中式英文:
I need some coins. Can you break the bill for me?
改錯研析:
1. I need some (small) change. Can you break a $20 bill?
2. Do you have change for a twenty (= $20 bill)?
(1)「換零錢」的「零錢」要用「不可數名詞」change,不宜用「可數名詞」coin。coin 是「硬幣」,如果沒頭沒腦來一句 I need some coins.,通常會被誤認為你想要「一美元硬幣」(dollar coin = $1 coin),因為美國貨幣本來就有一美元紙鈔 ($1 bill),一美元硬幣發行後,收藏量大於實質流通量,所以詢問度很高。
(2) change 是小額紙鈔或硬幣,通常是指付賬後找的零錢,「找錢」是 make change,「不用找了」叫 keep the change,而「找不找得開」的表示方式,如以下 Merriam-Webster 例句:
Can you make change for a 20?
= Can you give me change if I pay with a $20 bill?
(20美元紙鈔找得開嗎?)
(3)「找錯錢」時要用 in change,表達方式如下:
I should have gotten $1 in change.
(你應該找我一塊錢才對。)
如果怕對方找錯錢,可預先告知:
I should be getting $1 in change.
(你要找我一塊錢。)
(4) change 也可以專指小額硬幣,如口袋裡常會有ㄧ些零碎的硬幣,稱為 spare change 或 loose change。因此「多少錢硬幣」同樣用 in change 來表示:
I have about $5 in change.
(我身上大概有5塊錢硬幣。)
(5)「換零錢」的「換」,要用「及物動詞」break,而且兌換時要表明大鈔的面額,如 a $20 bill(一張20元美鈔),不能光講 the bill,若能主動告知想換成多少面額的零錢更好,例如,想把 20 美元整鈔全部換成 25 分硬幣,要說:
Can you break a $20 bill into quarters?
不過要換 80 個 25 分硬幣有點像在找麻煩,可以平均一點表示:
Can you break a $20 bill into one $10 bill, one $5 bill, four $1 bills, and four quarters?
如果只要有 25 分硬幣就好,其它零錢面額不是很在意,可以講:
Can you break a $20 bill into smaller bills and quarters?
本文於 2017/03/14 13:03 修改第 1 次