4.Can I take a rain check?
你能改天再请我吗？

【发音秘诀】“Can-I”应该连读，“take-a”也应该连读。

A: Mary, I've just moved into my new house. I'd like you to drop by and see it tonight.
B: I'd really love to, but I can't tonight. Can I take a rain check?

中英文自由转换挑战
A：玛莉，我刚搬进了新居。我想请你今晚过来看一看。
B：我真的很乐意去，但今天晚上我去不了。你能改天再请我吗？

Kim's Note: This is a five star element. You will hear it very often in American English, but most Chinese students don't know it. You can be different!
这是一个五星级的口语要素。在美式英语中，你经常会听到它，但是，大部分中国学生都不知道它的意思。掌握了它，你将与众不同！

Rain check是一个五星级的成语，美国人常用。这是本书的一个重点。

“rain check”原指户外举行棒球之类的比赛或运动会时因下雨中止，由主办者向观众发出的“顺延入场券”。由此转用于比喻，意思是“以后有机会再领盛情”（指他人邀请吃饭等）。

我们很多英语学习者看到“rain check”就不知如何是好，这就是成语的威力所在，两个初中就学过的单词合在一起却与原意思相差十万八千里。
为了让大家把这个令人苦恼的“rain check”掌握得更牢，在此，我们还特意为你准备了更多的对话，希望大家能够真正做到吃掉它(eat it!)、消化它(digest it!)把它变成你的终身财富!

A: I won't have that coffee right now, but can I take a rain check on it?
B: Sure, anything you say.
A：我现在不喝咖啡，我可以过一会儿再喝吗？
B：当然可以，随你。

A: Nancy, would you like to join me at the English corner tonight?
B: I'd love to. But I have a date tonight. Can I take a rain check?
A：南希，你今晚跟我去英语角好吗？
B：我很想去。但今晚我有个约会。你能改天再约我吗？

A: Stone, I'd like to treat you to dinner this Saturday.
B: Excellent! But I have to work an extra shift on Saturday. Can I take a rain check?
A：石头，我想这个星期六请你吃晚饭。
B：好极啦！可是星期六我得加班。你能改天再请我吗？

A: Kim, my sister will be coming to Beijing next week. Why don't you come over next Sunday to meet her?
B: I wish I could. But I'm afraid I'll be out on business by then. Can I take a rain check?
A：Kim，我妹妹下个星期到北京来。你何不星期天来见一见她？
B：但愿我能去。可是我担心那时我会出差。你能改天再请我吗？