欢迎再度光临,不是welcome again
接待国外宾客,在送客时说:“Thank you. Welcome again.”等于是直译中文的“欢迎您再度光临”,但其实是错误用法,因为这句话是指“再度欢迎您光临”。餐厅里的口误英语有哪些?
1 谢谢,欢迎再度光临。
(×)Thank you. Welcome again.
(○ )Thank you. Please come again .
2 我们一行4个人,我想订一桌4个人的座位。
(×)We have four people. I'd like to reserve four seats.
(○ )We are a group / party of four . I'd like to reserve a table for four .
一行有几人用group或party,所以,问对方一共有多少人就说How many (are there) in your party?此外,中文订位都说订n个座位,但英文都说一桌n个人。
3 你们开店到多晚?
(×)When is your restaurant closed?
(○ )How late are you open ?
店家的“开”“关”,在中文和英文里都有两种意思:开门、关门,或营业、歇业。第一句close当动词,用被动式,反倒象是问店家何时歇业、关门大吉。适当的用法是问对方开到几点,open在此为形容词。
4 我点的菜还没上。
(×)My meal hasn't shown up yet.
(○ )My order hasn't come yet.
中文的问法直接,英文则偏含蓄,不管是点饮料或主菜,直接用order即可。order是名词,表示“点的东西”。上菜不用show,因为这不是展示,用come即可。