零距離美語會話[文化風俗差異]Lesson 5:Did you tip the bellboy

Five Did you tip the bellboy?
你付小費給那個服務生了嗎？

1 Introduction
A It is the custom to give tips to waiters in restaurants and taxi drivers.
在餐館給服務員小費、給的士司機小費被認爲是習俗。
B It is also American custom when visiting friends to telephone ahead of time to let them know you are coming.
在拜訪朋友時，提早打電話讓他們知道你來了也被認爲是一種美國習俗。
C In America and Britain, it is not acceptable to smoke in a friend’s home without asking.
在美國和英國，沒有詢問對方就在朋友家抽菸是不能容忍的。
D When someone moves into a new home, it is the custom to give a “housewarming” gift.
當別人搬進新房子時，送上一份喬遷之喜禮物是一種風俗。
E When a couple gets married, the bride’s family usually pays for the reception.
夫妻結婚時，新娘家通常支付宴會費用。
F When a child is born, the father often gives cigars to friends.
小孩出生時，父親常常送雪茄煙給朋友們。
G Usually Americans go Dutch when they go out to eat, unless it is understood ahead of time that one person will pay for everyone.
美國人外出吃飯通常是各自付帳，除非之前有人說請客。

2 Sample Sentences
1. Are the customs the same or different in your country?
在你們國家，風俗習慣是一樣，還是不同？
2. I heard you’re supposed to kiss each other at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Is that right?
我聽說除夕的子夜時刻你們應該互相親吻。是這樣嗎？
3. When you come back from a vacation, you’re expected to bring small gifts for your friends.
當你度假回來，你理應帶些小禮物給你的朋友。
4. Are you familiar with the customs here?
你對這兒的風俗習慣熟悉嗎？
5. What are you expected to do on Thanksgiving in your country?
在你們國家，感恩節你理應做些什麼？
6. Every time my husband leaves home, he hugs me and kisses me goodbye.
每次我丈夫出門，他都擁抱我，並親吻說再見。
7. When a man wants to marry a girl, it’s customary that he buys her a ring and asks her to marry him.
當一個男人想要與一個女孩結婚時，習慣上他買一個戒指給她並要求她嫁給他。
8. People here are proud of their heritage.
這裏的人們都爲他們的血統感到自豪。
9. You won’t be seen so much in America. You only see cars going by often.
在美國你不會被經常看到。你只看到車子經常經過。
10. You are supposed to pay the gas bill when you use someone’s car.
當你用別人的車時，你應該付汽油錢。

3 Conversations
1. How much should I leave?
Two Chinese business people are unpacking in their San Diego hotel room.
Susan: Did you tip the bellboy1?
Tom: Yes, but I don't think it was enough. He looked disappointed. I gave him three dollars.
Susan: That sounds about right to me, fifty cents a bag. If they think you don't know better2, they'll try to get more.
Tom: It's the same in Kauloon. But I definitely think we over-tipped the cab driver. The fare was twenty dollars, and you gave him a five-dollar tip. That's twenty-five percent of the total! Too much!
Susan: I disagree. He was polite and informative3, and he drove smoothly. One should reward4 good service.
(Later in the hotel dining room)
Tom: I'll sign for5 dinner and charge it to our room. Let's see. The bill is one hundred dollars. That seems reasonable. How much tip should I leave?
Susan: Remember last month when we were in Europe? Maybe Californians use that same system: they add the waiter or waitress into the bill, so you don't have to leave anything extra.
【譯文】
——你付小費給那個服務生了嗎？
——給了，但是我想沒給夠。他看起來有些失望。我給了他三美金。
——我覺得還公正，一個旅行袋五十美分。如果他們認爲你不知行情，他們會試着多要錢。
——在Kauloon也是這樣。但是我肯定我們多給了出租車司機小費。車費是20美金，而你給了他五美金小費。那是總額的四分之一。太多了！
——我不贊同。他又有禮貌，見識又廣，而且他開車很平穩。一個人應該對好的服務給予報酬。（不久，在酒店餐廳裏）
——我來簽收晚餐，記入我們房。看看。賬單是一百美金。看起來很合理。我應該給多少小費呢？
——記得上個月我們在歐洲嗎？也許加州人使用同樣的方式：他們把男服務生或者女服務生加入了賬單內，所以你不必額外給錢。

2. What to wear?
May, a journalist for China Daily, is attending a conference in New Orleans.

May: Frank, I want your advice on something. Some scientists I met at the conference6 this afternoon have invited me to a party. Actually, they called it an "informal get-together."
Frank: And what's the problem?
May: When I asked how people were going to dress, Dr. Lite said it was casual.
Frank: And you want to know what to wear?
May: Well, last night I went out with some journalists for a "casual" party, but I was overdressed7. I wore what I consider casual -- an outfit of skirt, blouse, scarf, and medium heels ... you know.
Frank: That sounds just right to me. What was wrong with it?
May: Everyone else there was wearing blue jeans. Several of the women had on running shoes. I felt out of place8. So I have no idea what to wear tonight.
Frank: My guess is you can safely wear last night's outfit to tonight's party.

【譯文】
——弗蘭克，我想你在某些方面給我一些建議。今天下午我在會議上碰到的一些科學家邀請我去參加一個聚會。實際上，他們稱之爲“隨便聚聚”。
——那有什麼問題？
——當我問到其他人會穿什麼衣服時，賴特博士說這很隨便。
——那你是想知道該穿什麼樣的衣服？
——昨晚我和一些記者參加了一個“隨便”聚會，但我卻穿得過於正經了。我穿了我認爲是休閒的服裝——一套衣裙、短衫、圍巾和中跟皮鞋……你知道。
——我聽起來沒覺得什麼不對勁。有什麼不好呢？
——那兒每個人都穿着藍色的牛仔褲。有幾個婦女還穿着跑鞋。我感到很不自在。所以我不知道今晚穿什麼好。
——我想你可以穿昨晚的衣服大膽去參加今晚的派對。

3. Let's go Dutch.
Two friends in line at a movie theater in downtown Cleveland, Ohio.

Ari: Come on, Tara. Let's go up to the window and buy two tickets. The movie is starting in a few minutes.
Tara: We can't break into9 the line. Don't be so impatient. We'll be at the front of the line soon.
Ari: (To the cashier) Two tickets, please. How much are they?
(Ari holds a twenty-dollar bill in his hand.)
Tara: Oh no, Ari. I didn't mean for you to pay for me when I invited you to go tonight. Let's go Dutch. I'll pay my own way. I insist.
(They enter the theater.)
Ari: I'm looking forward to this film. I read a good review of it in this morning's newspaper.
Tara: Me, too. It will be great to see something light and funny10 for a change. I'm tired of heavy drama.
(They look for empty seats in the theater.)
Ari: Are these seats okay?
Tara: They're fine, but I can't watch a movie without popcorn11.
【譯文】
——過來吧，泰瑞。我們上去到窗口買兩張票。電影過幾分鐘就要開始了。
——我們不能擠亂隊伍。不要這麼沒耐心。我們很快就要到隊伍前面去了。
——(對收銀員說) 請買兩張票。多少錢？（阿里手裏拿着一張二十元錢。）
——不，不要，阿里。今晚我邀請你來不是要你爲我付錢。我們各付各的吧。我會付自己的。我一定要的。（他們進入電影廳。）
——我一直盼着看這部電影。今天早上我在報上看了它的好評。
——我也是。換個口味，看些輕鬆滑稽點的會很好。藝術性的劇本我都看膩了。
(他們在電影院找空座位。)
——這些座位好不好？
——可以，但是沒有爆玉米花，我看不了電影。

4. Why would Chinese answer questions this way?
An American teacher is talking with his Chinese wife about his Chinese students.

Gary: Did you go to the bank to withdraw12 money?
Sissy: Today is so hot, besides I had so much housework to do. My friend came for a visit and stayed for two hours. I didn’t forget, but I had no time at all.
Gary: So you didn’t. Is that right?
Sissy: Yes. I’m sorry.
Gary: Why didn’t you just answer my question directly? Why would Chinese answer questions this way? I simply asked if you did it or not. It’s a very simple question. And Chinese often give the reason before they would give a direct answer.
Sissy: Yes, I’m sorry. I know it bothers you very much. But I don’t know why Chinese sometimes would do this.
Gary: You know, today I asked a student if he brought his dictionary with him. It’s a rule I made for the class that everyone brings a bilingual13 dictionary with them because sometimes they don’t understand me. The funniest thing is that this student gave me a lot of reasons and no direct answer.
Sissy: But you know if he brought it or not, right?
Gary: Yeah, after all the explanations like, it’s too heavy, I was in a hurry…whatever.

Helpful Information：
It’s an American way of talking that questions should be answered before being explained, even if answers might be something negative and very disappointing.
美國人的談話方式是先回答問題再解釋原因，即便答案有可能是否定的，並且很令人失望。

【譯文】
——你去銀行取錢了嗎？
——今天很熱，而且我有很多家務要做。我的朋友來玩，還呆了兩個小時。我是沒忘記，但我根本就沒有時間。
——那麼你沒有去。是不是？
——是啊。我很抱歉。
——你爲什麼不就直接回答我的問題？爲什麼中國人會這麼回答呢？我只是簡單地問你有沒有去。這個問題很簡單。而中國人常常先說明理由再給答案。
——是，對不起。我知道你很煩這一點。但是我不知道爲什麼中國人有時候會這麼做。
——你知道嗎，今天我問一個學生他有沒有帶字典來。因爲有時候班上的人聽不懂我說的，所以我跟他們定了一個規定，那就是每個人帶一本英漢字典。最可笑的事是這個學生給了我很多理由，沒有一個直接的答案。
——但是你知道他有沒有帶，是不是？
——是，在所有的解釋之後，比如太重了，我出門時很急……等等。

4 Words and Expressions
1. bellboy 旅館大廳的服務生
2. know better (對事物)有不止如此的瞭解,認識
3. informative見聞廣博的，有益的
4. reward 報答;報償;獎賞
5. sign for簽收
6. conference (正式)會議,協商會
7. overdressed 穿着過於正經的
8. out of place 不在適當的位置，不相稱的
9. break into 闖入;打斷
10. light and funny 輕鬆活潑地
11. popcorn 爆玉米花
12. withdraw 抽回;收回;取回
13. bilingual 雙語的