A car cut me off and I rear-ended it.
學習目標
中文:有輛車突然插進我的前面,我來不及反應就撞上去,出車禍了
英文:A car cut me off and I rear-ended it.
難度:⭐⭐ (中級)
情境一:日常口語表達
適用時機
與朋友、家人或同事的日常對話,語氣通常比較激動或無奈。
常用說法
This car just cut me off out of nowhere, and I slammed right into it. I couldn’t stop in time.
- 中文:有台車不知道從哪冒出來插隊,我直接撞上去。我根本來不及煞車
- 發音重點:cut me off
要連讀,聽起來像 cut-me-yoff
I got into an accident. Some jerk cut in front of me and I rear-ended them.
- 中文:我出車禍了。有個渾蛋插到我前面,我就追撞他了
- 發音重點:rear-ended
的 -ed
發 /d/ 的音,整個單字重音在第一個音節
- 用法:跟朋友講這件事時,通常會帶點情緒,用 jerk (渾蛋) 或 idiot (白痴) 來形容對方駕駛是很常見的。
Ugh, I was just driving along and this car swerved into my lane. I hit the brakes, but it was too late.
- 中文:唉,我那時就開得好好的,結果有台車突然切進我的車道。我踩煞車了,但來不及了
- 發音重點:swerved
要清楚發音,表示突然轉向的動作
情境二:正式商務場合
適用時機
向警察陳述、跟保險公司溝通,或向主管報告為何遲到。語氣需要客觀、冷靜。
專業表達
A vehicle suddenly merged into my lane directly in front of me. I was unable to brake in time and collided with the rear of their vehicle.
- 中文:一輛車突然切入我前方的車道。我來不及及時煞車,因而與該車的後方發生碰撞
- 語調:語氣要平穩、不帶情緒,像在陳述一個事實
The accident occurred when another driver made an abrupt and unsafe lane change. I did not have sufficient time to react, resulting in a rear-end collision.
- 中文:這起事故的發生,是因為另一名駕駛突然且不安全地變換車道。我沒有足夠的反應時間,導致了追撞
- 用法:Abrupt
(突然的) 和 unsafe
(不安全的) 是在正式報告中用來強調對方責任的關鍵詞
I was involved in a traffic accident. A car cut in front of my vehicle without warning, and I couldn’t avoid the impact.
- 中文:我捲入了一場交通事故。一輛車無預警地切到我的車前,我避免不了這次撞擊
- 情境:這句話很適合用在打電話給保險公司或報警時的開場白
情境三:書面表達
適用時機
撰寫保險理賠申請的書面陳述、正式 Email 或法律文件。
正式寫法
I was proceeding straight in my designated lane when another vehicle unexpectedly swerved into my path of travel. This action left me with insufficient distance to stop safely, leading to a collision.
- 中文:我當時正在我自己的車道上直線行駛,另一輛車無預警地切入我的行駛路徑。此舉讓我沒有足夠的安全距離可以煞停,因而導致碰撞
The proximate cause of the accident was another driver’s sudden and unsafe lane change. Despite my immediate attempt to apply the brakes, a rear-end collision was unavoidable.
- 中文:本次事故的直接原因為另一名駕駛突然且不安全的變換車道。儘管我立即試圖煞車,但追撞已不可避免
This statement is to formally attest that on [日期], a vehicle abruptly moved into my lane. My inability to prevent the subsequent collision was a direct result of the other driver’s action, as there was inadequate time and space to react.
- 中文:本陳述是為正式證明,於[日期],一輛車突然駛入我的車道。我之所以無法阻止隨後的碰撞,完全是對方駕駛行為的直接結果,因為當時沒有足夠的時間和空間讓我反應
常見錯誤避免
❌ 錯誤說法
A car inserted in front of me.
✅ 正確說法
A car cut in front of me.
or cut me off.
- 中文:一輛車插到我前面
錯誤分析
- Insert
的意思是「插入、放入」,通常用在物體上,例如 insert a key into the lock
(將鑰匙插入鎖孔)
- 在交通情境中,形容車輛切換車道,我們用 cut in
或 merge
- Cut me off
是最傳神的說法,帶有「被危險超車」的含義
學習技巧:想像用剪刀「切斷」(cut) 你前方的路,這樣就能記住 cut me off
這個片語。
實用單字與片語
核心單字
cut off [phrasal verb]
- 意思:(開車)搶到…前面,攔截
- 例句:That red car just cut me off at the intersection!
(那台紅色車剛剛在十字路口搶我的線!)
rear-end [verb]
- 意思:從後方追撞
- 例句:If you follow too closely, you’re likely to rear-end someone.
(如果你跟車太近,就很有可能追撞別人。)
實用片語
slam on the brakes
- 意思:緊急煞車,猛踩煞車
- 例句:I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a dog.
(我必須緊急煞車才沒撞到一隻狗。)
out of nowhere
- 意思:不知從哪冒出來,突然
- 例句:The bicycle appeared out of nowhere and I almost hit it.
(那台腳踏車不知從哪冒出來,我差點就撞到它。)
實際應用練習
練習情境
打電話跟朋友訴苦
You won’t believe what just happened! I was driving on the freeway, and some idiot in a huge truck cut me off. I slammed on my brakes, but I still rear-ended him. My car is a mess!
你絕對不會相信剛剛發生什麼事!我剛在高速公路上開車,有個開大貨車的白癡突然插隊,我緊急煞車,但還是追撞他了。我的車毀了!
跟警察做筆錄
Yes, officer. I was traveling at approximately 60 kilometers per hour in the center lane. The blue vehicle to my right abruptly changed lanes into my path without signaling. I had no time to react before the collision.
是的,警官。我當時在中線車道,時速大約60公里。我右邊那台藍色車輛沒有打方向燈,就突然變換車道到我前方。在碰撞發生前,我完全沒有時間反應。
寫 Email 跟老闆解釋為何會遲到
Dear [Boss’s Name], I am writing to inform you that I will be late for work today as I was involved in a minor traffic accident. A car cut in front of me unexpectedly, which resulted in a fender-bender. I am currently waiting for the police to arrive.
親愛的[老闆名字],寫這封信是為了通知您我今天上班會遲到,因為我遇到了一點小車禍。有輛車突然切到我前面,造成了輕微的追撞。我目前在等警察來。
延伸學習
相關表達
Fender bender
- 小擦撞、輕微事故
- 例句:It wasn’t a serious crash, just a little fender bender.
(這不是嚴重的車禍,只是個小擦撞。)
Totaled
- (車子)完全報銷、全毀
- 例句:The car is totaled; the repair costs are more than its value.
(這台車全毀了,維修費比它的價值還高。)
學習小偏方
💡 記憶技巧
想像一把剪刀 (scissors) 把你前方的路「剪斷」(cut off),讓你無路可走,只能撞上去。這個畫面可以幫助你記住 cut me off
。
💡 實用建議
練習描述這件事時,可以錄下自己的聲音,聽聽看語氣是否符合情境(跟朋友訴苦 vs. 跟警察報告)。
💡 文化敏感度
在美國發生車禍時,除非百分之百是你的錯,否則律師和保險公司通常建議不要輕易說 I’m sorry
或 It was my fault
。因為這可能被視為承認責任。
思考練習
使用情境
如果是你插隊別人,不小心造成事故,該怎麼說?(例如:I accidentally cut someone off and caused an accident.)類似表達
中文裡的「鬼切」、「硬切」都跟cut someone off
的意思很接近。文化背景
在行車記錄器普及的今天,這類事件的責任歸屬變得更容易判斷,但在口頭描述時,準確用詞依然非常重要。
希望這些內容對你有幫助!多練習幾次,下次遇到類似情況就能脫口而出了!