老外最想聊的100个英语口语话题（25)：礼尚往来

　　Giving a Gift 礼尚往来

　　dialogue 1

　　Sara: Jessica is going back to Holland next week. I've been thinking a lot about what to give her as a parting gift, but I still have no clue.

　　杰西卡下周就要会荷兰了,我一直在想该选个东西作为分别的礼物,但是还没有头绪.

　　Nick: is that the girl you spent almost every weekend with?

　　是那个你哦几乎每周都和她在一起的女孩吗?

　　S: yeah, that's her. We had a lot of wonderful times together. She is really a special friend, and I want to get her something meaningful.

　　嗯,就是她.我们在一起有过很多快乐的时光.她是一个很特别的朋友,我想送给她一件有意义的礼物.

　　N: I am not good at picking gifts. Maybe you can ask if there's anything she needs to make it easier?

　　我也不太会挑礼物.要不你先问问她想要什么,这样就能容易点儿?

　　S: I don't think so. That way it would lose all the charm. I want it to be a surprise. I want to show her that I care about her and I hope our friendship will last.

　　不要这样,否则就没有意思了.我想给她个惊喜,想让她知道我很珍惜她,希望我们的友谊能够持久.

　　N: yeah, that's nice.

　　嗯,这样不错.

　　S: hmm, I think I've got an idea. Maybe I can get her an ever-green plant to take back home.

　　我有主意了.或许我可以送给她一盆长青的植物带回家去.

　　N: a plant? That's creative. I'm sure ever time she waters it she'll think of you. But there is a problem. Do you think it'll be able to go through the customs?

　　一盆植物?挺有创意的,我相信她浇水的时候总能想起你.但是有一个问题,你觉得植物能过海关吗?

　　S: I hope so. I'll make sure to get a small one so she can put it into her suitcase. I hope it won't cause her trouble at the border.

　　希望吧.我会选个小的,这样她就能放在箱子里面了,我不想过海关的时候给她惹麻烦.

　　N: I don't know. I think the idea of a plant going across borders with a friend is really exciting but maybe seeds would be safer. You don't want to get her in trouble.

　　不清楚.我觉得送朋友植物,带着它穿越国界,这想法本身就让人特别兴奋.但是可能种子会更安全一些吧,你毕竟不想给她带来麻烦.

　　dailogue 2

　　Elizabeth: Hi, Bob, everything okay?

　　嗨,鲍勃,一切都还好吧?

　　Bob: more or less. There;s just one thing bothering me.

　　还好.就是最近有件事比较烦.

　　E: oh? What's that?

　　哦?什么事?

　　B: well, you know I have some students studying for their master's degree. One of them tried to give me a gift that kinda made me uneasy.

　　你知道我带了几个研究生,有一个想送我一件礼物,让我觉得很不舒服.

　　E: what gift?

　　什么礼物?

　　B: it's an Egyptian carpet. The student came to my office the other day and brought the carpet to show his gratitude. Seeing what gift was, I was really uncomfortable. I mean it's too expensive a gift for a student to give a professor. I don't think I've done anything to deserve that gift, so I refused it.

　　一条埃及地毯.有一天,那个学生带着地毯来我的办公室,要送给我以表谢意.看到礼物是什么以后,我觉得很别扭,对学生而言,这件礼物太昂贵了.我觉得自己没做什么,不是是不敢当,所以就拒绝了

　　E: you refused the gift? That's terrible.

　　你拒绝了,这可有点儿不好啊.

　　B: I know, but I really can't accept such an expensive gift. I explained to him why, but he seemed really upset about it. I think he might have taken it the wrong way.

　　我知道,但我真的不能接受这样一件昂贵的礼物.我跟他解释了为什么,但他看起来很难过.我担心他可能误会了.

　　E: perhaps. He probably thinks you considered the gift a bribe for a higher grade.

　　有可能.他可能认为你把这个礼物看成是他对你的贿赂,这样你就会给他更高的分数.

　　B: that's what I am worried about. I do understand the respect attached with the gift and I am honored. But I really don't think it's proper for a student to spend a fortune in a gift for a professor. I think we need to have a talk to make sure we are on the same page.

　　我就是担心这个.我明白他送我礼物是为了表示尊重,我也觉得很荣幸.但是我确实觉得学生花一大笔钱给教授送礼物很不合适.我想我应该和他谈谈,确保我们的理解是一致的.