Unit 3
Could you please tell me where the restrooms are? (4)
This information comes from Yang Xuehui at Shili high school in Xihe, Gansu.
请问，您可以
...
？
Could You Please ...?
当你到某一外国游玩时，
When you visit a foreign country,
要知道如何礼貌地寻求帮助是很重要的。
it is important to know how to ask for help politely.
例如你可能会问“洗手间在哪里？”
For example, you may ask “Where are the restrooms?”
或者“您能告诉我洗手间在哪里？ “，
or “Could you please tell me where the restrooms are?”
这些都是问路的相似请求问句。
These are similar requests for directions.
两句都是正确的，
Both are correct,
但第一句听起来不太礼貌，
but the first one sounds less polite.
这是因为它提问太直接了。
That is because it is a very direct question.
当我们请求帮助时，
When we ask for help,
仅仅正确地提问还远远不够的，
it is not enough to just ask a question correctly,
我们还需要学习如何表达才更有礼貌。
We also need to learn how to be polite.
优秀的说话者在不同情境会改变自己说话的方式。
Good speakers change the way they speak in different situations.
他们使用的表述或许取决于他们跟谁谈话以及与谈话者的熟悉程度。
The expressions they use might depend on whom they are speaking to or how well they know each other.
如果你对你的同学直接问话是完全可以的因为你们很熟悉。
It is all right to ask direct questions to your classmates because you know well.
然而假如你对老师说，
However, if you say to your teacher,
“
学校郊游是在什么时候？”
“
When is the school trip?”,
这也许听起来不礼貌，
this might sound impolite.
但如果你说：
“请问，韦斯特老师，
But if you say, “Excuse me, Mr. West.
您知道学校什么时间郊游吗？”
Do you know when the school trip is?”,
这听起来更礼貌得多。
this will sound much more polite.
通常礼貌的问句要长一些，
Usually polite questions are longer.
并且包含两个表达，
They include expressions,
诸如
Could you please ...?
或
May I ask ...?
。
such as “Could you please ..?” or “May I ask ...?” .
要说
...
听起来更有礼貌，
It sounds more polite to say,
“
彼得，麻烦你说一下你的电子邮件地址好吗？”
“
Peter, could you please tell me your e-mail address?”
比说“彼得，告诉我你的电子邮件地址。” 。
than “Peter, tell me your e-mail address.”
有时我们甚至需要花一些时间来导入我们的请求。
Sometimes we even need to spend time leading in to a request.
例如在请求帮助前，我们先对陌生人说，
For example, before asking for help, we might first say to a stranger,
“劳驾，我想您能否帮我一下”
“
Excuse me, I wonder if you can help me”
或者“很抱歉有事麻烦你，可是
...”
。
or “I’m sorry to trouble you, but ...” .
似乎礼貌地讲话比直白地说话更困难一些。
It might seem more difficult to speak politely than be directly.
然而， 学习在不同情境如何使用适当的语言是很重要的。
However, it is important to learn how to use the right language in different situations.
这会帮助你与其他人更好地进行交 流。
This will help you communicate better with other people.
麻烦您请告诉我一下在哪儿可以停放车辆好吗？
Pardon me, could you please tell me where to park my car?
当然可以。那边有个地下停车场。
Sure. There’s an underground parking lot over there.
邮局在哪儿？
Where’s the post office?
很抱歉，我无法帮你。
Sorry. I can’t help you.
Good habits achieve beautiful life.
Try to be your best
.
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