[ On an Amtrak train the same day. The train is traveling from Florida to New York City. Grandpa is sitting on the train. A woman puts her suitcase on the seat next to him. ]
Elsa Tobin: Excuse me. Is this seat taken?
Malcolm Stewart: No, it's not taken.
Elsa Tobin: Oh, thank you.
Malcolm Stewart: Oh, let me help you with this. [ he puts her suitcase in the overhead rack. ]
Elsa Tobin: Oh, thank you.
Malcolm Stewart: Do you want to sit by the window?
Elsa Tobin: No, no, no. I like the aisle seat better. Please, you sit by the window.
[ They sit down. ]
Malcolm Stewart: My name is Stewart...Malcolm Stewart. Pleased to meet you.
[ They shake hands. ]
Elsa Tobin: I'm Elsa Tobin. How do you do?
Malcolm Stewart: Do you live in New York?
Elsa Tobin: No, no. I'm from Florida.
Malcolm Stewart: I am, too. But didn't you just get on?
Elsa Tobin: No, no. I just changed my seat. A man next to me was smoking, and smoke really bothers me.
Elsa Tobin: Where are you from in Florida?
Malcolm Stewart: Titusville. It's near Orlando.
Elsa Tobin: Small world. I'm from Titusville, too.
Malcolm Stewart: Really? What part?
Elsa Tobin: My husband and I live near Spaceport.
Malcolm Stewart: I know that area. My house is only a few miles from Spaceport. Do you still live there?
Elsa Tobin: Oh yes, yes. My husband's there now.
Elsa Tobin: He couldn't take time off to come to New York with me. Do you still live there?
Malcolm Stewart: No. I sold the house and the furniture, put a few personal things in an old trunk, and shipped it to my children in New York. That's my destination.
Elsa Tobin: Are you married?
Malcolm Stewart: My wife died four years ago. She was a wonderful woman. A real friend.
Elsa Tobin: I'm sorry. Really, I'm sorry.
Malcolm Stewart: Lots of wonderful memories. We were married almost fifty years. Well, forty-seven, to be exact.
Elsa Tobin: John and I celebrate our fortieth anniversary next month.
Malcolm Stewart: Oh, congratulations! That's nice. What does John do?
Elsa Tobin: He's an aerospace engineer and works for Orlando Aircraft Corporation. He started with them almost forty years ago. What do you do?
Malcolm Stewart: I just retired. Had my own company. A construction company. Roads, bridges, big stuff. But I just sold it and retired.
[ A conductor walks over to them. he asks to see Mrs. Tobin's ticket. ]
Conductor: Excuse me, ma'am. Ticket, please.
Elsa Tobin: [ to Grandpa] Would you kindly hold these keys, please? I have a ticket, I know. I was in the smoking section.
Conductor: It's OK, lady. Take your time.
Malcolm Stewart: I'm sure it's in your purse, Mrs. Tobin.
Elsa Tobin: Oh, here it is. [ She finds the ticket in her handbag and gives it to the conductor. ]
Malcolm Stewart: And here are your keys.
Malcolm Stewart: Thank you.
[ The conductor moves on. ]
Malcolm Stewart: Do you have family in New York?
Elsa Tobin: No, no. But I do have very close friends in New York City.
Elsa Tobin: We like to go to the theater together. You said you have family in New York.
Malcolm Stewart: Yes, indeed. A son and his wife and their three children -- my grandchildren.
Elsa Tobin: You must be excited.
Malcolm Stewart: I can't wait, to see them!
Elsa Tobin: Are you going to live with them?
Malcolm Stewart: Yes.
Elsa Tobin: Permanently?
Malcolm Stewart: Well... they want me to, but it's too early to know for sure. I'm pretty independent.
Malcolm Stewart: I tried to teach my kids the importance of independence, but I'm not sure I want to be alone.
Malcolm Stewart: Some people don't mind being alone. I do.
Elsa Tobin: I understand. But tell me. Why did you stop working?
Malcolm Stewart: I retired because... I wanted to be with my family. I didn't want to be alone anymore!
| Occupied 有人占着的(较正式) | This bathroom is occupied at the moment. 这间洗手间现在有人。 |
|---|---|
| Available 空闲的 / 可用的 | Are there any available rooms in this hotel? 这家旅馆还有空房吗? |
| Give someone a hand 搭把手 | Can you give me a hand with this heavy box? 你能帮我抬一下这个重箱子吗? |
|---|---|
| Do someone a favor 帮某人一个忙 | Would you do me a favor and open the door? 能帮我个忙把门打开吗? |
| Window seat 靠窗位 | Kids usually love sitting in the window seat. 孩子们通常喜欢坐在靠窗的位子。 |
|---|---|
| Prefer...to... 相比...更喜欢... | I prefer the aisle seat to the window one. 比起靠窗位,我更喜欢过道位。 |
| Board 登机 / 上船(较正式) | Passengers are now ready to board the plane. 乘客们现在可以登机了。 |
|---|---|
| Hop on 跳上车(口语) | Let's hop on the next tram. 咱们跳上下一班电车吧。 |
| Annoy 使恼火 | Stop tapping your pen; it's annoying me. 别敲笔了,吵死我了。 |
|---|---|
| Disturb 打扰 / 扰乱 | Please do not disturb me during the meeting. 开会期间请勿打扰。 |
| What a coincidence! 真巧啊! | You're going there too? What a coincidence! 你也要去那儿?真巧啊! |
|---|
| Ask for leave 请假(较正式) | He asked for three days' leave. 他请了三天假。 |
|---|---|
| Call in sick 打预防请病假 | I’m going to call in sick today. 我今天打算打电话请病假。 |
| To be precise 精确地说 | It’s 2:15 and 30 seconds, to be precise. 精确点儿说,现在是2点15分30秒。 |
|---|---|
| Specifically 具体地 | I’m looking for a car, specifically a Tesla. 我在找车,具体点儿说是特斯拉。 |
| Occupation 职业(正式) | Please state your name and occupation. 请陈述您的姓名和职业。 |
|---|---|
| What's your job? 你的工作是什么? | What's your job at the new company? 你在新公司负责什么工作? |
| Join 加入 | When did you join the company? 你什么时候进公司的? |
|---|---|
| Work for 为...工作 | I have worked for them for a decade. 我为他们工作十年了。 |
| Retirement 退休(名词) | He is planning his retirement. 他正在计划退休后的生活。 |
|---|---|
| Step down 下台 / 辞职 / 隐退 | The CEO decided to step down after 20 years. 首席执行官决定在任职20年后隐退。 |
| And things 诸如此类的 | We talked about work and things. 我们聊了聊工作之类的事。 |
|---|---|
| Business 事务 / 买卖 | The construction business is booming. 建筑行业正在蓬勃发展。 |
| Do me a favor 帮个忙 | Could you do me a favor and hold this? 能帮我个忙拿一下这个吗? |
|---|---|
| Mind 介意(接doing) | Would you mind holding this for me? 你介意帮我拿一下这个吗? |
| No rush 不急 | There is no rush; I can wait. 不着急,我可以等。 |
|---|---|
| Hurry 急忙 | Don't hurry, or you'll make mistakes. 别急,不然会出错。 |
| Bet 打赌(口语常用:肯定) | I bet he's already at home. 我敢打赌他肯定已经到家了。 |
|---|---|
| Certain 确信的 | I am certain that he will come. 我确信他会来。 |
| Bestie 闺蜜 / 死党 | I’m going shopping with my bestie today. 我今天要和我的闺蜜去逛街。 |
|---|---|
| Buddy 哥们儿 / 伙伴 | Hey buddy, what's up? 嘿哥们儿,近来咋样? |
| I bet 我敢打赌... / 肯定... | I bet he's forgot all about it. 我敢说他把这事儿忘得一干二净了。 |
|---|---|
| Can't be 肯定不是(否定推测) | It can't be true! 那绝对不可能是真的! |
| Look forward to 期待(接doing) | I look forward to meeting you. 我很期待见到你。 |
|---|---|
| Be dying to 极度渴望 | I'm dying to know the secret! 我太想知道那个秘密了! |
| For certain 肯定地 | I can't say for certain yet. 我现在还不能肯定。 |
|---|---|
| Definitely 绝对地 | That’s definitely the best choice. 那绝对是最好的选择。 |
| By oneself 独自靠自己 | She finished the project by herself. 她靠自己完成了那个项目。 |
|---|---|
| Lonely 寂寞的(心理状态) | I feel lonely even when I'm in a crowd. 即使在人群中我也感到寂寞。 |
| Care 在意(通常用于否定) | I don't care what they think. 我不在乎他们怎么想。 |
|---|---|
| Object to 反对 | Do you object to the plan? 你反对这个计划吗? |
| No longer 不再(常置于动词前) | He no longer works here. 他不再在这里工作了。 |
|---|---|
| Not anymore 再也不(常置于句末) | We're not friends anymore. 我们不再是朋友了。 |