如何用英语对商品提问?

如何用英语对商品提问?
如何用英语对商品提问?

如何用英语对商品提问?
This is ESL Podcast episode 255. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. 这里是ESL Podcast第255期节目.我是你们的主播, Dr. Jeff McQuillan,来自美丽的加州洛杉矶教育发展中心. Remember to visit our website for more information about this podcast, and for our Learning Guide for this episode. 记得访问我们的网站获得更多本期播客信息,也可以下载本期节目学习指导. This episode is called “Questions About a Product.” We're going to hear a conversation between Paul and the clerk of a - an electronics store, and they're going to be talking about a particular machine and questions, and how to ask questions about electronic machines. Let's get started. 本期节目题目是“” 我们将听到Paul和一家电子产品商店员工之间的对话.他们将谈到一种电器和一些相关问题,以及如何对电器提问.我们开始吧. Paul: Could you help me? I have a few questions about this computer printer. Paul：能帮帮我吗?关于这台打印机,我有些疑问. Clerk: Sure. I’ll try. 员工：当然.知道的我都会告诉您的. Paul: What I’m wondering is whether this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer. Paul：这台机子既可以复印也可以打印吗? Clerk: Yeah, it can. This is a multifunction machine. It can be used as a printer, copier, and a fax machine. 员工：恩,对的.这是一台多功能机器.可以用作打印,复印,也可以发传真. Paul: Can you show me how that works? Paul：您可以示范下是怎么操作的吗? Clerk: Well, it’s pretty straightforward. Just hook it up to your computer and you can use it like any other printer. If you want to make copies, just put the document on the glass or in the feeder and press this button. 员工： 恩,很简单的.首先连接到电脑,就可以像其他打印机那样操作了. 如果你想复印,只需要把文件放到玻璃上或者机子上,再按按钮. Paul: That seems pretty simple. How do I use it as a fax machine? Paul：听起来很简单.怎么发传真呢? Clerk: Just put the document in the feeder like you would for copying, but instead of pushing the “copy” button, press the “fax” button. Make sure it’s hooked up to a phone line, of course. 员工：就像复印一样,只需要把文件放到玻璃上,但是不按“复印”键,而是“传真”键. 当然,前提是要连接在电话线上. Paul: Okay. I think I’ve got it. Does this model come with a warranty? Paul：好的.我好像懂了.这种机型有保单吗? Clerk: All of the machines made by this company have a one-year warranty against defects. If there’s a problem with it, the manufacturer will repair or replace it. 员工：这个品牌所有机子都有一年的保修期. 如果有问题,生产商会负责修理. Paul: That’s good. If I change my mind or decide it’s not what I want, can I return it? Paul：太好了.如果我后来改变主意了,不想要这个机子了,可以退货吗? Clerk: You can return the item for an exchange or a refund within 30 days. 员工：三十天之内可以. Paul: Is there a restocking fee? Paul：有退货费吗? Clerk: No, we don’t have a restocking fee. Just make sure you have your receipt. 员工：没有.只需要提供收据. Paul: I think those are all the questions I had. I appreciate your help. Paul：没有其他问题了.谢谢. Clerk: You’re welcome. Let me know if you have other questions. 员工：不客气.如果有其他问题,也可以问我. Our dialogue begins with Paul asking someone who works at a store - he's in a store, an electronics store - if they could help him. He says, “Could you help me? I have a few questions about this computer printer.” A printer, “printer,” is a machine that puts an image or words that are on your computer onto a piece of paper. 对话开始,Paul咨询一家店的员工-电器商店-他们能不能帮帮他. 他说,“Could you help me? I have a few questions about this computer printer.” “printer,”是指将电脑上的图片或者文本放到一张纸上. The clerk says, “Sure. I’ll try,” meaning I'll try to help you. Paul then says, “What I’m wondering is whether this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer.” What I'm wondering, “wondering,” is an expression that means I want to know - I would like to know - I'm curious about something - I want to know about something. Here, it's used as a polite way of asking a question. Instead of saying, “Can this machine be used as a copier as well as a printer,” Paul says, “What I’m wondering is whether” - if - “this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer.” So, it's another way - a polite way - of asking a question, really. 员工说,“Sure. I’ll try,”意思是我会尽量帮助你的. Paul之后说道,“What I’m wondering is whether this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer.” “wondering,”是一个短语意思是我想要知道一些事情. 在这里,是提问的礼貌方式. Paul不是说的“Can this machine be used as a copier as well as a printer,”而是说“What I’m wondering is whether” - if - “this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer.” 因此,是礼貌的提问方式. The clerk says yes, “it can.” It can be used as a copier, “copier,” as well as a printer. It can do both things. A copier is a machine that makes a copy of a piece of paper - gives you another piece of paper with the same information on it. The clerk says that the machine that Paul is looking at “is a multifunction machine.” Multifunction, “multifunction,” (all one word) means something can do more that one thing. It's a common word that we use in talking about a machine that can be a copier and a printer and something else - it's multifunction. Multi, “multi,” means many. 员工回答说,“it can.”可以用作复印机,也可以用作打印机.两种都可以. 复印机是复印纸张的机子-上面的信息相同. 员工说,Paul看的机子“is a multifunction machine.” “multifunction,”意思是可以处理很多事情的事物. 如果一个机子可以用作复印,打印,以及其他功能,就可以用这个词语,就是多功能.“multi,”是指很多. The clerks says, “It can be used as a printer, copier, and a fax machine,”“fax” machine. A fax machine is something you use to send an image or some words on a piece of paper to a machine somewhere else, and that machine will make a copy of that page. Fax machines are still, I think in most businesses, very popular. Even though we have the Internet now, people still use fax machines frequently. 员工说,“It can be used as a printer, copier, and a fax machine,”传真机. 传真机可以用来发送图片或者纸张到其他传真机上,这个传真机就可以将内容复制下来. 传真机在商务上还是很普遍的.虽然现在有电脑,但是人们还是常常用传真机. Paul says, “Can you show me how that works?” “Can you show me” is an expression that means please show me - please tell me - please demonstrate it. You may ask someone, “Can you show me where the bathroom is? I can't find it.” There you're asking them to point you, or to take you, to where the bathroom is. In the dialogue, Paul is asking the clerk if he could tell him how this machine works, meaning how do you use it. Paul说,“Can you show me how that works?”“Can you show me”是一个短语,意思是请给我展示一下. 你可以问问别人,“请问厕所在那里?我找不到..” 你是在问他们厕所在那里. 对话中,Paul是在问能不能告诉他机子是如何操作的. The clerk says, “it’s pretty straightforward.” Straightforward, “straightforward,” (one word) means easy to understand - not difficult - not confusing - basic. The clerk says that the machine is “pretty straightforward,” meaning it's easy to use; you won't have a problem with it. 员工说,“it’s pretty straightforward.” “straightforward,” 意思是简单易懂的. 员工说机子“pretty straightforward,”意思是操作简单；不会有什么问题. Of course, this is what all people who are selling machines tell you so that you will buy their machine. Then you bring it home, you put it on your desk and you - you can't understand how to use it. Maybe that's just me, I don't know! 当然,所有销售机器的人都会这样告诉你,你才会买他们的机子. 然后带回家,放到桌子上-就完全不知道该怎么操作了.我就是这样的,完全不知道! The clerk says, “Just hook” the machine “up to your computer and you can use it like any other printer.” 、 To hook, “hook,” something up means, usually, to connect two machines together, or to connect one machine to another machine using what we would call cables, “cables.” To hook something up, or to hook up, has some different meanings as well in English; take a look at the Learning Guide for today's episode for more information on that. 员工说,“Just hook”机子“up to your computer and you can use it like any other printer.” “hook,”某事物意思是将两台机器连接在一起,用电线. To hook something up, or to hook up,在英语中意思不相同；看看学习指导中的更多信息. The clerk says that if Paul wants “to make copies” with the machine, he just needs to put the “document” - the paper - “on the glass or in the feeder and press” the “button.' A feeder, “feeder,” is the part of a copier or a printer or a fax machine that holds the paper so it enters automatically into the machine. So, if you are making copies of three pieces of paper, you can put all three pieces of paper into the feeder and the machine will automatically copy each page. Paul says that it “seems pretty simple.” He then asks how to use the fax machine, and the clerk explains he that just puts the document - or the piece of paper - into the feeder, “but instead of pushing the 'copy' button, ” he should “press” - or push - “the 'fax' button.” You can say either “press” or “push.” He says, “Make sure” that “it’s hooked up to a phone line, of course.” Make sure means check - make sure that this is happening, in this case that it's hooked up to a phone line, meaning there is a phone cable connected to the machine. 员工说如果Paul想要用这个机子“to make copies”,他只需要将文件放到玻璃上,再按按钮. “feeder,”复印机或者打印机或者传真机的一部分,上面放纸,就能自动进入到机子. 因此,如果你要复印三张纸,可以把三张纸同时放到机子里,机器就会自动复印. Paul说看起来很简单.他之后问了如何操作传真机,员工解释只要将纸放到机子里,“but instead of pushing the 'copy' button, ”再按传真按钮. 可以说“press,”也可以说“push.” 他说, “Make sure”“it’s hooked up to a phone line, of course.” Make sure 意思是确保事情的发生,确保是连接在电话线上的. Paul then asks if “this model” - this machine - “comes with a warrant?” When we say something “comes with” (two words) we mean that it includes - that it has, or that it will be included with the price of the machine or the purchase of the machine. You may buy a car that comes with a warranty, so when you buy the car, for the same price, you also get a warranty. Now, what is a warranty? “Warranty.” A warranty is an agreement from the company that sells you the products - sells you the machine - to repair it if something doesn't work. So, if the machine breaks - it stops working - you can bring it back and they will fix it if it's under warranty. We use the expression “under warranty” to mean it's still within the time that is covered or included in your warranty. Paul之后问道是否 “this model” - “comes with a warrant?” 如果我们说某事物“comes with”我们是说包括在价格里. 你买一辆车子可能就有保修单.因此,你用汽车价格买一辆车,也可以享受保单. 在这里,什么是保单呢? A warranty是销售产品公司的协议-如果卖给你的机子不能正常操作,就会帮你修理. 因此,如果机子不能正常运作-就可以拿回去修理. 我们用短语“under warranty”意思是在保修期内. The clerk says that “the machines made by this company have a one-year warranty against defects.” Defects, “defects,” are things that are broken or break because the machine was not made correctly. The expression the clerk uses here is a “warranty against defects,” meaning the warranty will cover or include defects - the company will fix it for free if they made it incorrectly. He says, “If there’s a problem with” the machine “the manufacturer” - the people who made the machine - “will repair or replace it.” To replace, “replace,” something means to take something that is broken and give the person a new machine. So, you're giving them something new. To repair means to fix the machine that they have. 员工说,“the machines made by this company have a one-year warranty against defects.” “defects,”是坏的东西,因为机子制造的不正确. 员工在这里使用的是“warranty against defects,”意思是保单包括产品瑕疵-公司可以免费修理. 他说,“warranty against defects,”这个机器-制造机子的人就会修理. “replace,”某事物意思是拿走坏的,拿来好的. 因此,是给他们新东西.修理手中的东西. Paul says, “If I change my mind” and “decide it’s not what I want” - that I don't want this machine, “can I return it?” The expression to change, “change,” your mind means to decide to do something different. You decide to buy something, you go home, a couple of days later your wife finds out that you bought a new computer, and she says, “You have to return it.” So, you go back to the store, and you say, “I changed my mind,” or “My wife changed my mind; I need to return this.” So, it's to do something different from what you had decided on before. Paul说,“If I change my mind”并且“decide it’s not what I want”-我不想要这个机子,“can I return it?” 短语“change,” your mind意思是决定做点不同的事情. 你决定买点东西回家,几天后你老婆发现你买了一台新电脑,她会说,“必须给我退回去.” 因此,你找到商店,你说,“我改变主意了.”或者“我妻子改变主意了,我要退货.” 因此,短语是说做点和之前决定不相同的事情. The clerk says, “You can return the item” - you can bring it back - “for an exchange or a refund within 30 days.” So, you have one month after you buy it to bring it back and get either an exchange, “exchange,” or a refund, “refund.” When you get an exchange on something, that means that you bring the machine back and then get a different machine, or maybe the same machine but a new model of the machine - you can exchange it. To refund means to give money back, so to get a refund means that the company will give you your money back - the store will give you your money back. 员工说,“You can return the item”-你可以退货-“for an exchange or a refund within 30 days.” 因此,你购买之内的一个月可以换货. 如果你exchange某事物,意思是将机子那回到商家,换取另一种电器,也可能是同一种电器,不同型号. To refund意思是退钱,get a refund意思是公司会把钱退回去. Finally, Paul asks if there is “a restocking fee?” A restocking, “restocking,” (one word) fee, “fee,” means that when you buy some machines and you bring it back to the store, sometimes the store doesn't give you all of your money back. They keep ten percent or 15 percent as a restocking fee, meaning they have to do something to make the machine salable again - to be able to sell the machine again. This is very common with electronics - computers, sometimes televisions - that the stores in the United States will not give you 100 percent of your money back if you return it; they'll charge you, or they'll make you pay, a restocking fee. To stock, “stock,” something in a store is to put it in the store to sell it. So, restock means to put something back. The prefix re, “re,” means again. 最后,Paul问道是否有“a restocking fee?” “restocking,”fee 意思是你买了一种机子,拿回到商店,但是商家不会全额退款. 他们会扣去10%的退货费,意思是他们必须给商品重新包装才能重新销售. 电器产品中这种做法很常见-电脑,有时是电视-美国商家不会100%的退款；如果他们退款,会叫你支付退货费. “stock,” something in a store 意思是放到店里销售. 因此,restock意思是归还.“re”意思是再一次. The clerk says they “don’t have a restocking fee.” All the Paul needs is his receipt - piece of paper saying that he bought it and for how much money. Paul then thanks the clerk by saying, “I appreciate your help.” That's a polite way - a nice way - of saying thank you - “I appreciate your help.” 员工说他们“don’t have a restocking fee.” Paul所需要带的就只有收据-一张纸上面写明他用多少钱买的. Paul之后感谢员工说,“I appreciate your help.” 这是一种礼貌的方式表示感谢. Now let's listen to the dialogue again, this time at a normal speed. 现在听这段对话,这次是常速. Paul: Could you help me? I have a few questions about this computer printer. Paul：能帮帮我吗?关于这台打印机,我有些疑问. Clerk: Sure. I’ll try. 员工：当然.知道的我都会告诉您的. Paul: What I’m wondering is whether this machine can be used as a copier as well as a printer. Paul：这台机子既可以复印也可以打印吗? Clerk: Yeah, it can. This is a multifunction machine. It can be used as a printer, copier, and a fax machine. 员工：恩,对的.这是一台多功能机器.可以用作打印,复印,也可以发传真. Paul: Can you show me how that works? Paul：您可以示范下是怎么操作的吗? Clerk: Well, it’s pretty straightforward. Just hook it up to your computer and you can use it like any other printer. If you want to make copies, just put your document on the glass or in the feeder and press this button. 员工：恩,很简单的.首先连接到电脑,就可以像其他打印机那样操作了. 如果你想复印,只需要把文件放到玻璃上或者机子上,再按按钮. Paul: That seems pretty simple. How do I use it as a fax machine? Paul：听起来很简单.怎么发传真呢? Clerk: Just put your document in the feeder like you would for copying, but instead of pushing the “copy” button, press the “fax” button. Make sure it’s hooked up to a phone line, of course. 员工：就像复印一样,只需要把文件放到玻璃上,但是不按“复印”键,而是“传真”键. 当然,前提是要连接在电话线上. Paul: Okay. I think I’ve got it. Does this model come with a warranty? Paul：好的.我好像懂了.这种机型有保单吗? Clerk: All of the machines made by this company have a one-year warranty against defects. If there’s a problem with it, the manufacturer will repair or replace it. 员工：这个品牌所有机子都有一年的保修期. 如果有问题,生产商会负责修理. Paul: That’s good. If I change my mind or decide it’s not what I want, can I return it? Paul：太好了.如果我后来改变主意了,不想要这个机子了,可以退货吗? Clerk: You can return the item for an exchange or a refund within 30 days. 员工：三十天之内可以. Paul: Is there a restocking fee? Paul：有退货费吗? Clerk: No, we don’t have a restocking fee. Just make sure you have your receipt. 员工：没有.只需要提供收据. Paul: I think those are all the questions I had. I appreciate your help. Paul：没有其他问题了.谢谢. Clerk: You’re welcome. Let me know if you have any other questions. 员工：不客气.