11．I Never Know When to Shake Hands 我该什么时候握手 

 

A: I have a real problem when I meet people. 

 

B: What is it? Maybe I can help. 

 

A: I never know when to shake hands and when not to. Can you tell me something about it? 

 

B: Do you come from a country where they shake hands? 

 

A: Oh yes. Men, women, and children shake hands all the time. 

 

B: It’s very simple. Men shake hands, women and children don’t. 

 

A: But some women do shake hands. And now a lot of children have such good manners, they shake hands too. 

 

B: Well, a good rule to follow is, for men you hold out your hand, for women and children, you wait and see what they do. 

 

A: That sounds easy enough. 

 

B: Sure. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake! It’s nothing to worry about. 

 

译文：

A: 我在和人会面的时候有个问题。 

B: 什么疑问？或许我能帮你。 

A: 我不知道该在什么时候握手，什么时候不握手。你能不能告诉我有关这方面的事? 

B: 你们国家的人握手吗? 

A: 握呀。男人、女人、小孩、时时刻刻都在握手。 

B: 那很简单。男人握手，女人和小孩不握。 

A: 可是有些女人也握手呀。而且现在很多有礼貌的孩子也握手。 

B: 你就遵循这条原则：对男人你先伸手，对女人和孩子就看他们怎么做。 

A: 这听上去再简单不过了。

B: 可不是嘛。你一旦掌握了窍门，那就成了小菜一碟！没什么可担心的。