公司要簽一份重要的文件,外籍老闆請Jack親自送到客戶手中。Jack回答:
I will SEND it there myself.
外籍老闆一臉不高興,再講一次:
You have to TAKE it there yourself.
這老闆不太講理啊,Jack一臉茫然,不是說要自己「send」了嗎?原來send和中文的「送」,意思不完全一樣。中文裡的「送」可以是親自送,也可以間接找人送; 而英語中的send 通常只表示間接地送,而不能指親自送。
來看看劍橋字典對Send這個字的解釋:
to cause something to go from one place to another, especially by post or email
讓東西從一個地方到另一個地方,經常是以「郵寄」方式。
今天就來拆解「送」的概念和send的誤區。
- I will send it there myself.
(X)我會親自送去。
(O)我會親自(找人)寄去。
真要親自送,送去可以用take,送來可以用bring。例如:
- 他每天送他孩子上學。
(X)He sends his son to school every day.
(O)He takes his son to school every day.
- 今天下午我將親自把電腦送來。
(X)I’ll send the computer to you myself this afternoon.
(O)I’ll bring the computer to you myself this afternoon.
- 我會送他一份禮物。
(X)I will send him a gift.
(O)I will give him a gift.
送人禮物的「送」,也不是send,送人禮物是一種「給」的概念。直接用give a gift。
- Who sent you here?
(X)誰送你來的?
(O)誰派你來的?
Send還有一個意思,是「派遣」,其實也就是一種間接的「送」,和先前提到間接帶去的意思相當。把人打發走,也可以用send away。
He was trying to explain but I became impatient and sent him away (= told him to leave).
他試圖解釋,但我卻開始不耐煩,把他打發走了。
所以送人離開、送人到門口這類的「送」,如果用send,像是打發人走,不太禮貌。
- 我送你到門口:
(X)Let me send you to the door.
(O)Let me walk you to the door.
送人到門口,其實是陪著人走過去,用walk即可。
- I've sent off for a catalogue.
(X)我已經寄出目錄。
(O)我已經寫信索取目錄。
Send off有函索和訂購的意思。如果有索取的東西,就加一個for,是商業email好用的字,來多看例句,熟悉用法:
We had to send off to the headquarters for a replacement part. 我們只好寫信到總部索取替換的零件。
I've sent off for those bulbs I saw advertised in the paper. 我已寫信訂購我在報紙廣告上看到的那種燈泡。
商業英文學得又快又準:http://bit.ly/2HSHW7p