阿圻的BLOG

一． Situational Dialogue
(Jason's wanna buy a gift for his girlfriend's birthday)
1. Well, I'll buy a gift for my girlfriend. Could you give me some recommendations?
2. Well, how about some roses? They stand for the love from the bottom of your heart.
3. That's great. But I think that'd be a little monotonous(单调的).
4. How about roses and a necklace?
5. Is that too tacky(俗气的)? I want to give her something special.
6. How about this silver bow(蝴蝶结)? She can use it to wear her hair in any style she wants. This's supposed to be special.
7. Great. This's what I'm looking for. Please wrap it up.

 

二． Conversations
1. 每当有喜事时，可以送礼表示祝贺
(1) 新居落成
A: Best wishes, Mary! This is a little something for your new home.
B: Thank you. You're so sweet. May I open it?
A: Go right ahead. 尽管打开吧。
B: My! A coffee pot. John's a very heavy coffee drinker, so I'm sure we'll be using this a lot. This is exactly what we need!

 

(2) 结婚周年纪念
A: Happy Anniversary!
B: Thank you. Oh, a present! It's very kind of you. How could you remember the date?
A: I may forget my anniversary but not yours.
B: May I open it?
A: Sure, go ahead. I hope you like it.
B: Oh, my! Paper dishes!
A: Yeah, it's your paper anniversary, isn't it?
结婚一周年纪念 paper anniversary
结婚五十周年纪念 golden wedding
六十周年或七十五周年纪念 diamond anniversary

 

(3) 祝贺朋友快生小孩
A: Sally, this is for your baby. Your baby is due(预期的；应到的) at the end of this month, isn't it?
B: Yes, but the doctor said it might be a little later. Thank you. It's so sweet of you. (after opening the gift) Oh, a terry(毛圈棉织物) cloth robe(宽松的外袍)! Thanks a gain, Jenny.
A: Have you decided what your baby's name is going to be?
B: We sure have. If it's a girl, we're going to name her Rebecca after my grandmother. If it's a boy, we're going to name him Dennis. That was Bob's great-grandfather's name.

 

2. 收到礼物时表示感谢
(1)
A: Mr. Lee, here is a small souvenir from Britain.
B: Wow, thank you so much. It's nice of you. May I open it now?
A: Sure. I hope you like it.
(after opening the gift box)
B: Very nice! This is just what I wanted. Thank you again.

 

(2)
A: This is for your children, John.
B: Thank you, David. But you don't have to spoil(宠坏，溺爱) them so much, you know. You're already their favorite uncle.
A: But they're such wonderful children, John. It's a pleasure to buy them presents. Don't worry, I don't think I can spoil them too much.
B: Thank you for speaking so highly of them.
A: Don't mention it. They're so different from all the other children I've met.

 

3. 有时给人一个惊喜也是一件很不错的事
D=Dad  K=Kid
D: Hey, kid! Daddy has a surprise for you.
K: What is it, Dad?
D: Open this card and read.
K: A trip to Europe… for Summer Vacation… from Dad… Wow! What a wonderful surprise! Thank you, Dad. This is the best surprise I've had. When are we leaving, Dad?
D: Whenever you want. Do you want to leave next Monday?

 

4. 当您需要服务员包装礼物时，可以这样说
A: Where can I get this gift wrapped?
B: Over there at the gift-wrapping section(包装部).
A: Thank you.
(later)
A: Can I have this gift wrapped, please?
C: Yes, what's the occasion(场合，时机)?
A: It's for a baby's birthday.

 

三． Supplementary information
1. 中西方送礼习惯
  i. 对中国人来说，送礼是件大事。除年节亲友互赠礼品外，多半是直接用钱来表达心意：结婚时的礼金(gift of money)、新年时给小孩子的压岁钱(lucky money)。在这方面，中国人很实在。反观英美的习俗里，送礼物不但可以表达感激之情，常常也用来作为联络感情的一种方式。无论父子、夫妇、朋友、情侣，彼此都可以借送礼物来增进感情。在美国，有几个特定的场合(occasion)更是得送礼物来表达心中的祝福与关怀：wedding、Christmas Eve、Birthday、Wedding Anniversary、Housewarming(搬新家)、Baby shower(生小孩)、Graduation、Bridal shower/Bachelor's Party(单身惜别会)。

 

2. 接受礼物的礼貌
  i. 在接受礼物时，除向对方道谢之外，外国人还习惯当场拆开礼物，并且礼貌地说一句"May I open it?"。礼物拆开后，再大大赞扬一番。如此，双方都会十分愉快。

 

3. gift与present的不同
  i. 礼物，美式英语用gift，英国则常用present。圣诞礼物英国人说Christmas present，美国人说Christmas gift。不过现在英国人也逐渐采用gift的说法。另外，present还可以当作动词，而gift却只是名词。如 He presented me with a gift. 一点薄礼叫a little gift，而不是a little present。在美国南部，"Christmas Gift!"是一句圣诞节时打招呼的话，意思是"Merry Christmas"。

 

4. 重要的结婚周年名称
  i. 一周年纸婚  paper wedding anniversary
  ii. 十周年锡婚  tin wedding anniversary
  iii. 二十周年瓷婚 china wedding anniversary
  iv. 二十五周年银婚 silver wedding anniversary
  v. 三十周年珍珠婚 pearl wedding anniversary
  vi. 四十周年红宝石婚 ruby wedding anniversary
  vii. 五十周年多婚 golden wedding anniversary
  viii. 六十周年钻石婚 diamond wedding anniversary

 

5. 常送给女性的礼物
  i. jewelry
  ii. cosmetics   化妆品
  iii. costume jewelry (用作服饰的)人造珠宝
  iv. bracelet   手镯
  v. brooch   胸针
  vi. necklace   项链
  vii. locket pendant  链坠
  viii. ring    指环
  ix. coral earrings  珊瑚耳环
  x. gold
  xi. silver
  xii. diamond
  xiii. emerald   翡翠、绿宝石
  xiv. jade    玉

 

6. 常送男性的礼物
  i. tie    (necktie的简称)
  ii. tie clip   领带夹
  iii. cuff links   袖扣
  iv. lighter   打火机
  v. key chain   钥匙链
  vi. cologne   古龙水
  vii. razor   刮胡刀(传统式)
  viii. electric shaver  电动刮胡刀
  ix. briar    烟斗
  x. fancy handkerchief 饰胸手帕
  xi. wallet   皮夹(=billfold)
  xii. watch