很多人都以为"please"和"thank you"是最有礼貌的字眼,只要说了就没错,其实错了。
Sally临时想调一份资料出来,但还不熟悉公司系统,于是请资深的同事协助,她说了"Please send me the background file on the new customer. Thank you."(请把新客户的背景资料寄给我。谢谢!)
Sally很敏感地察觉资深的同事有些不悦,不是都讲了please跟thank you?敞开沟通之后,才发现原来礼貌不礼貌和Please这字的“位置”大有关系。
Please虽然是英文里面表达客气的说法,但是放在一个句子的开头,却是一种命令的口气,像是主管在对下属说:“请你5点前将报表寄出!”这里的请,就没有想像中那么客气了吧。
Please若放在句首,给人一种急迫、甚至含有命令的口气,在英文里想请别人协助做什么事、询问,请记得把please放在最后说,把please在句首,甚至会有颐指气使的感觉。
先比较以下两组句子:
可以再做一次吗?
Could you do that again, please?(最客气)
Could you please do that again?(还算客气)
Please could you do that again?(不客气,有命令的意味)
从这里就可以知道please的客气程度是
【职场上】 please放后面,避免口气太直接
特别是下属对老板想要要求、询问什么事,请记得把please放在最后面,才是最保险的方式:
我今天可以提早离开吗?
(O)May I leave early today, please?
(X)Please may I leave early today?
【教室里】
please可放前面,让指令明确
Please open your book.(=Open your book, please.)(请打开书。)
Please submit your report before or by Monday.(请在周一前交报告。)
【生活中】
please表达接受帮助
Would you like a cup of coffee?Yes, please.(要不要来一杯咖啡。好啊!)
May I help you?Yes, please. I'd like to…(需要帮忙吗?好啊,我想要……)
please表达请求
Could you give me a hand, please?(可以帮我忙吗?)
May I use your pen, please?(我可以用你的笔吗?)
真正要表达客气和礼貌,也不一定要用please,用could跟would一样可以表达请求
Could you possibly send me the file?(可以寄档案给我吗?)
Would you mind sending me the file?
Would you be able to send me the file?
Could I have it within ten minutes please?(我可以10分钟内收到档案吗?)