外籍朋友說「You are in for a treat」,並不是叫你請客買單

外籍朋友說「You are in for a treat」,並不是叫你請客買單
Photo Credit: Shutterstock / 達志影像

我們想讓你知道的是

當朋友跟你說:Great to see you again! How is life treating you? 他是要請你吃飯嗎?

Jeff出差時,遇見一位久未謀面的外籍好友。好友問他:Great to see you again! How is life treating you?

Jeff聽到treating you,還以為朋友要請他吃飯。差一點鬧笑話。

How is life treating you?

(X)要怎麼請你吃飯?
(X)人生怎麼對待你?
(O)你過得如何?

這裡的treat並不是請客。How is life treating you? 是熟人之間的問候語,雖然和How are you?差不多,但會這麼問,是希望對方多給一點訊息,而不是fine這樣簡短草率的回答。

例如你從台北出差到紐約,紐約的朋友可能會問你:

How is Taipei treating you?

在台北的生活如何呢?

或是當你剛轉換跑道當工程師,外國朋友問:How is life treating you?

這句話說得完整一點,就是:

How is (the) life (of an engineer) treating you?

Are you enjoying being an engineer?

當工程師的生活還好嗎?

我想請你吃午飯

(X)I’ll treat you lunch.
(O)I’ll treat you to lunch.
(O)Let me buy you lunch.

如果要表示請客,老外最常用的字是buy,buy you a drink/ a cup of coffee…..都可以。Treat是請客,當名詞或動詞都可以。

「我請客、我買單」可以說:

  • (It’s) my treat.
  • I’ll treat.

但如果要請人某樣東西,記得要在東西前加一個介系詞to。請客有時也不一定是請食物,可以是一首歌,一場電影,來看一例句:

The band treated their fans to a new song.

這個樂團給歌迷們唱了一首新歌。

You are in for a treat.

(X)你要請客。
(O)你一定會喜歡;好好享受吧!

You are in for a treat.這句話在電影對話中也會聽到,這不是說要請客。Treat這個字可以從請客延伸成「難得的樂事」。

You are in for a treat.就相當於You’ll like it. 表示:你一定會喜歡,好好享受吧!

Is this your first time seeing this show? Gosh, you're in for a treat!

這是你第一次看這表演嗎?天吶!!你一定會喜歡。

Treat是可數名詞,固定用法就是treat,意思相當於very well/very good,可以和很多動詞搭配,多看例句熟悉用法:

  • The plan worked a treat. 這個計畫非常出色。
  • The food went down a treat. 這食物好吃極了。
  • He looks a treat in his new suit. 他穿上這套裝非常帥。
  • Everything will take a treat, you see. 你看吧,一切都會非常好的。

延伸閱讀

本文經世界公民文化中心授權刊登,原文刊載於此

責任編輯:游家權
核稿編輯:翁世航