How to Make Small Talk in English - English Conversation Lesson

英语口语 - 闲聊

Hi, I’m Oli.

嗨，我是Oli。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn how to make small talk in English.

在本课程中，您可以学习如何 用英语闲聊。

You’ll learn how small talk can help you to connect with others around you, and you’ll

您将学习如何使用“闲聊”帮助您 与周围的人交流，您将

see examples of common small talk conversation topics in dialogues.

在对话中看到常见的 闲聊交谈话题例子。

You’ll also see useful questions and tips you can use to make small talk in English.

您还将看到可以在英语闲聊时用上的 有用的问题和提示。

First, if you enjoy our videos on YouTube, why not visit our website: Oxford Online English

首先，如果您喜欢我们在YouTube上的 视频，您可以访问我们的网站：

dot com.

Oxford Oline English.com

Every video lesson has the full script, and many have quizzes which you can use to practise.

每个视频课程都有完整的脚本，很多有 随堂测试，您可以练习。

You can also take online lessons with one of our many great English teachers.

您也可以从我们众多出色的英语 老师中的一位选择在线课程。

Let’s get back to our topic: small talk.

让我们回到我们的话题：闲聊。

What exactly is small talk, anyway?

那么，闲聊到底是什么？

Hey.

嘿。

Hi!

嗨！

How’s life?

最近怎么样？

Pretty good.

非常好。

You?

您呢？

Not bad.

What’ve you been up to recently?

不错。

您最近在忙些什么？

Oh, not much.

嗯，没啥。

I’ve been busy at work.

我一直在忙工作。

What about you?

您呢？

What’s new?

有什么不同？

Same, though I’m going away next month.

老样子，虽说我下个月要离开。

Really looking forward to it!

真的很期待！

In the dialogue, you saw some basic small talk.

在对话中，您看到了一些基本的闲聊。

Think about two questions: what is small talk?

考虑两个问题：什么是闲聊？

Why is small talk important?

为什么闲聊很重要？

Small talk means that you make a simple conversation.

闲聊意味着您进行简单的对话。

The topic isn’t important.

话题不重要。

When you make small talk, you don’t give many details.

当您闲聊时，您不需要给 许多细节。

You might ask questions like ‘How’s life?’, ‘What have you been up to recently?’ or

您可能会问一些问题像是 ‘How’s life?’, ‘What have you been up to recently?’ 或者

‘What’s new with you?’, but you don’t expect a detailed answer.

‘What’s new with you?’，但您却不 期待一个详细的答案。

Many people dislike small talk, or complain about it.

许多人不喜欢闲聊或抱怨 它。

They say that small talk is boring, or that it’s pointless.

他们说闲聊是无聊的，或者 漫无目的。

Small talk might be boring, but it’s not supposed to be interesting.

闲聊或许很无聊，但也不是很有趣的。

That’s not its function.

那不是它的作用。

Small talk definitely *isn’t* pointless.

闲聊确切来说“不是”漫无目的的。

So, what’s it for?

那么，那是为了什么呢？

Small talk is a way to show friendliness and interest.

闲聊是表达友善和兴趣的一种方式。

What’s more, small talk shows that you and the person you’re talking to are on the

更重要的是，闲聊表明您和 正在与您交谈的人处在

same social level.

相同的社交层面。

Think about it: managers don’t usually make much small talk with their subordinates.

想一想：管理者通常不会 与下属闲聊。

Teachers in schools don’t make a lot of small talk with their pupils.

学校的老师不会和学生闲聊过多。

Police officers don’t make small talk with criminals they arrest.

警察不会和 他们逮捕的罪犯闲聊。

Why not?

为什么不？

It’s about hierarchy.

这有关层次结构。

Managers are ‘above’ their subordinates in the office hierarchy.

在办公室层次结构中，经理在下属“之上” 。

It’s the same for teachers and schoolchildren, or police officers and criminals; they’re

对于老师和学生 或警察和罪犯同理；他们处

on different social levels.

在不同的社会层次上。

If you meet a new colleague, or a new client, or you start a new class and you want to make

如果您遇到新同事或新客户， 或者您开始​​上一堂新课，而您想认识新

friends, making small talk sends a social signal.

朋友，可以用“闲聊”发送社交 信号。

It says, “We’re on the same level, so we can be friendly with each other.”

那就是说：“我们处于同一水平，因此 我们可以彼此友好。”

Plus, small talk is a way to avoid silence in conversation, which makes many people uncomfortable.

另外，闲聊是在交谈中避免让很多人感到 不舒服的沉默的一种方式。

So, what should you remember from this?

那么，您还应该记住什么？

When you make small talk, don’t worry about the topic and don’t worry about being interesting.

闲聊时，不用担心 话题，也无需担心趣味性。›

That’s not the point of small talk.

那不是闲聊的重点。

Remember the three questions you saw before.

记住您之前看到的三个问题。

Can you remember them?

您还记得它们吗？

These are useful for making small talk.

这些对于闲聊非常有用。

Learn them and use them!

学习并使用它们！

Next, let’s look at some common small talk topics.

接下来，让我们看一些 常见的闲聊话题。

Are you from around here?

您是这附近的人吗？

No, I grew up here, but I was born in Romania.

不是，我在这里长大，但是我出生在罗马尼亚。

Really?

真的？

Are you from Bucharest?

您来自布加勒斯特吗？

No, from Timișoara, in the west.

不是，我来自西部的蒂米什瓦拉。

I have to admit I haven’t heard of it!

我不得不承认我没听过！

That’s OK, most people haven’t.

没关系，大多数人都没有。

It’s a big city in Romania, but it’s not so well-known in other countries.

那是罗马尼亚的大城市，但是在 其他国家不是那么出名。

What’s it like?

它是什么样的？

It’s pretty, but there are more opportunities here.

漂亮，而且那儿有很多机会。

I’m planning to move back there in a few years.

我打算过几年搬回去。

What about you?

您呢？

Are you local?

您是本地人吗？

Kind of.

算是吧。

I was born here, but when I was five my parents moved to Mexico, and I grew up there.

我出生在这里，但是在我五岁时，我父母 搬到了墨西哥，我在那​​里长大。

I moved back here after I graduated, but I haven’t spent that much time here.

我毕业后搬回了这里，但我 在这里没有呆太久。

Wow, Mexico!

哇，墨西哥！

Do you go back often?

您经常回去吗？

Yeah, once or twice a year.

是的，一年一次或两次。

It’s quite far, but I still have some family and a lot of friends there.

很远，但是我还有一些家人 和很多朋友在那儿。

A common small talk topic is your hometown and the place you live, or the places you

一个常见的闲聊话题是您的家乡 还有您住的地方，或者您曾经

have lived.

住过的地方。

To start a conversation, you could ask: ‘Where are you from?’

要开始对话，您可以问： “您是哪里人？”'

‘Are you from around here?’

“您是这附近的吗？”

‘Are you local?’

“您是本地人吗？”

If someone asked you these questions, how would you answer?

如果有人问您这些问题， 您怎样回答呢？

You could say: ‘I was born in …, but I’ve been living here for a while now.’

您可以说：“我出生于…，但我已经 在这里生活一段时间了。“

‘Yes, I was born here and I've lived here all my life'.

“是的，我出生在这里，一直都住在这里”。

‘I’m originally from …’ When you find out where someone is from, you

“我原籍是……”当您发现某人来自 某个地方时，您

can ask a follow-up question.

可以问一个后续问题。

For example: ‘What’s your hometown like?’

例如：“您的家乡是什么样的？”

With this question, it’s more natural to use the name of the city, so say ‘What’s

就这个问题，使用城市的名称是 更自然的，所以说

Hangzhou like?’

”What’s Hangzhou like?’

‘What’s Quito like?’ and so on.

“基多是什么样的？”等等。

If the person you’re talking to is from another city or country, you could ask ‘Do

如果与您正在交谈的人来自 另一个城市或国家，您可以问“

you go back often?’

‘Do you go back often?’

Remember: with small talk, keep your answers short.

记住：闲聊，要保持回答短暂。

Give some information, but don’t go into a lot of detail.

提供一些信息，但不要谈论过多细节。

Also, try to find a balance between asking questions and giving information about yourself.

另外，请尝试在询问问题和提供 自己的信息之间找到平衡。

Next, what other common small talk topics can you think of?

接下来，您还能想到哪些其他常见的闲聊话题吗？

Let’s look at another!

让我们看看下一个！

Any weekend plans?

有什么周末计划吗？

Not much, I’m planning to play tennis on Saturday, then maybe go out for dinner with

不多，我正打算周六打网球， 然后会和

some friends.

朋友们一起出去吃晚餐。

You?

您呢？

I’m having a quiet weekend.

我周末很闲。

That’s nice sometimes.

有时候挺好。

Actually, I prefer to get outdoors.

实际上，我更喜欢户外活动。

I do a lot of wild swimming, but it’s too cold at the moment, so I’m going to be boring

我经常在野外游泳，但现在太冷了， 所以我会很无聊

and catch up on some housework.

而且还要做家务。

Wild swimming?

野外游泳？

You mean, swimming in lakes and rivers and so on?

您的意思是，在湖泊和河流中游泳，类似这样吗？

How did you get into that?

您是怎么知道的？

I used to be in a swimming club, and one of my friends from there took me to a lake

我曾经在一个游泳俱乐部， 我在那儿的一位朋友带我去了

where you can do wild swimming.

一个可以野外游泳的湖。

I started with short distances, and now I’m training for a 10k.

我从短距离开始，现在 我在训练游十公里。

Ten kilometres?

十公里？

That’s crazy!

太疯狂了！

It’s like anything.

咋说好呢。

If you work towards it slowly, it’s quite possible.

如果您慢慢地努力，那是有可能的。

Have you ever tried it?

那您有没有尝试过？

No, I’m not big on swimming.

不，我游泳不好。

I’ve done some long-distance running, which I guess is similar in a way.

我长跑， 我想在某种程度上是相似的。

I wouldn’t know.

我不知道。

I hate running!

我讨厌跑步！

Talking about free time, hobbies and plans for your days off is a common small talk topic.

谈论关于业余时间、爱好和休息日计划， 是很常见的闲聊话题。

Look at three questions you heard in the dialogue.

回顾一下您在对话中听到的三个问题。

Can you remember the missing words?

您能记住遗漏的单词吗？

Small talk is generally informal, so it’s usual to ask short questions, like ‘Any

闲聊通常是非正式的，所以 通常会问一些简短的问题，例如

weekend plans?’

”Any weekend plans?“

rather than full questions, like ‘Do you have any plans for the weekend?’

而不是完整的问题，例如“Do you have any plans for the weekend?”

If someone has an interesting or unusual hobby, you could ask ‘How did you get into that?’

如果某人有有趣或不常见的爱好，您可以 问：“How did you get into that?”

Could you explain what this means?

您能解释一下这是什么意思吗？

This question is asking: how did you become interested in this?

这个问题在问：您为何 对这个产生兴趣？

How did you start?

您是怎么开始的？

You might answer with something like: ‘I’ve been doing it for years.’

您可能会回答： ”I’ve been doing it for years.“

‘I got into it when I was a student.’

“I got into it when I was a student.”

‘A friend took me one time, and I’ve been hooked ever since!’

”A friend took me one time, and I’ve been hooked ever since!“

Finally, asking ‘have you ever tried it?’ is a good way to continue the conversation.

最后，问“have you ever tried it?” 是继续对话的好方法。

If the other person says ‘yes’, you have more to talk about!

如果对方说“yes”，那么您们可以聊更多！

Let’s see one more common small talk topic.

让我们看一个更常见的闲聊话题。

How was your weekend?

您周末过得怎么样？

It was nice.

很不错。

My brother and his family came to stay.

我的兄弟和他的家人来我家了。

Oh yeah?

噢？

So you have nephews and nieces?

所以您有侄子和侄女？

Yeah, actually, I have ten.

是的，实际上，我有十个。

Wow!

哇！

I had no idea.

我不知道。

How many of you are there?

您有几个兄弟？

Four.

四个。

Four boys; I’m the third.

四个男孩；我是排第三。

You don’t have kids, right?

您没有孩子吧？

No, not yet.

还没有。

You have one, or two?

您有一个还是两个？

Just one.

只有一个。

We’d like to have a second, but our apartment’s so tiny it’s difficult to think about right

我们想要第二个，但是我们的公寓 太小了，现在

now.

很难去考虑这个。

What about the rest of your family?

那您的其他家人呢？

Do you have any brothers and sisters?

您有没有兄弟姐妹？

I have one brother and one sister, and one niece.

我有一个哥哥和一个妹妹，还有一个 侄女。

Nothing like your family.

不像您的家庭。

It must be chaotic when you all get together.

大家聚在一起时一定很吵闹吧。

Yeah, it is…

是啊，就是…

Fun, though!

不过，挺有意思！

First of all, be careful with asking people about their families if you’re in another

首先，如果您在另一个国家或其他 文化地区，小心地问别人关于

country or another culture.

他们的家庭的事。

You don’t want to be oversensitive, but in different cultures some questions might

您不能问过于敏感的事；但是，在不同 的文化中，可能会有一些问题

sound too personal.

听起来非常私人。

For example, asking ‘Are you married?’ or ‘Do you have children?’ to someone

例如，问您刚认识的某人“Are you married?” 或“Do you have children?”，

you just met might be uncomfortable.

可能会令人感到不舒服。

It’s difficult to say, because so much depends on context.

那是很难去说的，因为大都取决于 当时的环境。

Just think about it and remember that in different cultures and countries people might have different

只需考虑和记得，不同文化和国家的 人们可能会有不同

expectations!

预期！

Another tip: it’s good to wait for the other person to mention their family before you

另一个提示：最好等待对方在 您问这些问题之前自己先

ask questions about it.

提到家人。

For example, in the dialogue, Oli mentioned his brother, and I then asked him questions

例如，在对话中，Oli提到 他的兄弟，然后我才问他

about the rest of his family.

其他家人的问题。

Anyhow, let’s see some useful small talk questions to ask about someone’s family.

无论如何，让我们来看一些问某人 家庭的有用的闲聊话题。

In the dialogue, you heard: ‘You have nephews and nieces?’

在对话中，您听到：“您有侄子 和侄女吗？

‘How many of you are there?’

“您们兄弟有几个？”

‘You don’t have kids, right?’

“您没有孩子，对吗？”

‘What about the rest of your family?’

“您的其他家人呢？”

Do you know how you would answer these?

您知道如何回答吗？

In small talk, keeping the conversation going is the most important thing.

闲聊，保持对话进行 是最重要的事情。

It’s more important than what you talk about, or what information you get from the other

比您说了什么，或者您从对方 那里得到什么信息

person.

更重要。

So, you might ask things which aren’t genuine questions.

所以，您可能会问那些无关紧要的问题。

Actually, of these four questions, only one is a real request for information.

实际上，在这四个问题中，只有一个 是真正需要提供信息的。

Do you know which one?

您知道哪一个吗？

The second is a real question, where you’re asking for information.

第二个是一个真实的问题， 您是真的在询问信息。

What about the others?

那其它呢？

The first and third are questions to check information.

第一和第三是为了证实信息。

You use these when you think you know the answer already, and you’re asking for confirmation.

您当您觉得您已经知道回答了， 您问问题是为了确认。

You ask these questions to keep the conversation moving, not because you need information.

您问这些问题是为了保持对话继续进行， 而不是因为您需要信息。

The fourth question signals a small change of topic.

第四个问题意味着话题的小转换。

In the dialogue, I used this question to switch from asking about Lori’s immediate family

在对话中，我用这个问题从询问Lori的 直系亲属转换到

to talking about her family more generally.

泛泛谈论她的家人。

In fact, in the dialogue, this question was immediately followed by a second question:

实际上，在对话中，这个问题是 紧接着是第二个问题：

‘Do you have any brothers or sisters?’

“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”

Now, let’s talk about one more thing.

现在，让我们谈谈另一件事。

Are you a football fan?

您是足球迷吗？

Not really.

并不是。

I do like watching basketball, though.

其实，我喜欢看篮球。

Really?

真的？

I love basketball, too!

我也喜欢篮球！

Do you go to many games, or just watch on TV?

您会上场打篮球吗， 还是只看电视？

I go to, I guess, four or five games a season.

我打，我想，我每个季节 会打四到五场篮球。

You?

您呢？

About the same.

差不多。

Did you see it last week?

你上周有看吗？

That was a crazy result!

那是一个疯狂的结果！

Yeah, I know, right?

是的，我知道，

Great game, though.

很棒的比赛，对吧？

I couldn’t sleep afterwards, I was so hyped up.

我激动得无法入睡。

Do you think they have a chance of winning?

您认为他们有获胜的机会吗？

I’m not sure.

我不确定。

I don’t want to get my hopes up.

我不想抱太大希望。

I know what you mean.

我明白您的意思。

Hey, do you want to watch the game together this Saturday?

嘿，您愿意这个周六一起看比赛吗？

I have some friends coming over to my house.

我有一些朋友会来我家。

You could join us, and we’ll have beer and snacks.

您可以加入我们，我们准备了 啤酒和零食。

Oh, yeah, thanks!

哦，行啊，谢谢！

That sounds great.

这听起来不错。

You heard before that small talk doesn’t need to be interesting, and the most important

您之前听到的闲聊不需要是 有趣的，最重要的是

thing is to keep the conversation going.

是保持对话的进行。

That’s true, but what’s the end goal?

没错，但是最终目的是什么？

You can’t make small talk forever.

您不能永远闲聊。

In the end, you need to develop a deeper conversation.

最后，您需要进行更深入的对话。

That doesn’t mean you need to get into serious topics; when we say ‘deeper conversation’

那并不是说当我们说“深度对话”时， 您要探讨严肃话题。

we mean a conversation you’re both interested in, and where you really want to hear what

我们的意思是一个您们双方都感兴趣 的交谈，以及您们真正想听到的

the other person has to say.

对方不得不说的东西。

The best way to do this is to find things in common or shared interests.

最好的方法就是找到共通的 事情或分享兴趣。

To do this, balance asking questions and giving information about yourself, and try to avoid

为此，请平衡提问和提供有关 您自己的信息，并尽量避免

very short answers.

很短的回答。

For example, in the dialogue, I asked Lori if she was a football fan.

例如，在对话中，我问Lori是否是足球迷。

She said that she wasn't.

她说不是。

Then, she added that she likes a different sport: basketball.

然后，她补充说，她喜欢另一项运动： 篮球。

This gave us something new to talk about, and we found something we have in common.

这给了我们一个新的话题， 我们发现了一些共通点。

If you just answer ‘not really’, then it’s difficult to move the conversation

如果您只是回答“不是”， 那么很难让对话

forwards.

继续。

Finally, a question.

最后，一个问题。

Expectations and etiquette around small talk can be very different in different parts of

闲聊的期望和礼数， 在世界各地会有很大的

the world.

区别。

Compare what you’ve heard in this lesson to how things are in your country and your

将您在本节课中听到的内容与在您的 国家和你的文化里是怎样的

culture.

来比较。

Do you have a similar approach to small talk, or are there differences?

您是否用类似的方式去闲聊， 还是有所不同？

Let us know your thoughts in the comments, and share your ideas with English learners

留下评论让我们知道您的想法， 并与来自世界各地英语

from all over the world!

学习者分享您的想法！

Thanks for watching!

感谢收看！

See you next time!

下次见！