EN: Use 'be + looking for' to say you are currently searching for something or someone.
中文: 使用「be 動詞 + looking for」來表示你目前正在尋找某樣東西或某個人。
I am looking for my keys.
我正在找我的鑰匙。
EN: In English-speaking countries, it is common and polite to greet shop assistants with 'Good morning' or 'Hello' before stating what you need.
中文: 在英語系國家,在說明需求之前,先向店員說聲「早安」或「你好」是很普遍且有禮貌的做法。
EN: Use 'over here' to point to a location that is near the speaker.
中文: 使用「over here」來指向說話者附近的位置。
Your coffee is over here.
你的咖啡在這邊。
EN: In retail, 'over here' is a polite way to guide a customer without being too pushy, often accompanied by an open-palm gesture.
中文: 在零售業中,「over here」是一種禮貌引導顧客的方式,通常會搭配手掌攤開的指引手勢,而不會顯得太過強勢。
EN: Use 'Can I + verb' to ask for permission or make a polite request.
中文: 使用「Can I + 動詞」來請求許可或提出禮貌的要求。
Can I open the window?
我可以開窗戶嗎?
EN: In Western retail culture, it is very common and polite to ask to see or handle an item before purchasing. Using 'Can I' is standard and friendly.
中文: 在西方零售文化中,購買前要求查看或觸摸商品是非常普遍且禮貌的。使用「Can I」是標準且友善的表達方式。
EN: Use 'What + noun' to ask for specific information about a category (like size, color, or time).
中文: 使用「What + 名詞」來詢問關於某個類別(如尺寸、顏色或時間)的具體資訊。
What color do you like?
你喜歡什麼顏色?
EN: In Western retail culture, staff are often very proactive and use phrases like 'Of course' to show they are happy to assist.
中文: 在西方零售文化中,店員通常非常主動,會使用「Of course」等詞彙來表達他們很樂意提供協助。
EN: Use 'I think' at the beginning of a sentence to express your opinion or a guess when you are not 100% sure.
中文: 在句首使用「I think」來表達你的想法或不確定的猜測,這會讓語氣聽起來比較委婉。
I think I like this color.
我想我喜歡這個顏色。
EN: In Western clothing stores, sizes are typically Small (S), Medium (M), Large (L), and Extra Large (XL). Using 'I think' is a polite way to express uncertainty about your size before trying it on.
中文: 在西方服裝店,尺寸通常分為小號 (S)、中號 (M)、大號 (L) 和加大號 (XL)。在試穿前使用「I think」是一種禮貌表達對尺寸不確定的方式。
EN: When using phrasal verbs like 'try on' with a pronoun (it, them), the pronoun must go in the middle.
中文: 當使用像 'try on' 這樣的動詞片語搭配代名詞(如 it, them)時,代名詞必須放在中間。
I like these shoes. Can I try them on?
我喜歡這雙鞋。我可以試穿它們嗎?
EN: In Western retail culture, 'Here you are' is a polite way to hand something to a customer. It is more formal than just saying 'Here'.
中文: 在西方零售文化中,「Here you are」是遞東西給顧客時非常有禮貌的說法,比單說「Here」更正式且親切。
EN: Use 'Where is...?' to ask for the location of a single place or object.
中文: 使用「Where is...?」來詢問某個地方或物品的位置。
Where is the restroom?
洗手間在哪裡?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, it is common to ask a staff member for the location of the fitting room rather than looking for it yourself, as they may need to unlock it or count your items.
中文: 在許多英語系國家,通常會詢問店員試衣間在哪裡,而不是自己去找,因為店員可能需要幫你開門或清點衣物件數。
EN: Use 'just' before a prepositional phrase to emphasize that something is very close or exactly in that spot.
中文: 在介係詞短語前使用「just」可以用來強調某物距離非常近,或就在那個精確的位置。
The bathroom is just down the hall.
洗手間就在走廊盡頭。
EN: In retail settings, staff use 'just' to make directions sound more helpful and immediate, reducing the customer's effort to find something.
中文: 在零售場景中,店員常使用「just」來讓指示聽起來更親切且即時,減少顧客尋找物品的心理負擔。
EN: Use the verb 'fit' to say that clothing is the right size or shape for someone. Add 's' (fits) when the subject is singular (this jacket).
中文: 使用動詞「fit」來表示衣服的尺寸或形狀適合某人。當主詞是單數(這件夾克)時,動詞要加「s」。
These shoes fit me well.
這雙鞋子很適合我。
EN: In many English-speaking retail environments, it is common to express enthusiasm when a product meets your needs. Saying something 'fits perfectly' is a polite way to signal you are likely to buy it.
中文: 在許多英語國家的零售環境中,當產品符合需求時,通常會直接表達熱情。說某件衣服「fits perfectly」(非常合身)是一種禮貌的方式,暗示你很可能會購買。
EN: Use 'but' to connect two sentences with contrasting or surprising information.
中文: 使用 'but' 來連接兩個具有對比或令人驚訝資訊的句子。
I like this shirt, but it is too expensive.
我喜歡這件襯衫,但它太貴了。
EN: In many Western retail stores, prices are fixed, but sales or 'discounts' are very common marketing tools to encourage immediate purchases.
中文: 在許多西方零售店中,價格是固定的(不能討價還價),但促銷或「折扣」是非常常見的行銷手段,用來鼓勵顧客立即購買。
EN: Use 'How much is...' to ask about the price, amount, or value of something.
中文: 使用「How much is...」來詢問某物的價格、數量或價值。
How much is the ticket?
這張票多少錢?
EN: In Western retail, 'Oh, really?' is a common polite reaction to hearing about a sale or discount, showing engagement with the salesperson.
中文: 在西方零售環境中,「Oh, really?」是聽到促銷或折扣時常見的禮貌反應,顯示你正在與店員互動並對其提供的信息感興趣。
EN: Use 'percent off' after a number to show a discount. For example, '20 percent off' means you pay 20% less than the original price.
中文: 在數字後面加上「percent off」來表示折扣。例如「20 percent off」代表打八折(減少原價的 20%)。
Everything in this store is ten percent off.
這間店裡的所有商品都打九折。
EN: In English, discounts are expressed by the percentage you save (e.g., 20% off). In Chinese, it's expressed by the percentage you pay (e.g., 80% of the price, or '打八折').
中文: 在英文中,折扣是用「減掉多少百分比」來表示(例如 20% off 是減掉 20%);而在中文裡,我們習慣用「實付多少百分比」來表示(例如打八折,代表付原價的 80%)。
EN: Use 'will' (contracted as 'll) to express a quick decision made at the moment of speaking.
中文: 使用 'will'(縮寫為 'll)來表示在說話當下所做的快速決定。
The soup looks delicious. I'll have that.
這湯看起來很好喝。我要點那個。
EN: In English-speaking retail environments, 'I'll take it' is the standard idiomatic way to tell a salesperson you want to buy an item. Using 'buy' is grammatically correct but 'take' is more common in this specific context.
中文: 在英語國家的零售環境中,'I'll take it' 是告訴店員你想購買某件商品的標準慣用語。雖然使用 'buy' 在語法上正確,但在這種情境下使用 'take' 更為常見。
EN: Use 'by' to describe the method of payment (cash or card).
中文: 使用 'by' 來描述支付方式(如現金或信用卡)。
Can I pay by phone?
我可以用手機支付嗎?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, 'card' usually refers to either a credit card or a debit card. It is common for staff to ask this to prepare the payment terminal.
中文: 在許多英語系國家,「card」通常指信用卡或金融卡。店員詢問支付方式是為了準備相應的收款設備(如刷卡機)。
EN: Use 'by + [payment method]' to describe how you are paying. Note that we do not use 'a' or 'the' before the payment method.
中文: 使用「by + [付款方式]」來描述支付方式。請注意,在付款方式(如 card, cash)前不需要加 a 或 the。
Can I pay by cash?
我可以用現金支付嗎?
EN: In many English-speaking countries, it is common to specify your payment method immediately when the total is given. Using 'please' at the end of such requests is standard etiquette.
中文: 在許多英語系國家,當店員告知總額後,直接說明付款方式是很常見的。在句尾加上「please」是標準的禮節。
EN: Use 'Have a nice...' to give a friendly wish to someone when saying goodbye.
中文: 使用「Have a nice...」在告別時給予對方友好的祝福。
Have a nice weekend!
祝你有個美好的週末!
EN: In English-speaking countries, 'Have a nice day' is a very common and polite way for service workers to end a transaction. It is expected that the customer responds with 'You too' or 'Thank you'.
中文: 在英語系國家,「Have a nice day」是服務業人員結束交易時非常普遍且禮貌的用語。通常顧客會回應「You too」(你也是)或「Thank you」作為回禮。
EN: Use 'Thank you for + [noun]' to express gratitude for a specific thing or action.
中文: 使用「Thank you for + [名詞]」來表達對某件具體事物或行為的感謝。
Thank you for the gift!
謝謝你的禮物!
EN: In English-speaking cultures, expressing gratitude for service is very common and expected. Adding 'so much' makes the thanks feel more personal and sincere than a simple 'thank you'.
中文: 在英語系國家,對服務人員表達感謝是非常普遍且基本的禮儀。加上「so much」會比單純說「thank you」顯得更親切且真誠。
EN: Use 'Come back and + verb' to invite someone to do something when they return in the future.
中文: 使用「Come back and + 動詞」來邀請某人在未來再次回來做某事。
Come back and see me soon.
很快再回來找我喔。
EN: In English-speaking retail culture, 'Come back and visit us' is a standard polite way to end a transaction, emphasizing a welcoming atmosphere rather than just a sale.
中文: 在英語國家的零售文化中,「Come back and visit us」是結帳後標準的禮貌用語,強調營造歡迎的氛圍,而不僅僅是完成一筆交易。
EN: Use 'will' as a short response to agree to a future action or promise mentioned by the other person.
中文: 使用「will」作為簡短回答,表示同意或承諾對方剛才提到的未來行動。
I will. See you tomorrow!
我會的。明天見!
EN: In English-speaking retail culture, giving positive feedback about the service is a common way to show appreciation before leaving a store.
中文: 在英語國家的零售文化中,離開商店前對服務給予正面評價是一種常見的表達感謝的方式。
EN: Use the pattern 'be happy to + verb' to express that you are willing or glad to do something for someone.
中文: 使用「be happy to + 動詞」的句型來表達你很樂意或很開心為某人做某事。
I am happy to meet you.
我很開心見到你。
EN: In Western customer service, using 'anytime' emphasizes a high level of hospitality and willingness to serve, making the customer feel valued.
中文: 在西方服務文化中,使用「anytime」強調了極高的好客程度與服務意願,能讓顧客感到備受重視。
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