CRI实用英语课堂 Unit 34 US Express Mail II 在美国寄快递(下)(在线收听

Part 3 Send it express mail! 用快件寄给我!

Dialogue Script 3  对话原文 3     

Sam: Hi, I'd like to send this express mail.
Clerk: Did you fill out the express mail bill?
Sam: Uh, no, I didn't.
Clerk: The forms are on the shelf against the wall. Fill one out, and bring it back with your package.
Sam: Gotcha. OK, I'm all set.
Clerk: OK, let's see how much your package weighs. It'll be twelve forty-five for the shipping. Did you want to insure it?
Sam: Well, the contents aren't really that valuable, so I probably don't need to.
Clerk: OK. That's twelve forty-five, then. ( Sam hands her fifteen dollars) Out of fifteen. Two fifty-five is your change.
Sam: Thanks. It'll be there tomorrow morning, right?
Clerk: Should be. It might be early afternoon. Don't forget your copy of the bill.
Sam: What do I need this for?
Clerk: It's got your tracking number on it. You can use this number to check the progress of your package.
Sam: How do I do that?
Clerk: You can use our website or call our customer service center.
Sam: Sounds easy enough.
Clerk: Is there anything else that you don't understand?
Sam: No, I'm good, thanks.
Clerk: Have a good day!
Sam: You too.

讲解:

1. 对话中Sam来到了邮局寄包裹。邮局的营业员让他先去填一张表格,fill out the express mail bill。bill在这里的意思是“单据,账单”。fill out 这个词组表示“填写表格之类的东西”,有意思的是在美式英语当中,fill in 和fill out都可以表示“填充,补充”,比如说,You have to fill out/fill in an application form first. 你得先填一张申请表。The hole has been filled in. 洞已经被填满了。

2. fill out也可以表示“变得更大,更圆,更胖”,我们可以说,Her cheek began to fill out. 她的脸渐渐胖了起来。Sam对营业员说,gotcha,是Got you在口语中的缩略形式,表示“ 我明白你的意思了。”很快Sam就填完了表格,他说,OK, I'm all set. 意思是说,我已经准备好了。

3. 营业员要先称一称Sam包裹的重量,一共需要十二块四毛五分钱。营业员又问Sam需不需要为这份快递保价,也就是要不要为运送的货物上保险。insure,表示“上保险,投保”,例如:He insured himself for 50,000 dollars. 他为自己投五万美元的人寿保险。或者我们也可以说,He insure his life for 50,000 dollars. insure sb/sth against sth,也表示“为某人或某物上保险”。比如,We insured our house against fire. 我们给自己的房子保火险。Sam觉得箱子里面的东西并不是那么贵重,就不需要上保险了。

4. 那他就应该只付十二块四毛五分钱就行了。他给了营业员15美元,营业员就找了他两块五毛五分钱 Out of fifteen. Two fifty-five is your change. 那么out of A, B is your change这个句型在买东西找钱的时候会经常用到。店员通常会先复述一遍你支付的金额,之后再说出要找你的零钱的数目,所以套用刚才说的句型就行了,就是out of A, B is your change。其中A就是你付的金额,B就是要找给你的零钱。我们用一个对话来做例子, ---I will take this shirt. ---Out of twenty. Seven fifty is your change. / Your Change is seven fifty.
---这件衬衫我要了。---收你二十元,找你七元五角。

5. Sam问这个包裹明天早上是否寄到,营业员说应该是的,但也许是刚过中午的时候,也就是early afternoon,那么late afternoon就表示“下午快接近傍晚的时刻”,也就是四、五点钟左右。营业员还提醒Sam不要忘了单据的副本,就是the copy of the bill.

6. 那么这个单据的副本是做什么用的呢?Sam也不明白,他问What do I need this for? 又是这个what for,我们以前提过很多次了,表示“为什么”,跟why 差不多,比如上面那句话就可以说成Why do I need this? 使用what for的时候呢,千万不要忘了这个for。营业员解释说副本上面有货件追踪号码,可以用这个号码查询货件的进度。

7. tracking number,就是“货件追踪号码”,每家快递公司的快递单子上都会印有这样的号码,方便顾客追查物品运送的进度。那么去哪查询物品运送的进度呢?可以到快递公司的网站上去查或者给客服中心打电话查询。 

8. Sam觉得这很简单,他说Sounds easy enough. Sounds easy enough. 表示“某事做起来很简单,听起来就更简单了,只要告诉对方Sounds easy enough,就能让对方安心,你也可以说“(Sounds) Simple enough”,用一个对话作例子,---To get there, just take this road for two miles, turn left at the gas station, and you're there. ---(Sounds) Simple enough, thanks. ---要去那里,只要沿着这条路走两英里,到加油站左转,然后你就到了。---听起来很简单,谢谢了。

9. 营业员最后问Sam还有什么问题不清楚,Sam 说I'm good.,没有了。I'm good. 这句话看似简单,却意义非凡。这个短句表示自己对于现在的状况非常满意,最常见的使用情况是在餐厅,比如说,服务生问你要不要再来杯饮料的时候,你就可以简单地说一句,I'm good. 或者I'm fine. 一方面表示拒绝,一方面也含有谢谢对方好心询问的意味。比如说,---Would you like some more milk? ---No, I'm good. Thank you. ---还要再来点牛奶吗? ---不用了,谢谢。

Dialogue Script 4  对话原文 4   

Lily: Hello, can I speak to Sam?
Sam: This is he.
Lily: This is Lily. I bought your Star Wars figures on eBay.
Sam: Oh, right. Great stuff, huh?
Lily: That's just it. Nothing's been delivered. I asked you to send them overnight mail.
Sam: I did! They said they'd get there today. Let me find out what happened and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

讲解:

1. 对话中Sam接到了买主Lily的电话。打电话的时候要注意,要找某人可以说“Can I speak to someone?”或者“May I speak to someone?”,回答的时候我们就可以说“This is he.” 或者“This is she. ”。

2. Sam还以为Lily已经收到了快件,打电话来谢谢他呢,原来是快件出了问题。That's just it. 我要说的就是这件事。That's just it. 这句话用在当对方提起的事情正是你想要说的,或者那正是整件事的问题所在,你就可以这么说,来表示你对此事的关注程度,并强调其重要性。我们用一个对话来举例,---Why are you worried Lily won't like the food? This roast beef looks great. ---That's just it. She just told me she's a vegetarian!---你为什么会担心Lily不喜欢这里的食物呢?这里的烤牛肉看起来很棒。---这就是问题所在,她刚刚告诉我她是一个素食主义者!

3. 原来Lily根本没有收到任何东西,她要Sam寄的是第二天就能送到的快递呀。那么overnight mail指的就是那种在今天送件,货件会在下一个营业日到达的运送服务。Sam觉得很委屈,他确实就是按照Lily的要求寄的快递。而且邮局的人也说今天能送到,到底怎么回事呢?

4. Sam也觉得很奇怪,他说要去查一下是怎么回事,再回电话给Lily。这里get back to someone,是一个很常见的电话用语,就是“给某人回电话”的意思。或者当两个人讲电话聊到没有话说时,也可以用这句话作结束语。或者当一家餐厅在客流高峰时期,你想找侍者点餐的时候,侍者一时忙不过来,就会跟你说,I'll get back to you right away. 意思是“我马上过来。”

5. 还有就是当你一时回答不出对方问题的时候,也可以用上这一句。例如,---Do you have time to talk about our business trip? ---I'm kind of busy right now. Can I get back to you in a little while? ---你有时间讨论一下我们这次出差的事情吗?---我现在有点忙,我可以等一下再去找你吗?

6. as soon as possible,表示“尽快”,经常缩写成ASAP。

Dialogue Script 5  对话原文 5   

Sam: I need to have a package tracked.
Rep 2: Certainly. Your tracking number, please?
Sam: It's three two nine four six seven one eight.
Rep 2: Let's see...it was sent to three-three-seven Cedar Street, but there is no such address in Carrollton, Mississippi.
Sam: What are you talking about? I sent it to Carlton, Minnesota!
Rep 2: Our file shows it as being addressed to Carlton, MS.
Sam: Yeah, so?
Rep 2: MS is the abbreviation for Mississippi. MN is Minnesota.
Sam: (to himself) Smart move, Sam! But what about the zip code? That should be right.
Rep 2: Hmm...the zip code is correct. We'll make sure it gets to the right address.
Sam: I won't have to pay again, will I?
Rep 2: No, since you had the correct zip code, we'll be responsible. Just use the right abbreviation next time!

讲解:

1. 对话中Sam给客服中心打电话,查询包裹到底出了什么问题。have a package tracked,查一件包裹。那么have something done表示“让某人做某事”,而不是自己亲自去做。虽然Sam自己打电话去查询,但是查询这个过程还是要由工作人员来完成。我们再举个例子,I need to have my hair cut. 我得去理发了。

2. 客服人员需要知道Sam的货件追踪号码,也就是印在单据副本上的那个号码。Sam告诉了她。客服员查到邮件是送往西德街三三七号,但是密西西比州的卡罗尔顿根本没有这个地址。Sam一听就知道不对了,What are you talking about? 你在说什么啊?这句话看似简单,但实际上有“你在讲什么东西,根本是胡说八道”的意味在里面,句尾的语调下沉,表示不认同对方说的话。

3. 当然,装傻的时候,这句话也能用上。例如,---I saw you out dancing with some guy last night. ---What are you talking about? I was home all night! ---我昨天晚上在外面看见你跟一个男人跳舞。---你在说什么啊?我整晚都在家里!Sam又强调了一遍他是要送去明尼苏达州的卡尔顿,但是客服人员告诉他,档案显示的送件地址是MS的卡尔顿。

4. Sam还不服气,他说Yeah, so? 是呀,然后呢?客服人员又告诉他,MS is the abbreviation for Mississippi. MN is Minnesota. MS是密西西比州的缩写,而MN才是明尼苏达州的缩写。原来Sam是把州名的缩写弄错了。所以他暗地里骂自己,Smart move, Sam! 干得好啊,Sam! 这里是一个反语,因为Sam自作聪明把州名的缩写弄错了,所以他在这里暗骂自己愚蠢。

5. 但是Sam还是不死心,又问邮政编码应该是对的吧,邮政编码就是zip code,美国的邮政编码是由五个数字组成,前三个数字代表所居住的州,市,后两位数字代表邮区。幸好Sam没有写错邮政编码,客服人员承诺一定会送到正确地址去。

6. Sam还要确认自己不用再付一次钱,客服人员告诉他,因为他写的邮政编码是正确的,所以这次是由快递公司负责,不用再付费了,她还提醒Sam,下次一定要用正确的州名缩写,免得引起不必要的麻烦。

Dialogue Script 6  对话原文 6   

Jenny: Hi, Sam! You get everything straightened out with the Star Wars figures?
Sam: Yeah. She was kind of pissed about the delay, but they got there.
Jenny: So what are you sending now?
Sam: I just sold my grandmother's china to someone.
Jenny: Dot't you think you should put in more padding?
Sam: Oh, don't be so uptight. It'll be fine.

讲解:

1. 对话中Sam又要去邮快递了,这次他在eBay上把奶奶的瓷器给卖掉了。Jenny很关心地问他,《星球大战》玩偶的事情已经解决了吗?You get everything straightened out with the Star Wars figures? 这里get everything straightened out 表示“把一切搞定”,比如,---Why is Brian so mad at you? ---It's nothing but a big misunderstanding. I'll talk to him and get it straightened out. ---为什么Brian这么生你的气?---都是误会,我会跟他谈谈,把事情弄清楚。

2. 类似的词组还有get something straight,这里的straight 是作为副词,意思是“直率地,有话直说地”,也就是当对方说话拐弯抹角,避重就轻的时候,就可以直接跟他说 Let me get this straight,还是让我来把话说清楚吧。Lily已经收到了玩偶,但是她对东西晚到的事情很生气,be pissed about something,表示“对…生气,不爽”,pissed 这里是指“反感的,厌恶的”,比如,---What's with Nancy? ---Beats me. She's pissed about something and won't talk to anyone. ---Nancy怎么了?---我也不知道。不知道因为什么她就生气了,而且不跟任何人说。

3. 另一个相似的用法就是pissed off,比如说有人给你惹毛了,你就可以说,He really pissed me off. 或者I was pissed off by him.  尽管是晚到了,但无论如何还是到了。那么这次Sam又要寄什么呢?他要把奶奶的瓷器卖给别人。Jenny提醒他应该在箱子里多放一些填料,因为瓷器是非常容易碎的。padding的意思是“填料,衬垫”。但是Sam却认为不用那么紧张,没有那个必要,don't be so uptight.当中的uptight在口语中表示“紧张的,着急的”。

Dialogue Script 7  对话原文 7   

Sam: I've got a package for ground shipping I'd like to have picked up tomorrow.
Rep 4: OK, I need your address.
Sam: Twelve oh-nine Marina Drive.
Rep 4: Do you have an account with us?
Sam: No, this is a one-time pickup.
Rep 4: I see. Will you be paying in cash, then?
Sam: Yeah, I guess. What time can you pick it up?
Rep 4: Our driver will be there at 9:30 A.M.
(in the afternoon)
Jenny: So you had some shipping problems, huh?
Sam: Yeah, the guy said two of the plates broke in transit.
Jenny: So what are you going to do?
Sam: I'm trying to get UPS to pay, but I didn't insure it. I don't know about this eBay stuff. It's been a big headache.

讲解:

1. 对话中Sam在电话中办理了邮寄的业务。他说,我有一个小包裹要走陆运,希望明天来取件。ground shipping 是指小型包裹运送服务,收送范围是美国,加拿大,波多黎各以及墨西哥大陆地区,提供经济的陆上运送服务,一至五天能送达目的地。

2. 营业员又问Sam有没有他们的账户,Sam回答说没有,因为他就寄这一次而已。这里的account指“账户”,只要拥有UPS的账号,就会拥有更多的电子加值业务,包括线上预约快递,建立通讯录,查阅快递纪录等等。

3. 这里pick up是指取件,而one-time pickup 指的是没有和快递公司长期合作,只交易一次的客户。所以Sam只能用现金付账了,pay in cash。快递公司的司机会在早上9点钟到达。可是到了下午,Jenny发现Sam还是在为运货的事情发愁,So you had some shipping problems, huh? “huh”是一个感叹词,相当于汉语的“是不是,嗯”,表示轻蔑,厌恶,疑问等语气,对话中的huh就表示疑问的语气。来给大家举个表示“轻蔑”语气的例子,You think you know the answer, huh? 你以为你知道答案吗,嗯?原来Sam寄出的瓷器在运输途中打碎了两个,当初真应该听Jenny的话多塞一些衬垫在里面,也就是padding,这样盘子也许就不会打碎了。in transit 表示“在运输的途中”。

4. 那Sam该怎么办呢?他想让UPS赔钱,可是他又没有替这些瓷器买保险,人家当然不会赔了。Sam真的不知道该不该继续在eBay上卖东西了,麻烦的要命。这里的I don't know about something,表示“我不确定该不该做某事”,这个句型用在当你对眼前的事物还不太熟悉,甚至还没有进入状态,就被要求参与其中,而且这件事也许会很危险,也许会有很多的麻烦事发生,所以你不太愿意去做的时候。来举个例子,---Another rough day in class, huh? ---Yeah. I don't know about this grad school thing. Maybe it's just not for me. ---今天又是很难过的一天,是吧。---是啊,我不太确定读研究生到底对不对,也许并不适合我。类似的句型还有I'm not sure about something。

5. It's been a big headache. 就表示“某事很难办到,很让人头疼”。而someone is a headache,就表示“某人很难对付,让人头疼”了。

 

  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/lesson/criroom/46516.html