下次當你和朋友逛街，看到一個貴得離譜的東西時，你就可以馬上秀一句：「Hmm, I’d rather spend that money on a good meal.」（嗯…我寧願把錢拿去吃頓好的。）是不是很簡單又實用呢？
1. 基本概念解析
在英文中表達消費優先順序時，我們通常會用到以下關鍵詞：
- prefer to spend on（偏好花費在...上）
- would rather（寧願）
- prioritize（優先考慮）
- instead of（而不是）
- rather than（而不是）
- mouse/computer mouse（滑鼠）
- sneakers/athletic shoes/running shoes（運動鞋）
2. 常見說法
情境一：標準正式表達
"I don't want to spend this much money on a mouse. I would prefer to use it to purchase a pair of athletic shoes."
「我不想花這麼多錢在滑鼠上。我比較想用它來購買一雙運動鞋。」
情境二：普通日常表達
"I don't want to spend so much on a mouse. I'd rather put that money toward a pair of sneakers."
「我不想在滑鼠上花這麼多。我寧願把那筆錢用在一雙運動鞋上。」
情境三：非常口語的表達
"I'm not blowing that kind of cash on a mouse. I'd much rather grab some new kicks with it."
「我不會在滑鼠上花那種錢。我更願意用它買些新鞋。」
3. 常見錯誤
❌ 錯誤用法：
- "I no want spend so many money buy one mouse, I more want take go buy one pair sport shoe."（語法和詞彙使用不當）
「我不想花這麼多錢買一個滑鼠，我更想拿去買一雙運動鞋。」 - "I not like to cost big money for mouse, I prefer buy shoes for sport."（句法和表達不自然
「我不喜歡為滑鼠花大錢，我偏好買運動用的鞋。」
✅ 正確用法：
- "I don't want to spend this much on a mouse. I'd rather buy a pair of running shoes instead." （正確的語法和自然表達）
「我不想花這麼多在滑鼠上。我寧願買一雙跑鞋代替。」 - "I'm not willing to pay so much for a mouse. I would prefer to use the money for some athletic shoes." （正確的表達方式）
「我不會願意為滑鼠付這麼多錢。我更喜歡把錢用在一些運動鞋上。」
4. 詞彙補充與說明
表達「不想花錢」的不同方式
- "don't want to spend"（不想花錢在）- 最直接的表達
- "not willing to pay"（不情願付錢給）- 強調不願意
- "reluctant to spend"（不甘願花錢）- 較正式
- "can't justify spending"（無法合理化花費）- 強調理性考量
- "not comfortable paying"（感到不舒服的付款）- 強調個人感受
- "don't feel like spending"（不想花費）- 較口語
表達「比較想」的不同方式
- "would rather"（寧願）- 常用表達
- "prefer to"（偏好）- 標準表達
- "would prefer to"（會更喜歡）- 更禮貌的表達
- "would sooner"（寧可）- 較口語
- "more interested in"（更感興趣在）- 表達興趣
- "prioritize"（優先考慮）- 較正式
表達「運動鞋」的不同方式
- "sneakers"（運動鞋）- 美式常用詞
- "trainers"（運動鞋）- 英式常用詞
- "athletic shoes"（運動鞋）- 較正式
- "running shoes"（跑鞋）- 特指跑步用鞋
- "sports shoes"（運動鞋）- 通用表達
- "kicks"（鞋子）- 非常口語的美式表達
5. 實用句型與表達結構
-
否定意願 + 提出替代：
"I don't want to [spend action] on [item A]. I'd rather [spend action] on [item B]."
「我不想在[物品A]上[花費動作]。我寧願在[物品B]上[花費動作]。」 -
價值比較 + 優先選擇：
"[Item A] isn't worth [price/effort] to me. I'd prefer to put my money toward [item B]."
「對我來說[物品A]不值[價格/努力]。我更願意把錢花在[物品B]上。」 -
拒絕原因 + 個人偏好：
"I'm not [negative spending verb] that much on [item A] because [reason]. [Item B] is a higher priority for me."
「我不會在[物品A]上[負面花費動詞]那麼多，因為[原因]。[物品B]對我來說優先級更高。」
6. 練習範例
對話一：與朋友的對話
A: "Check out this high-end gaming mouse. It's on sale for $80."
「看這個高端遊戲滑鼠。特價80美元。」
B: "That's still pretty expensive. I don't want to spend that much on just a mouse. I'd rather put that money toward a new pair of running shoes I've been eyeing."
「那還是滿貴的。我不想在一支滑鼠上就花那麼多錢。我寧願把那些錢用在我注意很久的一雙新跑步鞋上。」
A: "That makes sense. You'd get more use out of the shoes anyway."
「合理! 不管怎樣鞋子對你來說還是比較有用。」
對話二：在電腦商店
Sales Assistant: "This wireless mouse has great reviews and is one of our premium models at $60."
「這款無線滑鼠評價很好，是我們60美元的高階型號之一。」
Customer: "I appreciate the recommendation, but I'm not comfortable spending that much on a mouse right now. I would prefer to save that money for some athletic shoes I need for my new fitness program."
「感謝您的推薦，但我現在不想在滑鼠上花那麼多。我要把錢留給我新健身計劃需要的運動鞋。」
Sales Assistant: "I understand. Let me show you some of our more budget-friendly options." （我理解。讓我向您展示一些更經濟實惠的選擇。）