By the way 是一個簡單而非常實用的英文句子,例如你跟別人聊天,談到一些尷尬話題,此時你可說:By the way,接著說別的事情避開尷尬場面。By the way通常用在談話時轉(zhuǎn)到別的話題的一個連接詞,可以解作‘除此之外’和‘順便一提’的意思,有時候會簡寫成btw。 另外,在書信上我們常看見P.S.的英文字母在信的末端出現(xiàn),它的全寫是Post script,Post是拉丁文 After(在之后)的意思,在正文之后的東西就是附注。
對話
A:Check, please.
B:That's 34 dollars. Thank you.
A:You're welcome. By the way, may I have your number, Candy?
B:Sorry, I'm afraid not.
A:Oh, I'm sorry, don't get me wrong. I just want the restaurant's number to make a reservation.
B:I understand but we're closing down next Monday.
甲:請結(jié)賬。
乙:34元,謝謝。
甲:不用客氣。除此之外,肯蒂,可否給我你的電話號碼?
乙:對不起,不行。
甲:噢,對不起,不要誤會。我只是想要餐廳的電話號碼以便訂位。
乙:我明白,但我們于下周一結(jié)束營業(yè)。
By the way三字,一般譯做‘順便說說’,表示要轉(zhuǎn)入新話題或提出忽然想到的事。譬如說,你和朋友在談西方音樂,忽然想到中樂,你就可以問:By the way, do you like Chinese music as well?(說到音樂,你也喜歡中樂么?)。
By the way的另一說法,是incidentally。形容詞(adjective) incidental即‘附帶的’,例如:There are quite a few problems incidental to relocating to a foreign country(遷居國外,附帶的問題不少)。Incidentally等于‘附帶談?wù)?rsquo;,例如:I didn't know he was one of your best friends.... Incidentally, do you know his sister?(我一向不知道他是你的好朋友....那你認(rèn)識他的妹妹嗎?)Incidentally除了用于口頭,也常見于文字;by the way則少見于文字,多用于口頭。
By the way也作by the by或by the bye,例如:By the by, he'll be here tomorrow(順便一提,他明天會來這里)。By the by切勿和by and by混淆:by and by是‘不久’的意思,例如:He said he would be here by and by.(他說不久就會來到)。
By the way也不可和by way of混淆:by way of是‘當(dāng)作’或‘經(jīng)由’的意思,例如:(1) Tom gave him some money by way of thanks for helping with the luggage.(湯姆給他一些錢,算是答謝他幫忙提行李)。 (2) He went to Shanghai by way of Hong Kong.(他經(jīng)由香港到上海)。