用「Do you speak English?」，讓你說話更自然又有禮貌🌸

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Hey everybody and welcome back for another deep dive. We've got a really interesting one today. It's all about a little word swap in English that can honestly make a world of difference, especially for our Taiwanese listeners out there.

嗨大家，歡迎回來收聽我們的深度解析。今天這一集真的很有趣，我們要討論一個英文中小小的用字變化，但它的影響其實超大，特別是對我們在台灣的聽眾來說。

We're going to be looking at how to ask questions smoothly and politely using can you and do you,

今天我們要來看看如何用 "can you" 和 "do you" 這兩個句型禮貌又自然地發問。

Because I think a lot of people might think they mean the same thing, but to a native English speaker's ear, there's a subtle difference. a really big difference. And today we're going to break it down so you can make sure your English is clear and comfortable.

很多人可能覺得這兩個意思一樣，但對英文母語者來說，這兩者其實有細微但重要的差別。今天我們就來拆解這個差別，讓你的英文聽起來更清楚、更舒服。

So to start off, you know, we hear a lot of people asking, "Can you speak English?" And look, I get it. Totally.

一開始，我們常聽到有人說「Can you speak English?」，我完全理解這樣的用法。

We all understand what they're trying to ask, but it can sound a bit like you're putting someone on the spot, like you're testing their ability. Like, are you even capable of this?

大家都知道你是想問對方會不會說英文，但這句話聽起來有點像是在考對方，像是在問：「你有這個能力嗎？」

Yeah. Yeah. That's it. It's all about the focus on capability right at that moment. It's like saying, "Do you possess the skill to do this right now?"

對，重點是這句話在強調「你現在有這個能力嗎？」的感覺。

And so if you walk up to a stranger and say, Can you speak English? Can almost sound like you're doubting them.

所以如果你走向一個陌生人說「Can you speak English?」，對方可能會覺得你在懷疑他。

Yeah. Right. And especially if you're talking to someone you don't know very well, maybe a tourist you're trying to help or a vendor at a shop.

對，特別是當你在跟一個不熟的人說話，比如你想幫助的觀光客，或是一個攤販。

Yeah. Using can you in that situation can sound a bit strong, you know, even a bit impolite.

這時候用 "can you" 可能會聽起來太強勢，甚至有點沒禮貌。

It is. And if you think about politeness in any language, especially with strangers, you generally want to avoid being too direct.

沒錯，不管哪種語言，面對陌生人時，禮貌的方式通常是避免太直接。

For sure.

絕對是。

And do you kind of softens things a bit, makes it gentler, more polite overall.

而 "do you" 就會讓語氣變得比較柔和、整體聽起來也比較有禮貌。

Exactly. So, what should we be saying instead?

那我們應該怎麼說才比較好呢？

Well, instead of can you speak English, try saying do you speak English?

比起說「Can you speak English?」，你可以改成「Do you speak English?」

Do you speak English? Much better. But why is that? Why is do you speak English the way to go?

「Do you speak English?」聽起來好多了，但為什麼這樣比較好？

Well, when you ask, "Do you speak English," you're essentially asking about someone's general habit, right? It's more like, "Do you typically or usually speak English?"

因為當你說「Do you speak English?」時，你問的是一種「習慣」，像是「你平常會說英文嗎？」

So, you're not putting them on the spot. You're not questioning their abilities. I see.

所以你不是在考對方，也不是質疑他能力，我懂了。

You're just inquiring about their regular mode of communication.

你只是問問對方平常的溝通語言是什麼。

That Makes a lot of sense. It's like if you want to know if someone plays the piano, if you say, "Can you play the piano?" It almost sounds like you're surprised that they might have that skill.

這就有道理了，像你想問對方會不會彈鋼琴，如果你說「Can you play the piano?」聽起來好像你很驚訝對方竟然會。

Like, can you actually do that? But if you ask, "Do you play the piano?" It's just asking about, "Is this a hobby you enjoy? Do you do this regularly?"

就像是「咦？你真的會嗎？」但如果說「Do you play the piano?」就比較像是在問「這是你的興趣嗎？你有在彈嗎？」

It's much softer. Yeah.

語氣柔和很多，對。

It's a much more gentle approach.

這種說法溫和得多。

And it's the same with like cooking. If you ask someone, "Can you cook?" It might sound like you doubt their abilities in the kitchen,

問「Can you cook?」也有點像在懷疑對方會不會煮飯。

But do you cook? is simply an inquiry about their habits,

但說「Do you cook?」就只是單純在問對方平常有沒有在煮飯。

Like, are you a cook? Do you enjoy cooking?

像是在問「你平常有在下廚嗎？你喜歡煮飯嗎？」

Exactly. Yeah. It's much more natural and friendly.

對，聽起來自然又親切多了。

Now, look, can you

Yeah.

isn't always a bad thing, right? Like, if you genuinely need help in a hurry and your tone reflects that, it's okay.

不過其實「can you」也不是一定不行啦，比如說你真的很急需要幫忙，而且你的語氣也有表達出來的話，那是可以接受的。

Oh, for sure.

Say you're lost and you really need directions. You could say, "Can you speak English? I'm lost." And your tone would convey the urgency and the need for assistance.

對，沒錯。像你如果迷路了真的急著找人問路，你可以說：「Can you speak English? I'm lost.」這時候語氣自然會顯示出你是真的需要幫忙。

Exactly. The key there is sounding sincere, not confrontational.

沒錯，重點就是你的語氣要真誠，而不是像在挑釁或質疑對方。

Right. Exactly.

You're not challenging them.

對，就是這樣，你不是在挑戰對方。

So, for our friends learning English in Taiwan, remember, if you know someone well, can you is usually fine.

所以，給在台灣學英文的朋友一個建議，如果你跟對方很熟，「can you」通常是可以用的。

But when you're out and about talking to strangers, say you're at a night market and you want to know if a vendor can understand you, do you understand English is a better option. It shows respect,

但如果你是在外面，跟陌生人講話，比如你在夜市想知道攤販聽不聽得懂英文，這時候說「Do you understand English?」會是比較尊重人的選擇。

Generally speaking, 「do you」 is the polite and natural choice with people you're not familiar with.

You can save can you for urgent situations where your tone shows you genuinely need help.

一般來說，對不熟的人，「do you」會比較有禮貌、自然。而「can you」則比較適合用在真的很緊急、語氣明顯需要幫忙的情況。

And here's a great tip. Pay attention to how native English speakers phrase their questions, especially when they're talking to strangers.

這邊有個超實用的小技巧：觀察一下英文母語者是怎麼問問題的，尤其是他們在跟陌生人說話的時候。

Yeah, great advice.

You'll notice that do you comes up a lot. It's a tiny change, but it can make your English so much more comfortable for everyone involved.

對，這建議超棒的。你會發現「do you」常常出現。雖然只是小小一個改變，但真的會讓你的英文讓人聽起來更舒服、更自然。

And remember, MJ English,

keep practicing.

See you next time.

Bye, everybody.

記得喔，這裡是 MJ English，持續練習，我們下次見～大家掰掰！

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