In life we’re often asked to give our opinion, or in some cases, we give our opinion even if it hasn’t been asked for!
生活中,经常有人会询问我们的意见,或者在某些情况下,即使没有被询问,我们也会给出自己的意见。
Sometimes we can be very direct with our opinion and it won’t upset the other person. However, more often than not we need to be careful how we share our thoughts so as not to offend or hurt the other person’s feelings. This can be especially true in business where cultural differences can have a detrimental effect on business dealings.
The British are especially careful when giving their opinion (in business, that is). They often don’t want to cause offence and consequently, will start their sentences using certain expressions to soften the blow. A number of my clients have said that the British are very polite and considerate in their dealings with colleagues and clients. So much so, that the British way of doing business is often admired.
In this post, I’d like to share with your some common expressions we have of giving one’s opinion. I have used Liz Potter’s excellent article for Macmillan Dictionary’s blog as the main structure and made some changes to it.
This is a more informal way of giving your opinion:
I reckon it will be much faster to get to London by train.
2.I reckon一种更加非正式的表达意见的方式我认为坐火车去伦敦会更快。
3. In my opinion (4) In my view:
These expressions are more formal and are often used when talking about important issues
In my view, they made a huge mistake in not selling the company when they had the chance.
In my opinion, the Bank of England should not raise interest rates this year.
3.In my opinion (4) In my view:这两个表达更加正式,并且通常在谈论重要问题时使用。在我看来,当他们有机会卖掉公司时却不卖是个重大的错误。在我看来,英国银行今年不应该增加利息。
5. It seems to me (6) All things considered:
When you’ve thought about a situation carefully you could use either of these two expressions.
It seems to me that they are spending more money than they need to to attract new talent into the company.
All things considered, I think we made a wise choice in recruiting James.
5. It seems to me (6) All things considered:当你已经仔细考虑过一种情形时,你可以使用两种表达中任意一种:在我看来,在为公司引进新人才时,他们的花费比实际需求多很多。总的来看,我认为招聘詹姆斯是一个明智的选择。
7. If you ask me
This is used when your opinion is critical. Sometimes, people say this even when their opinion hasn’t been asked for! – “If you ask me,…..” “But I didn’t ask you….!”
If you ask me, she has spoilt her children far too much.
7. If you ask me 当你的意见带有批评性质的时候使用这种表达。有时,人们甚至会在没有被询问意见的时候使用这个短语!-“依我看…”“但是我没有问你…”!依我看,她太过溺爱她的孩子了。
8. To be honest (9) To tell you the truth (10) To be frank
All three expressions are a way of giving your opinion when you know that people may not like what you have to say
To tell you the truth, your father was right when he said that you undersold the company.
To be honest, I preferred it when you were blonde.
To be frank, I thought her acting was simply terrible.
8. To be honest (9) To tell you the truth (10) To be frank
知道别人可能不喜欢你要说的话时,可以用这三种表达来给出你的意见。
老实告诉你,你父亲对你低价抛售公司的判断是对的。
老实说,我更喜欢你金发的样子。
坦白地说,我觉得他的表演很糟糕。
11. Frankly speaking
You would use this expression to give your opinion in a more familiar and forthright way.
Frankly speaking, I don’t know what she sees in him.
11. Frankly speaking
这是一种更亲近和直率的表达意见的方式。坦白地说,我不知道她看上他哪一点。
12. Personally
This is used to emphasize that you are giving your own opinion
Personally, I think the CEO should apologize for his appalling behaviour at the shareholders’ meeting.
to my way of thinking adv. 我认为(依我看来)if you ask me 我认为,依我说to my thinking adv. 我认为It strikes me that 我觉得...我的印象是...It strikes me 我觉得...我的印象是...I dare say (我想)可能,(我想)是这样I should say 我想,大概,也许methinks vi. [古]据我看来I suspect/guess 我猜If I might hazard a guess 要是让我猜的话I recommend/advise/suggest/offered to/propose/feel/think/believe 我推荐,建议,建议(劝告),提议,提议,觉得/想。认为It seems to me 我觉得