Dialogue 1

Jingjing: Mark, can I ask you for some advice?

京晶：马克，我能向你征求一点建议吗？

Mark: Sure, I hope I can help.

马克：当然，希望我能帮上忙。

Jingjing: Well, you remember Meili and her husband, Gaofeng, right?

京晶：是这样的，你记得美丽和她先生高峰吧？

Mark: Sure. How could I forget the story of their romance?

马克：当然，我怎会忘记他们这段罗曼史。

Jingjing: Right, well Gaofeng is pretty stressed out at work. And Meili feels like she can't get through to him about it.

京晶：好，高峰现在因为工作的事压力很大，美丽感觉自己似乎不太能明白他心里在想什么。

Mark: They don't work together, do they?

马克：他们不在一起工作吧，在吗？

Jingjing: No. But Meili tries to ask him about his day, and he just says “fine, fine.”

京晶：不在。但是美丽总是尝试问问他白天工作的事，他总是回答说：还好，还好。

Mark: That's typical for a guy. He probably doesn't think she can help him. So, there's no point in talking about problems from work.

马克：对一个男人来说这样回答很正常，他可能认为美丽也帮不上他什么，所以谈论工作上的麻烦也没什么意义。

Jingjing: I don't think she planned on giving any advice. She probably just wanted to comfort him.

京晶：我倒不认为她是准备要给他建议什么的，她可能只是想要安慰一下他吧。

Mark: Yeah, but guys always give each other advice about problems.

马克：是啊，男人们总是互相给彼此遇到的问题支招。

Jingjing: I'm Don't you think he knows her already? They've been together for more than a year.

京晶：我是说你不认为高峰已经很了解美丽了吗？他们在一起都快一年多了。

Mark: That may be. But if she asked him about work after he got off, he was probably too tired to think about the difference between men and women.

马克：那也有可能。但如果她在他下班后询问他工作的事，他可能太疲倦而无法再去想男人和女人处事的差别。

Jingjing: Hmm. I guess so. So, what do guys do when one of them has had a rough day or a rough week?

京晶：嗯，我想可能是这样吧。那，男人们这方面怎么做，如果其中一个度过了糟糕的一天或者一周？

Mark: They just walk together silently, or go play sports. Guys will give advice when they think it's useful. And the other guy can say he doesn't want to hear it.

马克：他们只是一起静静地走会儿路，或者一起去玩体育运动，男人们觉得建议有用时他们才会给，然后另一个男人会说他可不想听到这些。

Jingjing: Well, I guess the differences between men and women explains why men and women have so much trouble seeing eye to eye when they get into relationships.

京晶：嗯，我猜男女有别这事解释了为什么男人和女人在进入一段关系时总是在相互理解这样事上有如此多的麻烦。

Mark: You said it!

马克：可不是吗！

New words : 习语短语

get through to (someone) 理解某人内心所想

understand someone, help them

there's no point in (doing something) 没必要做某事

it's not worthwhile to do something

see eye to eye 相互理解，理解对方

understand each other

Dialogue 2

Jingjing: So, Mark, don't you think a lot of people should change their attitude about getting help and advice?

京晶：那，马克，你不觉得许多人都应该改变他们关于获取帮助接受建议的态度吗？

Mark: Definitely. But it's easier said than done. Kinda like giving advice is easier than applying it.

马克：当然当然。但是说着容易做着难啊。就有点像给建议简单实施难啊。

Jingjing: Do you think it's a good idea for someone to ask for help when there's something they can't do for themselves?

京晶：难道你不觉得对有些人来说当他们自己搞不定事情的时候寻求帮助是个好办法吗？

Mark: It sounds like a good idea. If people can't get past their pride, it might not be so bad for them to struggle through problems on their own, especially if they're their own problems.

马克：听上去是个好主意。如果人们不能放下面子自尊什么，让他们自己熬过困难也不是坏事，尤其是他们自己成为了自己的难题。

Jingjing: I think people should be more humble, and not be afraid to ask for help.

京晶：我觉得人应该更谦虚，以及不惧怕寻求帮助。

Mark: I couldn't agree more. It's good for friends to ask each other for help on a regular basis. Since it's so hard to ask for help when there's a huge problem, it's good to ask for help in little ways.

马克：太赞同了。朋友之间时常找对方帮忙是挺好的。因为如果遇到一个大难题很难去张口寻求帮助，在小事情上求个帮忙倒是好事。

Jingjing: That keeps the relationship going, doesn't it?

京晶：这样也能维持关系，不是吗？

Mark: Yeah, it helps people to get along and get used to cooperating.

马克：是的，这能帮助人们学会相处，并习惯于互助合作。

Jingjing: So, someone could ask their friend to play piano at their sister's wedding, then later ask that same friend for financial advice, right?

京晶：所以，某人可以请他朋友去他妹妹婚礼弹钢琴，晚些时候再问同一个人给点财务建议？对吗

Mark: Right, it would probably feel easier to ask for help the second time. And friends who ask each other for help a lot have a good sense of each others' talent.

马克：对呢。第二次请人帮忙时可能要感觉更容易些，而且互相找对方帮忙的朋友对彼此的特长天赋都很有数。

Jingjing: Exactly. Friends shouldn't shy away from each other in times of need.

京晶：就是这样。朋友之间不应该在需要帮忙的时候不好意思找彼此。

Mark: That reminds me of the old saying: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

马克：这让我想起来一句老话：患难见真情。

Jingjing: Do you think that's about the friend needing something or the friend who helps when needed?

京晶：你觉得这句话是关于朋友需要帮忙还是总是伸出援手的朋友？

Mark: The saying is about both friends, isn't it? I think that's what makes it so catchy.

京晶：这句古话是关于朋友双方的，不是吗？

我想这就是它容易上口的原因。

Jingjing: That and it rhymes.

京晶：是呢，还押韵。

Mark: Right, and that. Ha ha.

马克：是，哈哈

New words : 习语短语

get past (an obstacle) 克服，放下

do something, even though there's a problem (Chou doufu is yummy, if you can get past the smell. Jack is a good guy to know, if you can get past how much he talks about himself.)

on a regular basis 经常地，常态地

(adverbial of frequency) often, usually

shy away from (something / doing something) 避免，犹豫，迟疑不做某事

avoid, feel reluctant to...