第三招 诚实的你

第三招 诚实的你
Honesty

美国诗人桑迪斯说过，“诚实是高贵得以发展的萌芽”( Honesty is the germ from which all growth of nobleness proceeds.)。世间还有什么品德是比诚实更可贵的呢？世间还有什么样的人会比诚实者更受人信赖呢？萧伯纳认为，“说谎者所受到的惩罚绝不是没有人相信他，而是他不会相信任何别人”(The liar's punishment is not that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.)。


Key Words
关键词

actually, confess, direct, fact, frank, frankly, honest, sincere, straight, true, truth


The Most Common Expressions
最常用表达法

Actually, it is all my fault.
实际上，都是我的错。

As a matter of fact, I know nothing about literature.
事实上，我对文学一窍不通。

OK, I'll tell you what. It is I who wrote the anonymous letter to the headmaster.
好，我告诉你怎么回事，给校长的那封匿名信是我写的。

To tell you the truth, I don't have the slightest interest in your proposal.
坦率地说，我对你的提议没有丝毫兴趣。

I'm afraid I have some bad news. The doctor told me that your chances of recovering are slim.
我有些坏消息要告诉你，医生告诉我说你痊愈的可能性极小。

I hope you don't mind my saying so, but that's a terrible dress you're wearing!
希望你不要介意我的话，可你这身衣服真是糟透了！

I'm embarrassed to say this, but I forget your name.
真不好意思，但我确实不记得你的名字了。

I'm sorry, but I have to say that I don't get your point at all.
抱歉，不过我得说，我一点儿也不懂你的意思。

I promise I'm telling the truth.
我保证，我说的是实话。

[ 模仿最准确、发音最到位、速度最流利；“三最一口气”背诵记录时间：45〞]


The Informal Expressions
非正式场合表达法

To be frank, even though I'm trying my best, I cannot do it.
坦白讲，尽管我尽自己的最大努力，也还是做不到。

To be honest, this poem of yours is the worst I've ever read.
说老实话，你这首诗是我读过的最糟的诗。

I understand what you're saying, but I must disagree.
我明白你所说的，但我不能同意。

I wish you were right, but I'm afraid you're not.
我希望你是对的，但恐怕事与愿违。

I've kept nothing from you. I give you my word.
我对你毫无隐瞒，我保证。

I swear I'm not telling a lie.
我发誓，我没有撒谎。

I've got to apologize to you. I broke your favorite vase just now.
我得向你道歉，我刚才把你最心爱的花瓶打碎了。

I'm not exactly sure how to put this but I have read your diary. I know I don't have the right to do so, but I was so curious that I couldn't help reading it.
我不知道该怎样说才好，我看了你的日记。我知道我没权利这样做，但我就是太好奇了，忍不住要去看。

Um, this isn't easy to explain. I'm not going to work today. In fact, I haven't been to the office in two weeks because I was laid off. For the past two weeks, I leave home every morning as usual because I don't want you to be worried.
嗯，这挺不好说的。我今天不上班。实际上，我这两个星期就没上过班。我下岗了。这两个星期，我早上照常出去是因为我不想让你担心。

[ 模仿最准确、发音最到位、速度最流利；“三最一口气”背诵记录时间：50〞]


The Formal Expressions
正式场合表达法

I hope you will not feel offended, but I really don't agree with you.
我并不想得罪你，但我确实不能同意你的看法。

I don't honestly think that opera is particularly enjoyable.
说实在的，我觉得歌剧并不是很有意思。

To be quite frank with you, I do not appreciate your way of handling the dispute.
坦白告诉你，我不欣赏你这种处理争端的手法。

If I am to be completely honest with you, I must admit that there is risk in any course we may take.
如果要我对你说老实话，我必须承认，无论我们采取什么步骤都会有风险。

What is the truth? The truth is that our company is faced with a serious crisis, which will lead to bankruptcy within a month.
实情是什么？实情就是，我们公司正面临严重的危机，一个月之内就会破产。

I intended to find some clues to prove myself innocent. That was all I intended. I never did intend to spy on any of your secrets.
我想找到一些线索以证明我的清白，仅此而已，我并没有任何刺探机密的意思。

We lag far behind them in strength, even with the advantage of mental quality.
尽管在心理素质上有优势，但我们的实力较他们仍相差太远。

[ 模仿最准确、发音最到位、速度最流利；“三最一口气”背诵记录时间：51〞]


Dialogue
对话

A: I'm afraid I have something to tell you. It's hard to say, but I read your diary the other day.
恐怕我有些事情要告诉你，不过这很难开口，有一天我看了你的日记。
B: You did? How dare you!
你看了我的日记？你怎么敢？
A: Well, it was by chance. You put your diary on the desk and I couldn't help being curious about it.
嗯，那纯属偶然。你把日记本放在桌上，我控制不住我的好奇心。
B: I hate you!
我讨厌你。
A: Oh, don't say that. I didn't mean to. I could have concealed my misbehavior but since you're my best friend, I have to be honest with you. To tell you the truth, I wish I hadn't done that.
噢，别这么说。我不是有意那么做的。我本可以不告诉你，但你是我最好的朋友，我必须坦诚相待。说真心话，我真希望我没那么做。


Sentence Structures
增值句型

[句型1]

To put it bluntly…

例：To put it bluntly, I think you have made a complete mess of things.
恕我直言不讳，你把事情搞得一团糟。

[句型2]

To tell it as it is...

例：To tell it as it is, the situation is not promising at the moment.
实话实说，此刻的情形不容乐观。

[句型3]

To be candid…

例：To be candid, I don't like your way of behaving.
老实说，我不喜欢你的行为方式。

[句型4]

Personally…

例：Personally, what you said just now is sheer fantasy.
就我个人而言，你刚才所说的话简直就是天方夜谭。

[句型5]

I must confess…

例：I must confess I didn't believe you at first.
必须承认，起初我并不相信你。


Useful Phrases
表达口头禅

Let's be honest here.
让我们开门见山吧。

Take my word for it.
相信我的话。

Trust me.
相信我。

I should be the one to apologize.
应该道歉的是我。

Sorry, my mistake.
对不起，我搞错了。

I can't say that I share with your view.
我不能说我赞同你。

This may hurt you but I must say it.
这也许会伤你的心，但我非说不可。