Episode Details

學英文學了這麼久，你一定有說過「Can you speak English?」，但其實這句話會讓人覺得你在考他！😱
用「Do you speak English?」，讓你說話更自然又有禮貌🌸

▶📖【逐字稿下載】
buymeacoffee.com/mjenglish/e/389798
▶❤️【訂閱支持】
https://pay.soundon.fm/podcasts/1e726348-a460-4dc2-802b-4a56bfad678e
▶🤝【成為YT頻道會員】
www.youtube.com/channel/UC71N5gYCpweE6ddRnqSwkNw/join
▶👍【Youtube影片練習】
https://www.youtube.com/@mjenglish

Hey everybody and welcome back for another deep dive. We've got a really interesting one today. It's all about a little word swap in English that can honestly make a world of difference, especially for our Taiwanese listeners out there.
嗨大家，歡迎回來收聽我們的深度解析。今天這一集真的很有趣，我們要討論一個英文中小小的用字變化，但它的影響其實超大，特別是對我們在台灣的聽眾來說。
We're going to be looking at how to ask questions smoothly and politely using can you and do you,
今天我們要來看看如何用 "can you" 和 "do you" 這兩個句型禮貌又自然地發問。
Because I think a lot of people might think they mean the same thing, but to a native English speaker's ear, there's a subtle difference. a really big difference. And today we're going to break it down so you can make sure your English is clear and comfortable.
很多人可能覺得這兩個意思一樣，但對英文母語者來說，這兩者其實有細微但重要的差別。今天我們就來拆解這個差別，讓你的英文聽起來更清楚、更舒服。
So to start off, you know, we hear a lot of people asking, "Can you speak English?" And look, I get it. Totally.
一開始，我們常聽到有人說「Can you speak English?」，我完全理解這樣的用法。
We all understand what they're trying to ask, but it can sound a bit like you're putting someone on the spot, like you're testing their ability. Like, are you even capable of this?
大家都知道你是想問對方會不會說英文，但這句話聽起來有點像是在考對方，像是在問：「你有這個能力嗎？」
Yeah. Yeah. That's it. It's all about the focus on capability right at that moment. It's like saying, "Do you possess the skill to do this right now?"
對，重點是這句話在強調「你現在有這個能力嗎？」的感覺。
And so if you walk up to a stranger and say, Can you speak English? Can almost sound like you're doubting them.
所以如果你走向一個陌生人說「Can you speak English?」，對方可能會覺得你在懷疑他。
Yeah. Right. And especially if you're talking to someone you don't know very well, maybe a tourist you're trying to help or a vendor at a shop.
對，特別是當你在跟一個不熟的人說話，比如你想幫助的觀光客，或是一個攤販。
Yeah. Using can you in that situation can sound a bit strong, you know, even a bit impolite.
這時候用 "can you" 可能會聽起來太強勢，甚至有點沒禮貌。
It is. And if you think about politeness in any language, especially with strangers, you generally want to avoid being too direct.
沒錯，不管哪種語言，面對陌生人時，禮貌的方式通常是避免太直接。
For sure.
絕對是。
And do you kind of softens things a bit, makes it gentler, more polite overall.
而 "do you" 就會讓語氣變得比較柔和、整體聽起來也比較有禮貌。
Exactly. So, what should we be saying instead?
那我們應該怎麼說才比較好呢？
Well, instead of can you speak English, try saying do you speak English?
比起說「Can you speak English?」，你可以改成「Do you speak English?」
Do you speak English? Much better. But why is that? Why is do you speak English the way to go?
「Do you speak English?」聽起來好多了，但為什麼這樣比較好？
Well, when you ask, "Do you speak English," you're essentially asking about someone's general habit, right? It's more like, "Do you typically or usually speak English?"
因為當你說「Do you speak English?」時，你問的是一種「習慣」，像是「你平常會說英文嗎？」
So, you're not putting them on the spot. You're not questioning their abilities. I see.
所以你不是在考對方，也不是質疑他能力，我懂了。
You're just inquiring about their regular mode of communication.
你只是問問對方平常的溝通語言是什麼。
That Makes a lot of sense. It's like if you want to know if som