Smily Books Blog 2023年7月更新中

頭がいい人、悪い人の英語―ネイティブにマヌケと思われない44の会話術 長尾 和夫(PHP研究所)

1.Maybe、I think so
(1)自分のコントロールできないことにのみ用いること(自分の意志を表わす時には用いないこと)
 Maybe I'll call you.(×)→I'll try to give you a call.(○)
 We'll have to work really hard,I think so.(×)
 I think it's going to rain tonight.(○)
(2)知らない事(知らなかった事)に用いるのはOK
 I don't know ... maybe he was really busy.(○)
(3)相手にアドバイスする時使うのもOK
 Maybe you shouldn't be so hard on her.
 That isn't such a good idea,I think.

2.maybeでなく可能性表現を使う
(1)ほぼ100%
 I'm (almost) sure I'll have to work late tonight.
(2)80%
 I'll probably have to work late tonight.
(3)50%強
 I might have to work late tonight.
(4)50%弱
 I might not have to work late tonight.
 There's a chance I won't have to work late tonight.
(5)20%
 I probably won't have to work late tonight.
(6)ほぼ0%
 I'm (almost) sure I won't have to work late tonight.

3.カタカナ英語
(1)after service(×)→after-sales service(○)
(2)energish(×)→energetic(○)
(3)claim(×)→complaint(○)
(4)no-sleeve(×)→sleeveless(○)
(5)high socks(×)→knee-high socks(○)
(6)bust(×)→breast(○)
(7)back mirror(×)→rear-view mirror(○)
(8)handle(×)→steering wheel(○)
(9)pierce(×)→earrings(○)
(10)hip(×)→buttocks(○)

4.聴き間違いそうになったら
(1)聴き直す
 Could you say that once more?
(2)わからないことを打ち明ける
 Sorry,I didn't catch your meaning.

5.はっきり言い過ぎない
(1)当たり障りのない言い方
 Thank you,but we have to go [in another direction].
(2)当たり障りのない言い方2
 I can't accept this [as it is].
(3)当たり障りのない言い方3
 [I'm afraid] you're going to have to redo this.

6.断る理由をdifficult、hardで片付けない(面倒だ、厄介だと逃げているように思われる)
(1)求めてたものと違ったと言う
 I don't think that's what we're looking for.
(2)考えてたものと違ったと言う
 That wasn't really what we had in mind.

7.わからないと言う
(1)I'm sorry, you've lost me there(just now).(すみません。それ、わからなかったのですが。)
(2)Sorry, I missed that last part.What did you say just now?(すみません。最後を聞き漏らしました。)
(3)Could you speak a little more slowly(louder)?(もう少しゆっくり(大きく)話してくれますか?)

8.You had better...
(1)〜した方がいいぞ(さもないと○○だよ)という脅迫に近いニュアンスがあるので注意する
 You'd better clean up your room,or else!
(2)I suggest you...も同様のニュアンスであるため注意
 I suggest you spend more time studying!
(3)人に薦める場合は単純にrecommendを用いる 
 I recommend Hakone.

9.You should...
(1)相手を励ます時のみ使う事(アドバイスや強要、命令ではない)
 You should call her! You'd be perfect.
(2)〜すべきだと提案する場合、自分の意見として相手に提示すること
 I'm sure you can get a better deal than that!

10.You have to...
(1)You have to>You should>You had betterの順で命令口調となるため注意
(2)〜すべきだと提案する場合、自分の意見として相手に提示すること
 I need you to put more effort into that project.

11.What does it means?
(1)それっていったいどういうことなんだよ?というけんか腰に聞こえるため注意
以下も同様
 What do you mean by that?
What's the meaning of this?
(2)どういう意味ですか?と聴き直す場合、 素直に聞き取れなかった事を伝える事
 You've lost me just now.
I didn't catch the meaning of that.
(3)言葉自体がわからい場合
 What was that about "afford"?

12.Don't...を使わない
(1)Don't forget to call me when you get there.
 →Remember to call me when you get there.
(2)Don't make so muck noise!
 →Please keep it down!
(3)Don't drink too much!
 →Keep it to one or two beers.
(4)Don't make any mistakes!
 →Be sure to double check everything.

13.scared,afraidを使わない
(1)不安だと述べる
 I get a little nervous when I think about earthquakes.
(2)躊躇すると述べる
 I sometimes wonder about living here.
(3)諦観を述べる
 I don't even think about earthquakes; if they happen,they happen.

14.Let's~を使わない
(1)みんなで〜しようと声をかけるとき
 Why don't we try to ...?
 How about ... ?

15.親切にできない(お役に立てない)ときはできないと言う事
(1)Sorry, I can't help you with that.
(2)On the other hand, I can take you to 〜.(〜なら連れて行けるよ)