I have got a lot to do today, so could you make a long story short?
常見的生活化、口語化的說法
I have a lot on my plate today, can you be brief?
(我今天事情很多,你可以長話短說嗎?)-
"I'm swamped today. Can you cut to the chase?"
(我今天很忙。你可以直接說重點嗎?) -
"I'm super busy. Can we make this quick?"
(我超級忙。我們能夠快點說嗎?) -
"I've got a ton on my plate. Mind keeping it short?"
(我有很多事要做。介意簡短一點嗎?) -
"I'm in a rush. Can you give me the short version?"
(我很趕時間。你能夠給我簡短版本嗎?) I have got a lot to do today, so could you make a long story short?
(我今天有很多事要做,你可以長話短說嗎?)
常見的客氣、有禮貌的說法
-
"I'm afraid I have a packed schedule today. Would you mind being brief?"
(恐怕我今天行程很滿。您介意簡短一點嗎?)
這裡的 "I'm afraid" 和台灣習慣用「不好意思,(我)...」 開頭的用法有相同意思。 -
"I apologize, but I'm quite pressed for time. Could we get straight to the point?"
(我很抱歉,但我時間很緊迫。我們可以直接說重點嗎?) -
"Due to my tight schedule today, I'd appreciate it if we could keep this concise."
(由於我今天行程緊湊,如果我們能夠盡量簡潔,我將感激不盡!) -
"I have several commitments today. Would it be possible to summarize the main points?"
(我今天已經有很多的安排,是否方便總結一下重點?)
中文學習者容易犯的錯誤
-
錯誤 : "I am very busy today, can you say shorter?"
正確 : "I am very busy today, can you be brief?"
解釋:英文中沒有"say shorter"的表達方式,而是使用"be brief"或"keep it short"。 -
錯誤 : "I have many things today, can you talk simple?"
正確 : "I have many things to do today, can you keep it simple?"
解釋:正確表達需要使用"things to do"而非單純"things",且"talk simple"不符合英文習慣,應使用"keep it simple"。 -
錯誤: "Today I no time, you say quick please."
正確: "I don't have much time today, please be quick."
解釋:英文中需要適當的主詞、動詞結構和時態,"no time"應為"don't have time"。
相關單字與片語
-
Swamped - 非常忙碌,忙得不可開交
"I'm completely swamped with work."
(我工作忙得不可開交。) -
Cut to the chase - 直接說重點,不拐彎抹角
"Let's cut to the chase and discuss the main issue."
(讓我們直接討論主要議題。) -
In a nutshell - 簡而言之,概括地說
"Tell me in a nutshell what happened."
(簡單告訴我發生了什麼。) -
Get to the point - 說重點
"Please get to the point, we don't have all day."
(請說重點,我們沒有整天的時間。) -
Pressed for time - 時間緊迫
"I'm pressed for time, so we need to be efficient."
(我時間緊迫,所以我們需要高效率。)
練習範例
-
情境:在工作會議上
"I have back-to-back meetings today. Could we focus on the key issues?"
(我今天有連續不斷的會議。我們能夠專注在關鍵問題上嗎?) -
情境:與朋友通電話
"Hey, I'd love to chat, but I'm in the middle of something. Mind giving me the highlights?"
(嘿! 我很想聊,但我正在忙,介意給我重點嗎?) -
情境:與客戶溝通
"I appreciate your detailed explanation, but due to time constraints, could we narrow down to the essential points?"
(我很感謝您的詳細解釋,但由於時間限制,我們能夠縮小範圍到關鍵點嗎?)