商務禮節美語第107期:商人的襪子

陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作。他上班中間休息，跟美國同事Amy一起下樓喝茶。

(Office ambience)

C: Amy, 你幹嘛老看我的腳啊？

A: I'm sorry. I just couldn't help noticing that you aren't wearing socks today.

C: 天兒太熱了，不穿襪子還涼快點兒。

A: Personally, that might be all right, but professionally that's a bad decision.

C: 爲什麼？我見過很多人上班都不穿襪子的。

A: However, at ABC Company, professional dress is important for our corporate image.

C: 我上班穿西裝，打領帶，這還不夠嗎？

A: No. Would you consider not wearing a shirt with your coat and tie?

C: 我當然不會光着膀子穿西裝打領帶了。

A: Then you shouldn't consider wearing your shoes without socks. If your boss Mr. Jones sees you, he will not be pleased.

C: 那可壞了。我可我沒帶襪子。這怎麼辦呀？

A: Avoid Mr. Jones at all cost. Then buy some socks when you go out for lunch today. There's a department store right around the corner.

C: 你說得對，我得先躲着點兒老闆，中午吃飯的時候趕緊去商店買襪子穿上。I will see you later.

MC: 午飯後，陳豪找到Amy.

A: Chen Hao, did you find any socks?

C: 我正準備穿上呢！天兒熱，所以我買了兩雙白襪子，起碼比深顏色的襪子涼快點兒。

A: Oh dear.

C: 怎麼了？

A: White socks are inappropriate for corporate dress. They are more for athletic wear and outdoor attire.

C: 啊？白襪子是跑步打球穿的，不是上班穿的。怎麼這麼多講究呀！好在我還買了一雙深色的。服務員一直向我推銷高腰兒的，就是可以拉到小腿肚兒上來的那一種。我覺得太熱，沒買。

A: Oh dear.

C: 又怎麼了？

A: You should have listened to the salesman. Short socks just won't do in the business environment.

C: 那爲什麼？

A: It's because when you sit down and cross your legs in short socks, you expose everyone around you to the sight of your hairy legs.

C: Amy, 我從來沒想到穿襪子還有這麼多講究。

A: Your business attire is extremely important "right down to your socks".

C: 這麼說，我穿成什麼樣兒也會影響到公司形象了。看來我下班還得再去買襪子，Amy，你陪我去吧，完了事兒我請你吃飯。

A: Thank you. I'll look forward to that.

C: Amy，你能不能再告訴我一下上班要穿什麼樣的襪子。這樣我心裏就有數了。

A: Avoid white socks and short socks. The right sock in business is the one that covers your calf and matches your shoes and pants.