Being polite is important in all languages especially if you are asking someone to help you. We all know that if we want things to be done whether in our personal or professional lives, it pays to be polite. You won’t get far by being rude or impolite. Different cultures have different ways of tackling politeness.

所有语言当中礼貌都是非常重要的，特别是当你寻求帮助时。不管是在我们日常生活或是工作场合，要事情能够顺利办成礼貌是必要的条件。如果粗鲁、没礼貌，你绝对不可能有更好发展。在不同文化中，表达礼貌的方式也会不同。

In English Language cultures, the need to be polite and to use the correct expressions is essential. Not only will people appreciate it, they will see you as a competent English Language speaker.

在英语文化中，会使用一些正确的表达是礼貌的基本要求。别人不仅会对欣赏你的礼貌态度，也会认为你的英文水平很棒。

There are a few polite expressions that are frequently used in the English Language and it is important for learners to know how to use them correctly and in the right context. I’d like to share with you 5 of the most widely used polite expressions and show you how to use them correctly.

一些礼貌用语在英语中非常的常用，大家应该在适当的场合正确地运用。以下就是5个最常用表达，以及正确使用方法。

1. Excuse Me

不好意思

You would use “excuse me” if you need to go past somebody, for example, if they’re blocking your way.

当别人挡了你的路，你需要从他们身边绕过时，你应当用这个短语。

Similarly, if you need to get someone’s attention you would start the phrase with “excuse me”:

如果你要引起别人的注意，你应该用这个短语开头。

Excuse me, could you tell me the way to Charing Cross station?

不好意思，请问到查令十字街怎么走?

Excuse me, do you have the time?

不好意思，你现在有时间吗?

Excuse me, is this seat taken?

不好意思，这儿有人坐吗?

2. Sorry

对不起

We love saying “sorry” especially in the UK!

特别是英国人超爱将对不起。

Sorry or I’m sorry is frequently used when we need to apologise for something small, for example, if you’re late or you’ve made a small mistake:

当为些小事情道歉时，可以用这个短语，例如迟到或是翻了小错误。

Sorry I’m late. The traffic was terrible.

对不起我来晚了，堵车太厉害了。

I’m sorry, I didn’t realise that you were in the queue.

不好意思，我不知道你在排队。

“I beg your pardon” is a formal expression which you might hear someone use.

“请原谅我”是比较正式的表达。

I beg your pardon, I didn’t see you standing there.

请原谅我，我没看到你站那儿。

You would use Pardon? or Sorry? if you haven’t heard or understood what someone has said and you want them to repeat it.

当你没有听清或是不明白别人讲的话希望他们重复一遍时，你可以用Pardon或Sorry。

Pardon? I didn’t quite hear that. Could you repeat the number please?

不好意思，我没有听清楚，你可以将数字重复一遍吗?

Sorry? Did you say 30 or 13?

不好意思，你是说30还是13?

Sorry is more used than pardon. A student once told me that their teacher had told him ‘pardon’ was an old-fashioned word and not used. Whilst it may not be as common as ‘sorry’, ‘pardon’ is still used and you wouldn’t come across as a strange person!

Sorry比pardon更常用。有学生提出他们老师说pardon已经过时了，没有人再用了。其实虽然sorry更常见，但pardon还是有人在用，别人也不会觉得你用得很奇怪。

One expression that is most definitely not polite is “What?”. If you use it when you haven’t heard or understood something, you may get some disapproving looks from the other person.

注意，当你没有听清或是不明白别人讲的话时不要回应What，这是非常不礼貌的，别人可能对你侧目。