Improve your English speaking skills - English conversation practice (1 người xem)

[moneymong.pt]

Hello everyone,
Please help me to correct these sentences if you find any mistakes. Thank you.
(Xin chào mọi người,
Vui lòng giúp em sửa những câu sau nếu như mọi người thấy những câu viết có lỗi ạ. Em xin cám ơn)

1. Cha đó nhìn “dê xòm”, hắn cứ nhìn tôi chằm chằm.
=>That guy looks like a old goat. He is always staring at me.
(I don't know how to say "dê xòm" in English )

2. Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
=> He looks so world-weary. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.

3. Thôi đi cô nương, bớt “tào lao” dùm cái nha.
=> Stop it! Don't talk like that. It doesn't make any sense.

 

[VetMini]

1. A more fitting term is "lecher". But you can also say "dirty old man", or "sleazebag"
By the way, "stare" is not strong enough in your case. Youn should use "ogle", or "leer"

2. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
This sentence might be understood as you are threatening to fire the guy yourself.

3. The translation is off the mark.
Stop it! Don't talk like that. It doesn't make any sense.
Im đi! Đừng có nói kiểu như vậy. Nó rất là vô lý.
Thôi đi cô nương, bớt “tào lao” dùm cái nha.
Please stop, my dear girl. Less of those blabbering talks, for heaven's sake!

 

[moneymong.pt]

1. A more fitting term is "lecher". But you can also say "dirty old man", or "sleazebag"
By the way, "stare" is not strong enough in your case. Youn should use "ogle", or "leer"

2. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
This sentence might be understood as you are threatening to fire the guy yourself.

3. The translation is off the mark.
Stop it! Don't talk like that. It doesn't make any sense.
Im đi! Đừng có nói kiểu như vậy. Nó rất là vô lý.
Thôi đi cô nương, bớt “tào lao” dùm cái nha.
Please stop, my dear girl. Less of those blabbering talks, for heaven's sake!

Thank you for your dedication. I learned a lot of new words.
- lecher /ˈletʃər/ (n): a man who shows an unpleasant sexual interest in somebody
~ dirty old man ~ sleazebag /ˈsliːzbæɡ/ (n): a person who is not honest or moral (<= Sleaze /sliːz/ (uncountable noun))

- ogle /ˈəʊɡl/ (v): to look hard at somebody in an offensive way, usually showing sexual interest
~ leer /lɪə(r)/ (v): to look or smile at somebody in an unpleasant way that shows an evil or sexual interest in them
>>>>>>>> stare /steə(r)/ (v)
- "be off the mark": If something someone says or writes is off the mark, it is not correct.

- blabber /ˈblæbər/ (v): to talk in a way that other people think is silly and annoying

- for heaven's sake: used to make a statement or question more forceful or to express surprise, anger, etc.

- world-weary /ˈwɜːrld wɪri/ (adj): no longer excited by life

 

[xuongrongdat]

Thank you for your dedication. I learned a lot of new words.
- lecher /ˈletʃər/ (n): a man who shows an unpleasant sexual interest in somebody
~ dirty old man ~ sleazebag /ˈsliːzbæɡ/ (n): a person who is not honest or moral (<= Sleaze /sliːz/ (n))

- ogle /ˈəʊɡl/ (v): to look hard at somebody in an offensive way, usually showing sexual interest
~ leer /lɪə(r)/ (v): to look or smile at somebody in an unpleasant way that shows an evil or sexual interest in them
>>>>>>>> stare /steə(r)/ (v)
- "be off the mark": If something someone says or writes is off the mark, it is not correct.

- blabber /ˈblæbər/ (v): to talk in a way that other people think is silly and annoying

- for heaven's sake: used to make a statement or question more forceful or to express surprise, anger, etc.

I am ashamed to whisper that I have known English for about 25 years.
Sadly, they are also the words that I see the first time. They seem to be slang words than common ones, I just guess so. Anyway, willing to know them. Thank both of you.

 

[ptm0412]

I think these posts are writen in order to improve speaking skill more than for improving writing skill, because they are questions and answers in English conversation.
It will be better if Ms @moneymong.pt (or anyone) records those sentences or conversations in audio file and post after each subject.

 

[moneymong.pt]

1. Cha đó nhìn “dê xòm”, hắn cứ nhìn tôi chằm chằm.
=>That guy looks like a lecher/ dirty old man/ sleazebag. He is ogling me.
Or: ..................................................................................................................He is leering at me.

• ogle somebody
• leer at somebody

2. Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
=> He looks so world-weary. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
Or: He looks so world-weary. He probably doesn't want to work anymore.

3. Thôi đi cô nương, bớt “tào lao” dùm cái nha.
=> Please stop, my dear girl. Less of those blabbering talks, for heaven's sake!

Please check my grammar in sentences 1 and 2. Thank you. After that, I will record myself and post it here.

 

[Anne1811]

I think these posts are writen in order to improve speaking skill more than for improving writing skill, because they are questions and answers in English conversation.
It will be better if Ms @moneymong.pt (or anyone) records those sentences or conversations in audio file and post after each subject.

why don't we create an online group on Zalo, Zoom ...to practise this?

 

[VetMini]

I think these posts are writen in order to improve speaking skill more than for improving writing skill, because they are questions and answers in English conversation.
It will be better if Ms @moneymong.pt (or anyone) records those sentences or conversations in audio file and post after each subject.

rather than to improve
I therefore recommend that
(I am not sure of your intention. "It will be better if" is a very strong phrase. You only use it to imply that someone did something wrongly, AND you don't like it. I suggest you go for a somewhat less offensive way, although it still carries the same message "I don't like it")

Important: if you only want to suggest something, make sure that your sentence has something like I suggest, I recommend, I reckon you could, perhaps you could (*), or simlilar.

(*) note: could, NOT should.

 

[moneymong.pt]

This is my recording audio (bonus "tiếng gà gáy")

That guy looks like a lecher. He is ogling me.​

That guy looks like a dirty old man. He is leering at me.​

That guy looks like a sleazebag. He is leering at me.​

He looks so world-weary. He probably doesn't want to work anymore.​

Please stop, my dear girl. Less of those blabbering talks, for heaven's sake!​

Please help me to check my pronunciation. Thanks for your time.

 

[VetMini]

Tôi chỉ có 1 câu để khuyên về NÓI tiếng Anh:
- Nói càng chậm càng tốt. Người nói tiếng Anh như gió là người nói chỉ để cho gió nghe.

Mở máy lên xem người Anh/Mỹ họ nói một câu 10 từ, 20 từ mất bao nhiêu giây.
Lặp lại câu ấy, nếu người bên kia là nữ thì mình nói chậm gấp đôi người ấy (200% số giây), nếu người bên kia là nam thì mình nói chậm gấp rưỡi (150%).

 

[moneymong.pt]

Tôi chỉ có 1 câu để khuyên về NÓI tiếng Anh:
- Nói càng chậm càng tốt. Người nói tiếng Anh như gió là người nói chỉ để cho gió nghe.

Mở máy lên xem người Anh/Mỹ họ nói một câu 10 từ, 20 từ mất bao nhiêu giây.
Lặp lại câu ấy, nếu người bên kia là nữ thì mình nói chậm gấp đôi người ấy (200% số giây), nếu người bên kia là nam thì mình nói chậm gấp rưỡi (150%).

Thanks a lot for your advice.
Con đã sửa lại đọc chậm hơn rồi đây ạ.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Cháu cảm thấy đọc cứ như máy đọc, không biết đọc sao cho tự nhiên với 3 ngữ cảnh trên. Chú có thể đọc mẫu giúp cháu 3 câu trên không ạ chú @VetMini ?

 

[ptm0412]

Thanks a lot for your advice.
Con đã sửa lại đọc chậm hơn rồi đây ạ.

The audio sounds like you are reading book, not a conversation. I think when you try to speak and pronounce correctly word by word, you lost the intonation, especially the last sentence.

 

[VetMini]

Ở bài #6, bạn đã có vài điểm không đúng với cách nói chuyện.

1. Cha đó nhìn “dê xòm”, hắn cứ nhìn tôi chằm chằm.
=>That guy looks like a lecher/ dirty old man/ sleazebag. He is ogling me.
(1) Dê xồm thì dê xồm, đâu có ai nói "nhìn" dê xồm
(2) cứ = keep (on)
That sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (gọi người ta chú ý vào gã kia)
That guy is a sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (phê bình gã kia)

2. Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
=> He looks so world-weary. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
Or: He looks so world-weary. He probably doesn't want to work anymore.
Chưa nói đến tiếng Việt hay tiếng Anh. Theo ý nghĩa để liên lạc hai mệnh đề, câu này đã không ổn rồi. Chán đời đâu có liên quan đến làm việc.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Ở bài #6, bạn đã có vài điểm không đúng với cách nói chuyện.

1. Cha đó nhìn “dê xòm”, hắn cứ nhìn tôi chằm chằm.
=>That guy looks like a lecher/ dirty old man/ sleazebag. He is ogling me.
(1) Dê xồm thì dê xồm, đâu có ai nói "nhìn" dê xồm
(2) cứ = keep (on)
That sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (gọi người ta chú ý vào gã kia)
That guy is a sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (phê bình gã kia)

2. Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
=> He looks so world-weary. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
Or: He looks so world-weary. He probably doesn't want to work anymore.
Chưa nói đến tiếng Việt hay tiếng Anh. Theo ý nghĩa để liên lạc hai mệnh đề, câu này đã không ổn rồi. Chán đời đâu có liên quan đến làm việc.

Dạ cháu quên kiểm tra về độ mạch lạc của câu ạ. Cháu sẽ rút kinh nghiệm ạ.

 

[Anne1811]

That sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (gọi người ta chú ý vào gã kia)
That guy is a sleazebag. He keeps leering at me. (phê bình gã kia)

I am learning English by watching from your threads which were corrected mistakes in writing skills from others. Thanks for your time for this.

2. Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
=> He looks so world-weary. Perhaps he doesn't want to work anymore.
Or: He looks so world-weary. He probably doesn't want to work anymore.
Chưa nói đến tiếng Việt hay tiếng Anh. Theo ý nghĩa để liên lạc hai mệnh đề, câu này đã không ổn rồi. Chán đời đâu có liên quan đến làm việc.

I have not yet found matter in the above sentence. Could you please help me to explain it ?

 

[moneymong.pt]

Nếu sửa lại câu: Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc không muốn làm việc nữa rồi.
Thành => Nhìn anh ta có vẻ “chán đời quá”, chắc là bị vợ mắng/ bồ bỏ/ công ty phá sản rồi.
=> Câu này trong tiếng Việt đã mạch lạc hơn chưa chú @VetMini nhỉ?
Từ "chán đời" - world-weary ở trên cháu đã dùng đúng ngữ cảnh chưa ạ?

 

[anhtuanle123]

i would like introduce a method that maybe useful for speaking , that is film watching , the conversations in film match with context of story , so when we repeat sentences that characters speak in film , i think it is more natural , not same machine
I discovered a film channel that have parallel subtitle English and Vietnamese in once on Youtube

cô nương : I think this word is hard to translate from Vietnamese to English , because it is an ancient word in China cultural , i think in Vietnamese , it have humorous mean when talk with a young girl

 

[VetMini]

...

I am learning English by watching from your threads which were corrected mistakes in writing skills from others. Thanks for your time for this.
I am learning English by watching your threads which correct mistakes in others' writings. Thanks for your time on this.
(correct mistakes: mấy cái thread kia chúng còn tồn tại => dùng thì hiện tại)

I have not yet found matter in the above sentence. Could you please help me to explain it ?
I am still unable to figure out what is wrong with that sentence. Could you please explain it a bit more?

...Từ "chán đời" - world-weary ở trên cháu đã dùng đúng ngữ cảnh chưa ạ?

Thực ra, lúc nói chuyện thì chỉ cần dùng "pathetic" hay "miserable" là đủ rồi.
He looks so pathetic. I guess he's just copped a good one from his wife.
(chắc bị vợ chửi)

 

[ptm0412]

i would like introduce a method that maybe useful for speaking , that is film watching , the conversations in film match with context of story , so when we repeat sentences that characters speak in film , i think it is more natural , not same machine
I discovered a film channel that have parallel subtitle English and Vietnamese in once on Youtube
...
cô nương : I think this word is hard to translate from Vietnamese to English , because it is an ancient word in China cultural , i think in Vietnamese , it have humorous mean when talk with a young girl

You have one mistake time to time: You did not make any full stop mark (dot) in every posts from here to there.
Here are some of my opinions and you can ignore for your own charateristic:
- "would like to introduce"
- What is "not same machine"? May you mean "tự nhiên, không như máy"? If so, that is No-Star-Where English
- The conversations in movie are always too fast to listen, and not all of them are standard English.
- is difficult to translate (not "hard")
- "ancient word"? (từ ngữ thời cổ đại?)
- China culture (not cultural, cultural is an adjective) (chưa nói đến dùng từ "văn hoá" có hợp ngữ cảnh hay không)
- "humorous meaning" (not mean, mean is a verb)

 

[moneymong.pt]

Thực ra, lúc nói chuyện thì chỉ cần dùng "pathetic" hay "miserable" là đủ rồi.
He looks so pathetic. I guess he's just copped a good one from his wife.
(chắc bị vợ chửi)

Would you please explain the phrase "copped a good one" a bit more?

 

[VetMini]

Would you please explain the phrase "copped a good one" a bit more?

Cách nói diễu vậy thôi. Khá khó giải thích.

- China culture (not cultural, cultural is an adjective) (chưa nói đến dùng từ "văn hoá" có hợp ngữ cảnh hay không)
- "humorous meaning" (not mean, mean is a verb)

Chinese culture.
(btw, he is misleading about the term "cô nương". This term is indeed one of the many terms that have long become common in Vietnam, albeit with a different use and meaning)

mean can also be an adjective, meaning cruel, unkind.

 

[huuthang_bd]

My English just enough to understand what others write. I even sometimes have to use Google translate to understand completely a sentence.
However, I think the following paragraph has some mistakes.

i would like to introduce a method that may be useful for speaking skill, that is film watching , the conversations in a film match with the context of the story , so when we repeat the sentences that characters spoke in the film , i think it is more natural , not same machine
I discovered a film channel that has parallel subtitle English and Vietnamese in once watching on Youtube

Please let me know if I wrong.

 

[VetMini]

My English just enough to understand what others write. I even sometimes have to use Google translate to understand completely a sentence.
...
Please let me know if I wrong.

My English is just enough to understand what others write. I sometimes even have to use Google translate to completely understand a sentence.
Note: I would replace "to completely understand a sentence" with "to comprehend/grasp/get a sentence in its entirety"

Please let me know if I am wrong.
Not sure of your intention. This sentence is normally used with politeness when you think that you are right, and the chance of being wrong is indeed very small.
A better way to say it (stronger belief in yourself):
Please correct me if I am wrong.

Note: Google is only good as a guide. Do not look at it as a manual.

 

[huuthang_bd]

Not sure of your intention.

I mean please show my mistakes to me because I sure that I have some mistakes

Note: I would replace "to completely understand a sentence" with "to comprehend/grasp/get a sentence in its entirety"

I don't have many choices because my vocabulary is not much. So, the others understand what I want to say as well.

Note: Google is only good as a guide. Do not look at it as a manual.

Thank you for your advice.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Hello everyone,
I want to translate the following conversation into English. Please help me to correct my translation. Thank you for your time.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó. Nay em có đi làm không?
• Dạ có ạ. Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi. Chị đi tiếp đây, gọi em sau nhé.
• Dạ, chúc chị ngày làm việc vui và hiệu quả nha. Em cũng chuẩn bị đi làm.
• Uhm. Cám ơn em. Đi cẩn thận.

• Hello, did you call me? I just got up and saw a missed call from you, so that I call you right away.
• “Chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó”. Do you work today?
• Yes, I do. I hear “tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi”. Are you outside?
• Yup, I’m on my way to work, go through Phu Nhuan intersection……Can I call you later?
• Yes, have a fun and productive day! I’m going to go to work.
• Thanks. Be careful

 

[VetMini]

This thread is about conversational English, right?

Before going on any further, we need to acknowledge one important aspect of conversational English:
Conversation is very much a habit. And habit means things that might not make any senses.

Therefore, you guys need to be aware of the fact that, unlike written English, a conversational English sentence migth not always be able to translate directly into Vietnamese. In other words, you will often find that the sentences are quite different.

Most of short sentences in conversational English are learnt by memory. Just memorise what you see (including where and when they occur) and repeat them in the right place, at the right time.

(tên tôi là Vẹt. Tôi chuyên học vẹt như vậy)

 

[cadafi]

Anh chị ơi dịch dùm em với:
"Tao đang mắc ỉa nha, tụi bây đừng có ở đó mà chém gió nhá!"

 

[xuongrongdat]

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó. Nay em có đi làm không?
• Dạ có ạ. Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi. Chị đi tiếp đây, gọi em sau nhé.
• Dạ, chúc chị ngày làm việc vui và hiệu quả nha. Em cũng chuẩn bị đi làm.
• Uhm. Cám ơn em. Đi cẩn thận.

This conversation in a love story? I consider these speech are too cute and lovely. And I guess "em" is a boy.
Definitely, this is the love of an "old" lady and a "young" boy.
"Sister, I love you!" - he will say like that.

.... while writing, I see the post below.... I no know say what more. off mood.

Anh chị ơi dịch dùm em với:
"Tao đang mắc ỉa nha, tụi bây đừng có ở đó mà chém gió nhá!"

.... desert profit !!!

 

[VetMini]

Anh chị ơi dịch dùm em với:
"Tao đang mắc *** nha, tụi bây đừng có ở đó mà chém gió nhá!"

Trong ngữ cảnh trên, "mắc" tiếng Việt có hai nghĩa:
1. bận, đang làm
2. đang cơn muốn làm (chưa làm)
Trước khi dịch diếc, phải xác định rõ nghĩa đã.

 

[Anne1811]

This thread is about conversational English, right?

Before going on any further, we need to acknowledge one important aspect of conversational English:
Conversation is very much a habit. And habit means things that might not make any senses.

Therefore, you guys need to be aware of the fact that, unlike written English, a conversational English sentence migth not always be able to translate directly into Vietnamese. In other words, you will often find that the sentences are quite different.

Most of short sentences in conversational English are learnt by memory. Just memorise what you see (including where and when they occur) and repeat them in the right place, at the right time.

I agree with you! That makes sense! Thanks for the very clear and useful explanation .

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• Hello, did you call me? I just got up and saw a missed call from you, so that I call you right away

Hello, I just saw your missed call. Hey what's up, sis?

 

[VetMini]

Anh chị ơi dịch dùm em với:
"Tao đang mắc ỉa nha, tụi bây đừng có ở đó mà chém gió nhá!"

Shut your traps. Or I'll crap all over them.

 

[moneymong.pt]

This thread is about conversational English, right?

Yes, this topic is about conversation practice.

Before going on any further, we need to acknowledge one important aspect of conversational English:
Conversation is very much a habit. And habit means things that might not make any senses.

Therefore, you guys need to be aware of the fact that, unlike written English, a conversational English sentence migth not always be able to translate directly into Vietnamese. In other words, you will often find that the sentences are quite different.

Most of short sentences in conversational English are learnt by memory. Just memorise what you see (including where and when they occur) and repeat them in the right place, at the right time.

I want to say naturally via daily conversations. I know that we aren't able to translate directly into English. Two languages are so different because they are affected by culture, history of each country. Thanks for your helpful explanation.

This conversation in a love story? I consider these speech are too cute and lovely. And I guess "em" is a boy.
Definitely, this is the love of an "old" lady and a "young" boy.
"Sister, I love you!" - he will say like that.

That conversation is not a love story. It just a dialog between an elder sister and a young lady.
I often talk like that with my elder sister.

 

[Anne1811]

Anh chị ơi dịch dùm em với:
"tụi bây đừng có ở đó mà chém gió nhá!"

You guys dont just stand there and shoot the breeze.

 

[VetMini]

You guys dont just stand there and shoot the breeze.

chém = slash
gió = hơi phức tạp hơn. Từ này vốn do cụm từ xưa "đánh gió" tức là đánh giả vào khoảng không (không trúng vào đâu cả). Có lẽ dịch ra aimless là gần nhất.
chém gió = to slash aimlessly.

Nhưng nếu dịch thực nghĩa thì:
chém gió = full of hot air.

 

[xuongrongdat]

You guys dont just stand there and shoot the breeze.

Why don't you translate both 2 cadafi's sentences??!

 

[Anne1811]

Why don't you translate both 2 cadafi's sentences??!

Actually, I don't know how to translate that kind of colloquial word into English. ^_^

 

[VetMini]

Actually, I don't know how to translate that kind of colloquial word into English. ^_^

Just let it go. One of them is a rude word and I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest

 

[cadafi]

Just let it go. One of them is a rude word and I don't want to stir up a hornet's nest

This is not rude, but a daily activities you have to face with everyday. Normally, as a Vietnamese you could say "I wanna cut the flower = Tao muốn đi hái hoa = Tao đang mắc ỉa", English people they also have the same "Nature is calling me".
Some times to translate into the language you have been learning, you need to learn their culture also.

 

[VetMini]

Well, we can spend years arguing around the vulgarity of certain terms.
However, I said I don't want to open a can of worms, and I keep my words.

 

[Anne1811]

This is not rude, but a daily activities you have to face with everyday. Normally, as a Vietnamese you could say "I wanna cut the flower = Tao muốn đi hái hoa = Tao đang mắc ỉa", English people they also have the same "Nature is calling me".
Some times to translate into the language you have been learning, you need to learn their culture also.

Well, I am imaging that I am myself in an emergency circumstance such that: hey buddy, do you know where toilet is? Urgent! Truely! I need to go now, I need to have a pee/ I need to pass water/ I can’t keep holding my bowel’s movements.

 

[VetMini]

No, you ask people direction to the rest room/ ladies. Or a bit less formal, the loo.
(men can call it the john)
Within a very high class environment, such as a party of important people, you might even call it the "powder room", and try something like "I need to powder my nose".

I think the popularity of Youtube has made people forgetting that a large part of those clips use bad English.

 

[VetMini]

hey buddy, do you know where ...

Gosh! I can't believe my eyes.
What ever happened to "Excuse me" ? (The nicest way to call for people's attention. Your English teacher forgot to tell you?)
"Excuse me [sir]. Would you kindly show me how to get to the rest room?" is the sentence you should learn.

I am starting to wonder whether you guys mistaking conversational English for street language.

Please, please. Go back to the beginning and re-learn some basics.
- What to say when you want to start talking to a stranger.
- How to greet people. What do you say when someone says "Good day!", and when they say "How are you?"
- How to ask somebody to repeat what he/she 's just said (because you don't understand it)
- How to ask somebody to do something for you.
- What to say when the other say "have a good day!"
- the list goes on...
And, please practice them until they become natural. That is, they just come ou of your mouth, you don't have to stop and think.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

 

[cadafi]

Well, I am imaging that I am myself in an emergency circumstance such that: hey buddy, do you know where toilet is? Urgent! Truely! I need to go now, I need to have a pee/ I need to pass water/ I can’t keep holding my bowel’s movements.

When you were in a romantic dinner with a beautiful girl and suddently you got pissed off of your call from nature, you can say: " oh Dear, I would be terribly sorry since I really need to see my little brother immediately or he would cry soon. Would you want me to let him cry now?"
And the girl would say : stop shooting the breeze, go now to see him!

Bài đã được tự động gộp: 29/7/20

Gosh! I can't believe my eyes.
What ever happened to "Excuse me" ? (The nicest way to call for people's attention. Your English teacher forgot to tell you?)
"Excuse me [sir]. Would you kindly show me how to get to the rest room?" is the sentence you should learn.

I am starting to wonder whether you guys mistaking conversational English for street language.

Please, please. Go back to the beginning and re-learn some basics.
- What to say when you want to start talking to a stranger.
- How to greet people. What do you say when someone says "Good day!", and when they say "How are you?"
- How to ask somebody to repeat what he/she 's just said (because you don't understand it)
- How to ask somebody to do something for you.
- What to say when the other say "have a good day!"
- the list goes on...
And, please practice them until they become natural. That is, they just come ou of your mouth, you don't have to stop and think.

At least 10 ways to say "excuse me" and more that 10 ways to say "How are you?". It depends on the context you are in. It is not because of the teacher forgot to teach her, but because she is talking in a different manner. You should take it easy since speaking is quite different from writting. And what we should learn (including you) is How to use (not to learn) English for a daily conversation. So for me, she is not making mistake but she is very fluent in speaking rather than other, learn but not use.

 

[VetMini]

• Yup, I’m on my way to work, go through Phu Nhuan intersection……Can I call you later?
• Yes, have a fun and productive day! I’m going to go to work.
• Thanks. Be careful

The last three lines:
1. Yup: these kinds of expression are not exactly what I would recommend UNTIL you are very confident with your wording.
2. don't just say "yes". Need to go further: "Yes, please", "Please do", "By all means",...
3. You forgot the basics. When a person wish you "a nice day", you must wish back. "Thanks, same to you"

Read post number #43, practice the rules of conversation first. Learn manners by heart before you start what you call "friendly" way and shortcut them.

I am not interested in learning English to chat with friends. What I think you should learn is how to go to a meeting, conference, or party and confidently shake hands with foreigners. The kind of "daily conversation [sic]" you have learnt so far definitely will not win you any friends there.

 

[1+1=2]

This thread is about conversational English, right?

Before going on any further, we need to acknowledge one important aspect of conversational English:
Conversation is very much a habit. And habit means things that might not make any senses.

Therefore, you guys need to be aware of the fact that, unlike written English, a conversational English sentence migth not always be able to translate directly into Vietnamese. In other words, you will often find that the sentences are quite different.

Most of short sentences in conversational English are learnt by memory. Just memorise what you see (including where and when they occur) and repeat them in the right place, at the right time.

(tên tôi là Vẹt. Tôi chuyên học vẹt như vậy)

Vẹt Bikini

 

[ptm0412]

I have just banned nick "1+1=2" because of spamming (#47)
No comments, please.

 

[cadafi]

chém = slash
gió = hơi phức tạp hơn. Từ này vốn do cụm từ xưa "đánh gió" tức là đánh giả vào khoảng không (không trúng vào đâu cả). Có lẽ dịch ra aimless là gần nhất.
chém gió = to slash aimlessly.

Nhưng nếu dịch thực nghĩa thì:
chém gió = full of hot air.

Stop shooting the breeze, It's killingly funny

 

[cadafi]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

You could say:
+ Hallo, Have you just called me? I just woke up and saw your miss-call so I am calling you back.
+ Ops, Perhaps my phone was unlocked and some keys have been pressed unintentionally so it called you unfortunately.
+ I can hear many noise from vehicles, are you on your way?
+Uhm, I am on my way to work, just crossing the Phu Nhuan corner to reach my office then.

 

[moneymong.pt]

You could say:
+ Hallo, Have you just called me? I just woke up and saw your miss-call so I am calling you back.
+ Ops, Perhaps my phone was unlocked and some keys have been pressed unintentionally so it called you unfortunately.
+ I can hear many noise from vehicles, are you on your way?
+Uhm, I am on my way to work, just crossing the Phu Nhuan corner to reach my office then.

Thank you so so much, Mr handsome Prince.

 

[VetMini]

...No comments, please.

English is funny.

 

[ptm0412]

English is funny.

Yes, it's funny. The phrase "no + noun" seems always singular noun, not plural; but on earth always exists exceptions
Thanks for your correction.

 

[cadafi]

Yes, it's funny. The phrase "no + noun" seems always singular noun, not plural; but on earth always exists exceptions
Thanks for your correction.

Sometimes we should be hand-in-hand to play Chinese chess and drink red wine.
Miss you, Cheetit Oldman!

 

[Anne1811]

Sometimes we should be hand-in-hand to play Chinese chess and drink red wine.
Miss you, Cheetit Oldman!

how about the tamarind fried crab food ^_^

 

[VetMini]

Please help me translate these sentences into English.

• Alo, chị à, lúc nãy chị gọi em có việc gì không? Em mới ngủ dậy và thấy cuộc gọi nhỡ từ chị nên em gọi lại nè.
• À, chắc là chị để cấn máy nên tự gọi cho em đó.
• Em nghe tiếng xe bóp còi inh ỏi, chị đang ở ngoài đường hả?
• Ừ, chị đang trên đường đi làm, qua ngã 4 Phú Nhuận là tới công ty rồi.

I tend not to translate this directly, since I'm not sure they are appropriate.
With regrets, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to argue against the comment made by a colleague "As far day to day conversation concerned, Vietanmeses are not exactly the highest ranked in terms of politeness".

Putting the scenario into perspective and rephrase the whole conversation where appropriate, I come up with the followings (assuming Tam is calling Chin, phrases inside [ ] are optional):
- Hello, is that you, Chin? [how are you?] I got up and saw this missed call from you. Just call back to check.
("chị à" without a question mark is a call for attention, not a question. Here I assume it's a question)
- Oh, hello Tam, I am terribly sorry. Must have pressed the call button by mistake. [Anyway, it's great to hear from you, Tam]
(for minor things like these, whether they're true or not, don't try to shift blame over the phone, just appologise. You might note that down and explain later face to face)
- [It's okay.] I heard traffic noises and vehicles honking in the background. Are you outside (or, out in the street)?
- Well, yes, I'm on my way to work. The place (or, office) is just past this Phu Nhuan intersection.

Important: since you are not sure that your accent and intonation is 100% correct, stay away from strange sound like Um, Er, Oopsie,...
I hate to say this again and again: don't try to be too friendly or too casual, you can easily step over the boundary line.

 

[moneymong.pt]

I tend not to translate this directly, since I'm not sure they are appropriate.
With regrets, I have to admit that sometimes I find it hard to argue against the comment made by a colleague "As far day to day conversation concerned, Vietanmeses are not exactly the highest ranked in terms of politeness".

Putting the scenario into perspective and rephrase the whole conversation where appropriate, I come up with the followings (assuming Tam is calling Chin, phrases inside [ ] are optional):
- Hello, is that you, Chin? [how are you?] I got up and saw this missed call from you. Just call back to check.
("chị à" without a question mark is a call for attention, not a question. Here I assume it's a question)
- Oh, hello Tam, I am terribly sorry. Must have pressed the call button by mistake. [Anyway, it's great to hear from you, Tam]
(for minor things like these, whether they're true or not, don't try to shift blame over the phone, just appologise. You might note that down and explain later face to face)
- [It's okay.] I heard traffic noises and vehicles honking in the background. Are you outside (or, out in the street)?
- Well, yes, I'm on my way to work. The place (or, office) is just past this Phu Nhuan intersection.

Important: since you are not sure that your accent and intonation is 100% correct, stay away from strange sound like Um, Er, Oopsie,...
I hate to say this again and again: don't try to be too friendly or too casual, you can easily step over the boundary line.

Thank you for your dedication. I have learned the way I speak in daily life.

 

[VetMini]

Thank you for your dedication. I have learned the way I speak in daily life.

The word 'dedication' reminds me of a thing someone said a few days ago. It has somehing like "an enthusiasm to learn English".

Let us be clear about that 'enthusiasm'. I don't know how Google translate this word into Vietnamese, but if I understand it correctly, this level of dedication is not enough to learn anything, unless you think learning is a hobby.

To effectlively learn a second language, you need 'passion' at the very least. This passion then needs to turn into a determination and consequently forces you to devote your time and effort. Statistics shows that even the most talented people need certain degree of devotion in order to succeed.

 

[anhtuanle123]

unless you think learning is a hobby.

i think , it is habit , not hobby , when we have a habit , it is only as a normal operation daily , i think so

 

[VetMini]

i think , it is habit , not hobby , when we have a habit , it is only as a normal operation daily , i think so

Absolute rubbish!
Without a period, one can not say which clause goes with which. The whole paragraph is unintelligible.
'when we have a habit' is a clause (assumed)
Does it go with those preceeding or following it?

"bảy mười tuổi mới sinh không thực chính là con của lão" (trích truyện cổ)
Không có viết hoa, không dấu chấm thì biết di chúc này muốn nói đứa bé thực là con hay giả? (theo truyện, Không là tên khai sinh của đứa bé)

 

[ptm0412]

"bảy mười tuổi mới sinh không thực chính là con của lão" (trích truyện cổ)
Không có viết hoa, không dấu chấm thì biết di chúc này muốn nói đứa bé thực là con hay giả? (theo truyện, Không là tên khai sinh của đứa bé)

Hình như nguyên văn chữ Hán Việt:
lão nhi thất thập sinh nhi phi ngô gia tử dã
(tiếng Hán Việt viết chữ nho không có dấu và không có viết hoa)

 

[moneymong.pt]

Absolute rubbish!

Why did you use "rubbish" in the above situation? What does that mean? "Rác rưởi" or something?

 

[cadafi]

Absolute rubbish!
Without a period, one can not say which clause goes with which. The whole paragraph is unintelligible.
'when we have a habit' is a clause (assumed)
Does it go with those preceeding or following it?

English is funny!

 

[anhtuanle123]

Why did you use "rubbish" in the above situation? What does that mean? "Rác rưởi" or something?

it mean "không có giá trị " , and apply with the context then I think it is "vô nghĩa"
anyway , everyone still understand ^^

 

[xuongrongdat]

Why did you use "rubbish" in the above situation? What does that mean? "Rác rưởi" or something?

Why don't you query about the word "absolute"?
Why not be "partly", "mostly", "likely" or "relative"?

 

[VetMini]

Why did you use "rubbish" in the above situation? What does that mean? "Rác rưởi" or something?

Simply put, rubbish is rubbish. (*)
Any other days, I would say 'hogwash'.
Here, I need to refrain myself from using too many slang. (**)

English is funny!

This is all about basic sentence and clause. Don't bloody blame English.

(*) it means things that you want to throw away.
(**) when talking to a Westerner, do not, I repeat, do not attempt to try slangs or colliquial terms. It will make the other person think that you want to communicate in that way and promptly 'respond in kind'. The conversation will end up 'ông nói gà, bà nói vịt'.
repond in kind = đại khái có nghĩa là ăn miếng trả miếng. Nói tóm lại, nếu bạn dùng thành ngữ hoặc tiếng lóng thì bên kia sẽ dùng lại. Và hai bên sẽ chẳng hiểu nhau. Bên kia khong hiểu bạn vì thành nhữ thường cần đúng ngữ cảnh và âm điệu trong giọng nói. Bạn không hiểu bên kia là vì tiếng Anh là một trong những ngôn ngữ có nhiều thành ngữ vô duyên nhất thế giới.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Why don't you querry about the word "absolute"?
Why not be "partly", "mostly", "likely" or "relative"?

Absolute rubbish is a noun phrase: adjective + noun. If you use adverb is not correct.
Although likely or relative is adjective, and I think their mean is not appropriate in that case.

anyway , everyone still understand ^^

Pronouns such as everyone, everybody, everything, anybody, anyone, or someone sound like a lot of people, but they are singular forms.
Understand => understands.

 

[VetMini]

Why don't you querry about the word "absolute"?
Why not be "partly", "mostly", "likely" or "relative"?

We are here to practice English, aren't we?
What do you think you can learn from that query?

Note: practice or practise
I use British English. But somehow, I have that tendency towards American in this case.

 

[ptm0412]

anyway , everyone still understand ^^

If you don't use any "dot" in your sentences, (I remember that you have never used even in Vietnamese), each reader would understand in his/her way, not the way you wanted. That is the mistake of "ambiguity of meanings". That why someone said your sentences are rubbish, absolute rubbish.

 

[VetMini]

I think, it is habit, not hobby, when we have a habit
It is only as a normal operation daily, I think so

Is not the same as

I think, it is habit, not hobby
When we have a habit , it is only as a normal operation daily, I think so

Full stop!

------------

To others: a few extra things to note about the above string of English words
1. you either say 'it is habitual' or 'it is a habit'. 'it is habit' is very poor English. (same with 'not hobby', which should be 'not a hobby')
2. you say 'normal daily operation' or 'daily normal operation' (depending on which adjective you want to place more emphasis on) rather than 'normal operation daily'
3. the word 'as' does not fit in. You don't need it.
4. the expression 'I think so' here is also very poor. Instead, one should say 'I would/should think so'.

Full stop! khi người ta đưa ra một cái/điều gì và tiếp theo đó 'Full stop!' (chấm hết) là người ta muốn nói "chấm dứt, không chấp nhận tranh luận gì nữa" (không nói nữa, tôi tin rằng vậy là đúng rồi)

 

[VetMini]

Today's lession:

'normal [daily] operation': the word 'operation' here is very poor choice of words.
Any suggestions? That is, what other word(s) do you think can be put in this place?

 

[xuongrongdat]

Today's lession:

'normal [daily] operation': the word 'operation' here is very poor choice of words.
Any suggestions? That is, what other word(s) do you think can be put in this place?

I choose "activities" and I think it's the meaning that @anhtuanle123 want to express.

 

[VetMini]

I choose "activities" and I think it's the meaning that @anhtuanle123 want to express.

Correct!
You have 'activities'. It's your body, or mind, that operates.

On the other hand, you forgot the lesson from earlier.
'I would/should choose ...'

 

[xuongrongdat]

Correct!
You have 'activities'. It's your body, or mind, that operates.

On the other hand, you forgot the lesson from earlier.
'I would/should choose ...'

Thanks a lot.
And I consider I have a grammar false: I choose "activities" and I think it's the meaning that @anhtuanle123 wants to express.
Luckily, maybe nobody pays attention to that false while communicating.

 

[VetMini]

Thanks a lot.
And I consider I have a grammar false: I choose "activities" and I think it's the meaning that @anhtuanle123 wants to express.
Luckily, maybe nobody pays attention to that false while communicating.

I stopped reading after 'I think...'
Had I kept on reading, I would have corrected as "[the person]'s intention".

 

[cadafi]

Correct!
You have 'activities'. It's your body, or mind, that operates.

On the other hand, you forgot the lesson from earlier.
'I would/should choose ...'

Actualy, it depends on which context you are in. For example, you are in the hospital and you are playing the role of a doctor. Or you are just a factory manager. "Activity" is just a general word. The word "operation" is for a specific activity. For a daily activity, you have to specify which one you are doing!? There is no right or wrong in language, I say again, no right or wrong. It is only one concern that you understand or not. That's so called "communication".

 

[VetMini]

... There is no right or wrong in language, I say again, no right or wrong. It is only one concern that you understand or not. That's so called "communication".

I rest my case.

 

[cadafi]

I rest my case.

Of course I am not saying anything right or wrong!

Bài đã được tự động gộp: 4/8/20

Correct!
You have 'activities'. It's your body, or mind, that operates.

On the other hand, you forgot the lesson from earlier.
'I would/should choose ...'

If I were you, I should have said "That is right, however to stress your point or just to soften your tongue, you could say "I would/should choose...". The sentence " I choose...", "I must choose...", " I have to choose...", "I could choose...", "I should choose..", bottom line it is the same result. But, of course in different meaning. So again, No right or wrong in this case.

Bài đã được tự động gộp: 4/8/20

Of course I am not saying anything right or wrong!

Bài đã được tự động gộp: 4/8/20

 

[VetMini]

You are outthinking yourself.
This a practice lab. Not a forum to discuss literature or philosophy. Not even one for debating.

Here I am to trying to help the original poster to get through a crash course in basic conversational English.
When you are talking to a Westerner, it's important that the two of you can understand one another.
Unfortunately, the hard fact is that he/she can only catch around 40 to 70 per cent of the words you say and vice versa. The rest is guess work.
It is up to you to improve the chance that both of you guess correctly, most of the time, anyway.

Now I hope you understand why I keep yelling "don't say it like that". You might not be wrong; but if the other side never heard things said in that way, he/she will guess wrong. It works the other way too. When you're familiar with the way the sentence is normally said, your chance of guessing the mising words is pretty good.

Note: written correspondence is another form of conversation. Despite being able to avoid the problems of accent, it still needs to have the intonation right. And the basics of intonation is the use of punctuation marks (that is why I gave up on the person who insists on ignoring periods)

Note 2: once you are good with face-to-face conversation, you will find that written correspondence also deprives you of the chance to read bodyn language. But that belongs to the advanced level.

 

[moneymong.pt]

Here I am to trying to help the original poster to get through a crash course in basic conversational English.

The phrase "basic conversational English" is still right, isn't it?
I searched on Google, the result is "basic English conversation".
Please help me to explain this noun phrase. Thank you.

 

[VetMini]

The phrase "basic conversational English" is still right, isn't it?
I searched on Google, the result is "basic English conversation".
Please help me to explain this noun phrase. Thank you.

They are about the same.
The forrmer puts emphasis on "English, conversational style/techniques at the basic level". Whereas the latter says "basic conversation in English"

 

[anhtuanle123]

as well = too
my telephone's color is black , my friend's telephone is same color as well .

 

[ptm0412]

as well = too
my telephone's color is black , my friend's telephone as well .

The second clause missed a verb

 

[VetMini]

The second clause missed a verb

They are supposed to be two separate sentences. But then again, the person couldn't care less about sentence structuring techniques. All he/she wants is to learn new vocabularies. He/she says that him/herself, believing in his/her own concept that "a vast amount of vocabularies will compensate for poor structure".

In fact, it's very poor demonstration that "as well" is equivalent to "too"

In conversational English, people normally say:
So is my friend's phone.
[Or]
So is my friend's.

Also, please keep in mind that "as well" is not always understood the same way as "too":
You might as well pack up and leave. (concerns only one person)
Is not the same as:
You too, might pack up and leave. (tells the person to follow the other/s)

 

[ptm0412]

In fact, it's very poor demonstration that "as well" is equivalent to "too"

I also doubt the equivalent between "too" and "as well", but the first thing I see is the missing of verb.
"As well" is use in some special cases, I don't remember exactly, in those situations, it does not have the same meaning with "too"

 

[VetMini]

I also doubt the equivalent between "too" and "as well", but the first thing I see is the missing of verb.
"As well" is use in some special cases, I don't remember exactly, in those situations, it does not have the same meaning with "too"

Also note that in post #84, I used the term "a vast amount of" rather than "a rich" or "richness in" on purpose.

 

[befaint]

Các anh/ chị cho em hỏi dùng từ nào trong trường hợp này:

DOOR OPEN
OPEN THE DOOR

 

[xuongrongdat]

Lỗi dịch thuật rồi bác ơi:


Bác thấy có mấy nút kia dịch không:
Đèn pha: Head Light.
Đèn cabin: Cab Light.

Nên tới Đóng cửa, Mở cửa cũng chơi trật tự dịch như mấy cái kia luôn: Door Close, Door Open

Tức mình cái là phải qua nhiều quy trình kiểm tra, thẩm định tá lả mà sao vẫn để lọt những lỗi dô diên như này, làm giảm đi giá trị của sản phẩm 1 cách đáng kể.

 

[ptm0412]

Door open là 1 tình trạng của cửa (cửa đang mở). Viết đầy đủ là the door is opened. Không dùng trong văn nói
Open the door là 1 hành động để thay đổi tình trạng từ door close sang door open

 

[VetMini]

Không dùng cái nào cả. "THE" ở đây là thừa.
OPEN DOOR và CLOSE DOOR là đủ rồi.

Chú ý: DOOR + OPEN/CLOSE dùng được nếu có gì ngăn cách giũa hai từ., Ví dụ dấu hai chấm hoặc xuống hàng.
Ý nghĩa: trong ngữ cảnh cái DOOR, đây là nút để mở/đóng nó.

Tức mình cái là phải qua nhiều quy trình kiểm tra, thẩm định tá lả mà sao vẫn để lọt những lỗi dô diên như này, làm giảm đi giá trị của sản phẩm 1 cách đáng kể.

Đâu có nghiêm trọng lắm. Chính tụi Tây chúng cũng bị tùm lum vậy hoài, nhất là mấy cái hợp đồng cho thầu Trung Quốc. Kiểm soát xong báo lên cấp trên, cấp trên đi nhậu một chầu với bên thầu là đâu vào đấy. Người kiểm soát chỉ có cách duy nhất để tự bảo vệ mình là ghi lại nhật ký "ngày..., tháng... đã báo cáo với sếp về sự lủng củng của bảng hiệu...". Khi tình hình nghiêm trọng thì trình ra. Sếp và cấp trên thấy mình cẩn thận thì sẽ xử chìm xuồng, tội gì khui ra.
Chỉ khi nào bên close dán qua open mới là nghiêm trọng.

 

[ptm0412]

Không dùng cái nào cả. "THE" ở đây là thừa.

Tôi nghĩ khi câu nói có THE (open the door), sẽ là 1 câu cầu khiến

 

[VetMini]

Tôi nghĩ khi câu nói có THE (open the door), sẽ là 1 câu cầu khiến

Đúng vậy, khi có từ THE, câu này có vẻ là lệnh nhiều hơn là chỉ dẫn.