图书序言
Friendship and gift-giving
友谊与送礼
●Many Chinese people hate to visit friends empty-handed.
许多中国人不喜欢空手去看朋友。
●Would it be inappropriate to give an American friend cash (red-envelope) as a gift?
送红包给美国朋友当礼物,是不恰当的吗?
●Would giving cash (money) be considered in poor taste or tacky?
赠送现钞,是庸俗或不得体的吗?
(以往许多美国人不知道中国人的 red envelope 是指 cash 或 money 的红包。现在愈来愈多人认为送现钞、支票或礼券,既省时,又实际;但仍然有人认为送钱是「低品味」)
●It would make me happy if you would buy yourself a little something with my check.
假如你能用我的支票,为你自己买点小东西,我会很高兴。
●As long as a gift comes from the heart, it does not matter how small it is.
礼物只要出自衷心,不论多小都没关系。
●It is the thought that counts.
最重要的,那是一种心意。(礼轻情意重)
●To avoid suspicion of bribery, many American bosses do not want to accept gifts from employees.
唯恐被人怀疑收受贿赂,许多美国上司不收员工礼物。
●I sent him a gift, but I expect nothing in return.
我送他一份礼物,但我不希望他任何的回报。
●I buy gifts within my means; I do not match gift for gift.
我买礼物是按自己的经济能力;不与别人做比较。
●I always accept a friend’s gift gracefully and appreciatively regardless of its monetary value.
我都以感恩之心,接受朋友的礼物,不论其价格为何。
●A gift should be given for no other reason than the joy of giving.
礼物只是赠送的喜悦,而没有其他的原因。
或:A gift should be given with no strings attached.
送礼应该没有任何附加条件。
●The most meaningful gifts are the ones that come from the heart.
最有意义的礼物,是来自内心的关爱。
●This gift is merely a token of my deep affection for you.
这份礼物仅仅是我对你深深关爱的表示。
●Let’s not exchange gifts this year and spend time together instead.
我们今年不交换礼物,大家聚聚就好了。