14. Can you lower the price?
 
Can you lower the price?
Can you make it cheaper?
That's way too high.

That's too expensive.
I can't afford it.
Please help me out.

How about a deal?
How about 20% off?
I'd really appreciate it.
背景说明
　　不管在美国，或全世界任何地方买东西，都要学会还价。
(1) Can you lower the price? 你能不能降低价格？
lower 当形容词时，是指“比较低的”，在这里当动词，作“降低”解。
这句话也可简化成：Please lower the price. 或直接说： Lower the price.
(2) Can you make it cheaper?  你能不能便宜一点？
这句话的句意是“你能不能使它变便宜一点？”，引申为“你能不能便宜一点？”也可说成：Make it cheaper.
(3) That's way too high. 那个价格真是太高。
way 一般作“方法”解，在此是副词，表“非常”。
这句话也可说成： That's way too high for me. 或只说：That's too high.
(4) That's too expensive.
本句中的 That是指所要买的东西，而不是指价格，有些中国人说价格很贵，或很便宜，但美国人却不这么说，英文中的price，不能和expensive或cheap连用。
(5) I can't afford it. 我负担不起。
凡是你买不起，或能力不足以做什么事，就可以说：I can't afford it.
(6) Please help me out.
help sb. out  帮助某人摆脱困难；帮助某人解决问题；帮某人的忙
(7) How about a deal?
deal 的主要意思是“交易”，在这里是指good deal“好的交易”。这句话的字面意思是“一个好的交易如何？”引申为“要不要给我一个好价钱？”
美国人说话喜欢省略，常说a deal，代替a good deal。
(8) How about 20% off?
这句话是How do you feel about 20% off ? 的省略。20% off 的意思是“去掉20%”，就是“打八折”，等于a 20% discount。
(9) I'd really appreciate it. 我会非常感激。
I'd really appreciate it. 是省略了if从句没有说出来。源自：If you helped me out, I would really appreciate it.   
凡是拜托别人做事情，都要说：I'd really appreciate it. 事后感激别人，就只说：I really appreciate it.

对话练习
A: Can you lower the price?
B: Our prices are fixed.

A: Can you make it cheaper?
B: Let me ask my manager.

A: That's way too high.
B: That's the regular price.

A: How about 20% off?
B: That's the final price.

 

15. Happy birthday!

Happy birthday!
Congratulations!
You must be feeling great!

It's a big day.
It's your special day.
We should celebrate.

Enjoy yourself.
Have a super day.
I wish you all the best.

背景说明
　　美国人和中国人一样，过生日要祝福别人生日快乐。
　　这是一组万能祝福句，Happy birthday! 只是一个代表。
(1) Happy birthday!
这句话是美国人祝福别人生日时最常说的话，源自I wish you a happy birthday!
(2) Congratulations!
congratulation 这个词主要意思是“祝贺”，当“恭喜”解时，要用复数。这个词，就是一个完整的句子。
(3) You must be feeling great!
这句话用现在进行时，表示加强语气。现在进行时在会话中经常使用，强调现在的感情和情绪。
(4) It's a big day.
big day 和中文的“大日子”一样，但美国人比中国人更常使用，凡是重要的日子，美国人都称作big day，像生日、结婚、毕业、面试、入学考试当天，都可算是big day。
(5) Enjoy yourself.
这句话源自：I hope you enjoy yourself. 字面意思是“希望你享受你自己。”引申为“好好玩吧。”或“希望你玩得愉快。”等于Have fun. 或Have a good time。
(6) Have a super day.
这句话源自I hope you have a super day. 这类的说法很多，可用来祝福别人，也可用在和人道别时说。
(7) I wish you all the best.
all the best 意思是“万事如意；一切顺利”，源自May all the best things happen to you.
I wish you all the best. 也可说成：I wish you only the best.
I wish you all the best. 还有另外一个意思，是“祝福大家都好。”

对话练习
A: Happy birthday!
B: Thank you. You're so sweet.

A: We should celebrate.
B: Good idea!

A: It's your special day.
B: Not really. It's just another day.

A: I wish you all the best.
B: You too. I wish you well.

 

 
16. Here's a little something.

Here's a little something.
I got this for you.
I hope you like it.

It's not much.
You deserve more.
You deserve the best.

You're one of a kind.
You're so special.
You're really great.

背景说明
　　送礼物给别人，不是施舍，除了送礼外，更要有尊敬之心，才能表示出你的诚意及谦虚。
(1) Here's a little something.  这是个小东西。
= Here's a little gift.
= Here's a little present.
这些句子后面都可以加上“for you”，来加强语气。
(2) I got this for you.
get 主要意思是“得到”，在此的got可指“买”和“带来”的意思。
(3) It's not much. 这不值多少钱。
美国人和中国人一样，很谦虚，即使送贵重的礼物，也会说不值多少钱。
(4) You deserve more.  你应该得到更多。
这句话源自You deserve more than this. 或 You deserve more than I'm giving you.
在此more是代名词，表示“更多”。
(5) You deserve the best. 你应该得到最好的。
这句话在这里是You deserve the best gift. 的省略，也可加强语气说成：You deserve only the best. 不管你送什么礼物给别人，都可以说这句话来表示谦虚。
(6) You're one of a kind. 你非常特别。
of a kind 中的a等于the same，这句话字面意思是“你是同类中惟一的一个”，引申为“你非常特别。”
(7) You're really great.
这句话还可说成 You're truly great. 都是“你真是棒”，语气较强。

对话练习
A: Here's a little something.
B: You're too kind.

A: I got this for you.
B: You're so nice.

A: You deserve the best.
B: You flatter me.

A: You're one of a kind.
B: What a nice compliment!