我在网上遭遇了各种各样的奇人。”
"Brb, gotta get some work done."(Brb= be right back,稍等。这一招儿是用来搪塞让你讨厌的网友的。说完后你可以把状态设置为"离开"。类似的借口还有"brb, need to go pick up a friend",理由越空越好,空得让他插不上话。如果太"实在",比如 "get a phone call or go to an event",会成为对方搭讪的入口,脸皮厚的人也许会借机跟你要电话号码或者申请加入你的活动,那就事与愿违了。)
“稍等一下,有些工作要做。”
"Thanks for listening, I really felt at ease talking to you."(如果你聊得开心,直白地表达吧,特别是对偶然遇见的网友。如果对方跟你这么说,你可能会有点不好意思,即使你感觉不好也不必拒绝,你可以说 "Hey, no problem. Feel free to look me up whenever you need to talk.")
“谢谢你倾听我的故事。和你聊天真的很开心。”
Conversation starters at clubs
如何在俱乐部搭讪
"So who`re you here with?"(通常是男生问女生,这么问其实是打探对方是不是来约会的。回答这个问题十分微妙,同样是说"我跟异性朋友一起来的",可能会有相反的结果。如果搭讪的男生让你不感兴趣,你可以说:"Oh, I`m here with a friend. He`s back there. See him?"知趣的男生就会知难而退了。如果你确实是被异性约来的,但是不太情愿,而对眼前这位还颇有感觉,你可以说"Oh, I shared a cab with a friend who`s still dancing. Would you like to get a drink?")
“和朋友一起来的么?”
"The bartenders here make some pretty good mojitos."(如果你不好意思主动邀请对方喝酒,你可以这样委婉地试探,如果对方有意思,他要么让你买酒给他,或者请你喝一杯。如果你不想跟对方浪费时间,你可以用非常友好的语气说:"Cool, I`ll tell my friends, thanks!")
“这里的酒保手艺不错。”
"Is it usually this crowded?"(这实际是在试探对方是不是老出来玩儿。如果你不想让别人知道你的情况,你可以说:"Oh, I can still hear you/there are enough people."接下来自我介绍吧。)
“这通常人都这么多么?” |
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