内容正文:
应用文写作 · 句子三译进阶
第 五 讲 道歉信(Letter of Apology)
一句三译:直白 → 委婉 → 诚恳
写在前面
道歉信是应用文里最考验情商的一种。学生常犯的错是:要么太硬——I can't go. Sorry. 读完让人更生气;要么太软——I'm terribly sorry. Please forgive me. 读完觉得假。
好的道歉信是'软中带硬':态度要软,理由要硬。你得让对方感觉到你是真的过意不去,同时把不能赴约的原因说清楚,最后给出补救方案。这一讲就练怎么把道歉写得既真诚又得体。
用法:先过词块,再看两句示范,最后自己写六句对答案。
一、核心词块
位置
词块
释义
段首
I am writing to apologize for not being able to...
我写信为不能……道歉
段首
It is with great regret that I inform you I cannot...
我怀着极大的遗憾告知您我不能……(强调句)
中段
What prevents me from going is that...
让我无法前往的是……(what主语从句)
中段
Much to my regret, I have to...
令我非常遗憾的是,我不得不……(插入语)
中段
Had it not been for...,I would have...
要不是……我就会……(倒装虚拟)
中段
I would appreciate it if we could reschedule...
如果我们能改期……我将不胜感激
末段
I am terribly sorry for any inconvenience caused
对造成的任何不便我深表歉意
末段
I sincerely hope you can accept my apology and understand my situation
我真诚希望您能接受我的道歉并理解我的处境
二、范例讲解
示范一 段首句
语境:你和Bob约好下周一去看川剧,但你突然得了流感,不能赴约。
要翻的句子:我写信为不能陪你看下周一的川剧道歉。
【直白】I'm writing to say sorry that I can't go to the Sichuan Opera with you next Monday.
意思到了,但say sorry太口语,can't go太硬,像在通知而不是道歉。
【委婉】I am writing to apologize for not being able to accompany you to the Sichuan Opera scheduled for next Monday.
apologize for not being able to比say sorry正式;accompany you比go with you更书面;scheduled for next Monday把时间修饰得更清楚。
【诚恳】It is with great regret that I write to inform you I will be unable to keep our appointment to watch the Sichuan Opera next Monday.
It is with great regret that...强调句开头,把遗憾的情绪拉满;inform you比tell you正式;keep our appointment比go with you更有'守约'的意味,unable to keep our appointment比can't go更得体。
示范二 中段句
语境:说明不能赴约的原因——得了流感,医生建议休息。
要翻的句子:昨晚我突然得了流感,发烧咳嗽,医生建议我休息几天。
【直白】Last night I got the flu. I had a fever and cough. The doctor told me to rest for a few days.
三个短句,像在报病历,没有感情。
【委婉】Much to my regret, I caught a bad flu last night and developed a fever and persistent cough, so the doctor advised me to rest for several days.
Much to my regret插入语开头,先把遗憾摆出来;caught a bad flu比got the flu正式;developed a fever and persistent cough比had a fever and cough更具体;so连接因果。
【诚恳】What troubles me is that I was struck down by a sudden flu last night, running a high fever and coughing constantly, which prompted the doctor to prescribe a few days of rest.
What troubles me is that...主语从句开头,把"困扰我的事"突出;was struck down by比caught更有画面感;running a high fever and coughing constantly现在分词作伴随状语;which prompted the doctor to prescribe比so the doctor advised更正式更有层次。
三、小试牛刀(段首2+中段2+末段2)
句1 【段首】
语境:说明道歉事由。
翻译:我写信为不能陪你看下周一的川剧道歉。
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
句2 【段首】
语境:表达遗憾。
翻译:很遗憾我不能赴约。
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
句3 【中段】
语境:说明原因。
翻译:昨晚我突然得了流感,发烧咳嗽,医生建议我休息几天。
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
句4 【中段】
语境:说明医生建议。
翻译:医生建议我休息并避免去公共场所,这有助于我康复。
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
句5 【末段】
语境:请求改约。
翻译:非常抱歉,我们能改个时间吗?
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
句6 【末段】
语境:再次道歉。
翻译:再次道歉,希望你能理解我的处境。
直白
________________________________________________________________________________________
委婉
________________________________________________________________________________________
诚恳
________________________________________________________________________________________
四、迁移写作
假定你是李华,你和外国朋友Bob原本约定下周一去看一场川剧。昨晚你突然得了流感,发烧咳嗽。医生建议你休息一段时间,因此不能赴约。请给Bob写一封电子邮件,内容包括:1.告知不能赴约;2.说明原因;3.表达歉意,希望改约时间。词数80左右。
Dear Bob,
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Yours truly,
Li Hua
五、参考答案与解析
句1
直白:I'm writing to say sorry I can't go to the Sichuan Opera with you next Monday.
委婉:I am writing to apologize for not being able to accompany you to the Sichuan Opera scheduled for next Monday.
诚恳:It is with great regret that I write to inform you I will be unable to keep our appointment to watch the Sichuan Opera next Monday.
直白版say sorry太口语,can't go太硬。委婉版apologize for not being able to加accompany,scheduled for修饰时间。诚恳版It is with great regret that强调句,keep our appointment有守约意味,unable to比can't得体。
句2
直白:I'm sorry I can't make it.
委婉:Much to my regret, I will not be able to make it to our planned outing.
诚恳:It breaks my heart to miss our long-awaited plan, but circumstances leave me with no choice.
直白版can't make it太随意。委婉版Much to my regret插入语,planned outing比it正式。诚恳版It breaks my heart加long-awaited plan,circumstances leave me with no choice把身不由己说出来。
句3
直白:Last night I got the flu. I had a fever and cough. The doctor said rest.
委婉:Much to my regret, I caught a bad flu last night and developed a fever and persistent cough, so the doctor advised me to rest for several days.
诚恳:What troubles me is that I was struck down by a sudden flu last night, running a high fever and coughing constantly, which prompted the doctor to prescribe a few days of rest.
直白版三个短句报病历。委婉版Much to my regret开头,caught a bad flu加developed a persistent cough,so连接。诚恳版What troubles me is that主语从句,was struck down by有画面,running现在分词伴随,which prompted定语从句。
句4
直白:The doctor told me to rest and not go to public places. This helps me get better.
委婉:The doctor advised me to have a rest and avoid public places, which is helpful for my recovery.
诚恳:The doctor strongly recommended that I stay in and steer clear of public gatherings — advice I must follow if I am to recover fully.
直白版两个短句。委婉版advised me to加which定语从句。诚恳版strongly recommended that虚拟语气,stay in和steer clear of比rest和avoid更地道,破折号加if I am to recover fully条件状语。
句5
直白:I'm very sorry. Can we change the time?
委婉:I am terribly sorry for this inconvenience. Would it be possible to reschedule our visit?
诚恳:I sincerely apologize for having to do this, and I would be deeply grateful if we could find another time that works for both of us.
直白版Can we change the time太直接。委婉版terribly sorry加Would it be possible to reschedule更礼貌。诚恳版sincerely apologize加would be deeply grateful,find another time that works比change the time更体贴。
句6
直白:Sorry again. I hope you understand.
委婉:I apologize again and sincerely hope you can understand my situation.
诚恳:Once more, please accept my heartfelt apology. I trust you will appreciate that this was a decision forced upon me by circumstances beyond my control.
直白版I hope you understand太简单。委婉版apologize again加sincerely hope understand。诚恳版heartfelt apology加trust you will appreciate,forced upon me by circumstances beyond my control把身不由己说透,余味长。
六、参考范文与解析
参考范文
Dear Bob,
It is with great regret that I write to inform you I will be unable to keep our appointment to watch the Sichuan Opera next Monday.
What troubles me is that I was struck down by a sudden flu last night, running a high fever and coughing constantly, which prompted the doctor to prescribe a few days of rest.
The doctor strongly recommended that I stay in and steer clear of public gatherings — advice I must follow if I am to recover fully.
I sincerely apologize for having to do this, and I would be deeply grateful if we could find another time that works for both of us.
Once more, please accept my heartfelt apology. I trust you will understand.
Yours truly,
Li Hua
范文解析
这篇范文每句都能在词块和练习里找到原型。开头It is with great regret that...强调句直接亮遗憾,keep our appointment有守约意味。中段What troubles me is that...主语从句加was struck down by有画面,running现在分词伴随,which prompted定语从句;strongly recommended that虚拟语气加破折号,把医生建议说透。结尾sincerely apologize加would be deeply grateful请求改约,heartfelt apology收尾,态度诚恳又得体。
附录:句型索引
句子
直白
委婉
诚恳
示范一
say sorry + can't go
apologize + accompany + scheduled
强调句 + keep appointment
示范二
三个短句报病历
Much to my regret + so
what主语从句 + struck down + which
句1
say sorry + can't go
apologize + accompany
强调句 + keep appointment
句2
can't make it
Much to my regret + planned
breaks my heart + circumstances
句3
三个短句
Much to my regret + so
what从句 + struck down + which
句4
两个短句
advised + which从句
recommended虚拟 + 破折号 + if
句5
Can we change time
terribly sorry + reschedule
sincerely apologize + grateful
句6
I hope you understand
apologize again + sincerely
heartfelt apology + circumstances beyond control
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