和语伴聊什么?150 个问题,从第一句“你好”聊到心里话
这里有 150 个问题,和 Date&Learn 个人主页一样按水平分级,可以切换成英语、西班牙语、德语、法语、葡萄牙语、乌克兰语或俄语,都附有中文翻译。挑适合你水平的问题,先自己回答,一次最多问两个:这样聊天才像聊天,而不是查户口。
语言交换里最难的不是语法,而是“How are you? — Fine, thanks”之后的冷场。这份清单就是为这种时候准备的:150 个英语问题,附中文翻译,和 Date&Learn 个人主页一样按水平分级。从最初的几条消息,一直聊到那些让你觉得学这门语言真值得的对话。
问题有七种语言版本:选你正在学的那一种,整份清单就会马上切换过去。翻译始终是中文,而它的用处不只是帮你看懂:如果你的语伴在学中文,就用中文问 TA 同一个问题,语言交换的另一半也就有了。
怎么用这份清单
- 挑适合自己水平的问题。不知道自己什么水平?先做个 5 分钟小测试。
- 先说说你自己。光问问题、不说自己,听起来就像查户口。对比一下“Do you like hiking?”和“I went hiking yesterday and my legs still hurt. Do you like hiking?”:后一句才让人想接话。
- 一次最多问两个。一条消息里问五个问题,就成了调查问卷。对方要么随便答几个字,要么干脆放着回头再说。
- 接着往下问。最好的第二个问题是追问:“Why?”“What was it like?”“And then?”。这说明你在认真听。
- 标有(发语音)的问题,用语音消息回答会更有意思:这些问题里,发音、音乐或语调才是关键。
初级(A1–A2)
问题短,用词简单。回答两三句话就够了。
认识一下
- Where are you from? — 你是哪里人?
- Where do you live now? — 你现在住在哪里?
- What languages do you speak? — 你会说哪些语言?
- Why are you learning my language? — 你为什么学中文?
- How long have you been learning it? — 你学了多久了?
- What do you do? — 你是做什么的?
- Do you have any brothers or sisters? — 你有兄弟姐妹吗?
- Do you have any pets? — 你养宠物吗?
- What time is it where you are? — 你那边现在几点?
- What’s the weather like there today? — 你那边今天天气怎么样?
日常生活
- What time do you usually get up? — 你一般几点起床?
- What do you usually have for breakfast? — 你早饭一般吃什么?
- How do you get to work? — 你每天怎么去上班?
- What do you do after work? — 你下班以后做什么?
- How was your weekend? — 你周末过得怎么样?
- What are you doing tonight? — 你今天晚上做什么?
- What’s your favourite day of the week? — 你最喜欢星期几?
- Do you like cooking? — 你喜欢做饭吗?
- What’s in your fridge right now? — 你冰箱里现在有什么?
- What can you see from your window? — 从你的窗户往外看,能看到什么?(发语音)
喜好和兴趣
- What do you like doing in your free time? — 你有空的时候喜欢做什么?
- What music do you listen to? — 你喜欢听什么音乐?
- Can you send me a song you love? — 能给我发一首你喜欢的歌吗?
- Do you play any sports? — 你平时运动吗?
- What’s your favourite food? — 你最喜欢吃什么?
- Coffee or tea? — 咖啡还是茶?
- The sea or the mountains? — 大海还是高山?
- What’s a good film you’ve seen recently? — 你最近看过什么好看的电影?
- Are you reading anything at the moment? — 你最近在看什么书吗?
- Do you play video games or board games? — 你平时打游戏或者玩桌游吗?
你的国家和城市
- What is your city famous for? — 你们城市什么最有名?
- What should I eat if I visit your country? — 如果我去你们国家,应该吃什么?
- What’s a typical breakfast in your country? — 你们国家的人早饭一般吃什么?
- When is the best time to visit your country? — 什么时候去你们国家最好?
- How do people celebrate birthdays in your country? — 在你们国家,大家怎么过生日?
- What’s your favourite place in your city? — 你最喜欢你们城市的哪个地方?
- Is it expensive to live in your city? — 在你们城市生活贵吗?
- What do people do on Sundays where you live? — 你们那里的人星期天一般做什么?
- What’s your favourite word in your language? — 在你的母语里,你最喜欢哪个词?(发语音)
- What do people say in your language when they clink glasses? — 你们碰杯的时候说什么?(发语音)
关于语言
- Is this correct? — 这样说对吗?
- How do you say this in your language? — 这个用你的母语怎么说?
- Could you say that more slowly, please? — 你能说慢一点吗?(发语音)
- What does this word mean? — 这个词是什么意思?
- Is this word polite or rude? — 这个词礼貌还是不礼貌?
- Which sound in my language is the hardest for you? — 你觉得中文里哪个音最难发?(发语音)
- Can you correct my mistakes? — 你能帮我改错吗?
- Should I correct all your mistakes or only the big ones? — 你的错误我都要改吗?还是只改大的?
- Which word in my language sounds funny to you? — 你觉得中文里哪个词听起来很好笑?
- When is a good time to chat? — 你什么时候方便聊天?
中级(B1–B2)
经历、计划、看法,还有“换作是你会怎么做”。回答时多说几句,再举个例子。
生活与经历
- What’s the best trip you’ve ever taken? — 你最棒的一次旅行是去了哪里?(发语音)
- What did you want to be when you were a child? — 你小时候想当什么?
- How has your city changed since you were a kid? — 跟你小时候比,你们城市有哪些变化?
- What has surprised you lately? — 最近有什么让你意外的事吗?
- Have you ever lived abroad? What was it like? — 你在国外生活过吗?感觉怎么样?
- What was your first job? — 你的第一份工作是什么?
- What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to learn? — 你学过的最难的东西是什么?
- Who has influenced you the most? — 谁对你的影响最大?
- Which of your habits would you like to change? — 你想改掉自己的哪个习惯?
- What are you proud of? — 有什么让你很自豪的事吗?
计划与梦想
- What would you like to do for the first time next year? — 明年你想尝试什么以前没做过的事?
- If you could live anywhere, where would it be? — 如果哪里都能住,你会选哪里?
- Which country would you like to visit next, and why? — 你下一个想去哪个国家?为什么?
- What would you do with a whole month off? — 如果突然有一整个月的假期,你会怎么过?
- Is there a skill you want to learn this year? — 你今年有没有什么想学的技能?
- What does a perfect weekend look like for you? — 对你来说,完美的周末是什么样的?(发语音)
- Would you rather live in a big city or a small town? — 你更喜欢住在大城市还是小城市?
- What’s the first thing you’ll do when you’re fluent in my language? — 等你能流利地说中文了,你最想先做什么?
- Is there something you’ve always wanted to try? — 有没有什么你一直想尝试的事?
- If you won a lot of money, what would you buy first? — 如果你中了大奖,会先买什么?
说说看法
- Is it better to work from home or in an office? — 在家办公好,还是去公司上班好?
- Does social media make people happier? — 社交媒体会让人更快乐吗?
- Which film does everyone love, but you don’t? — 有什么电影大家都喜欢,你却不喜欢?
- What do tourists always get wrong about your country? — 游客对你们国家最常见的误解是什么?
- Should every child learn a second language at school? — 每个孩子都应该在学校学一门外语吗?
- Can you stay friends with an ex? — 分手以后还能跟前任做朋友吗?
- What makes a good friend? — 你觉得怎样才算好朋友?
- Do you like to plan everything, or do you go with the flow? — 你喜欢什么都提前计划好,还是走一步看一步?
- Which invention couldn’t you live without? — 哪个发明是你离不开的?
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? — 别人给过你最好的建议是什么?
文化
- What do people in your country joke about? — 你们国家的人喜欢拿什么开玩笑?
- Which holiday matters most in your family? — 在你家,哪个节日最重要?
- What’s considered rude in your country but normal elsewhere? — 有什么事在你们国家算不礼貌,在别的国家却很正常?
- What do foreigners find strange about your country? — 外国人觉得你们国家哪些地方很奇怪?
- Which song does everyone in your country know? — 在你们国家,哪首歌是人人都会唱的?(发语音)
- What’s a must-have dish at a celebration? — 过节的时候,饭桌上一定少不了哪道菜?
- How do couples usually meet in your country? — 在你们国家,情侣一般是怎么认识的?
- In your country, is it OK to open a present as soon as you get it? — 在你们那里,收到礼物可以马上拆开吗?
- Is there a word in your language that doesn’t exist in mine? — 你的母语里有没有什么词,是中文里没有的?
- What should I never say to someone from your country? — 跟你们国家的人聊天,什么话千万不能说?
语言与学习
- Which mistake do I make most often? — 我最常犯的错误是什么?
- Is my accent strong? — 我的口音重吗?(发语音)
- Which word in my language do you keep forgetting? — 中文里,哪个词你老是记不住?
- What do you do when you don’t understand a native speaker? — 跟母语者聊天听不懂的时候,你怎么办?
- What has helped you most with learning languages? — 学语言的时候,什么对你帮助最大?
- What slang should I know? — 有哪些流行语是我应该知道的?
- Which textbook phrase does nobody actually say? — 课本里的哪句话,现实生活中根本没人说?
- How do young people say “cool” in your language? — 现在的年轻人怎么说“很棒”?(发语音)
- Can you send me a tongue twister? — 能给我发一个绕口令吗?(发语音)
- What shall we talk about next time? — 我们下次聊点什么?
高级(C1–C2)
抽象的话题、各种假设、文化和语言本身的微妙之处。这里重要的不是“答对”,而是争一争、笑一笑,真正了解这个人。
价值观与选择
- What’s a belief you once held strongly and later changed? — 有没有什么观念,你曾经深信不疑,后来却改变了?
- Is it ever right to lie to protect someone’s feelings? — 为了不伤别人的心,说谎有时候也是对的吗?
- What does success mean to you, and has that changed over time? — 成功对你来说意味着什么?这些年你的看法变过吗?
- What matters most in a job: the money, the meaning or the people? — 工作中最重要的是什么:钱、意义,还是一起工作的人?
- What would you never compromise on in a relationship? — 在一段感情里,有什么是你绝对不会妥协的?
- Do we choose our friends, or do they choose us? — 是我们选择朋友,还是朋友选择我们?
- Which mistake taught you more than any success? — 哪个错误让你学到的东西比任何一次成功都多?
- How do you make big decisions? — 你是怎么做重大决定的?
- What’s the difference between being happy and being content? — “幸福”和“满足”有什么区别?
- What would you change about the way you were brought up? — 父母教育你的方式里,有什么是你想改变的?
社会与未来
- How will work change in the next twenty years? — 未来二十年,工作会发生怎样的变化?
- Is the internet bringing us closer or making us lonelier? — 网络让我们更亲近了,还是更孤独了?
- Should tourists follow local customs, even uncomfortable ones? — 游客应该入乡随俗吗?哪怕有些习俗让人不太舒服?
- What’s a problem in your country that foreigners don’t notice? — 你们国家有什么问题是外国人注意不到的?
- What will people in a hundred years find shocking about how we live? — 一百年后的人看我们现在的生活,会觉得哪些地方很离谱?
- Is it better to be an expert in one thing or good at many? — 是精通一样东西好,还是样样都会一点好?
- How much should parents decide for their adult children? — 父母应该在多大程度上替成年子女做决定?
- Is it rude to talk about money in your culture? — 在你们的文化里,谈钱是不礼貌的吗?
- Which tradition would you happily get rid of? — 有哪个传统,你巴不得它赶紧消失?
- If someone has lived in three countries, where are they “from”? — 如果一个人在三个国家生活过,那他算是“哪里人”?
语言与思维
- Do you feel like a different person when you speak another language? — 说另一种语言的时候,你会觉得自己像变了一个人吗?(发语音)
- Which language do you count, swear and dream in? — 你数数、骂人和做梦的时候用什么语言?
- Which joke in your language can’t be translated? — 你的母语里有什么笑话是根本没法翻译的?
- If you could add one word to your language, what would it be? — 如果可以给你的母语加一个词,你会加什么?
- When does “I’m fine” mean the opposite? — 什么时候说“我没事”,意思恰恰相反?
- Which accent of your language do you find the most beautiful? — 你觉得你的母语里哪种口音最好听?(发语音)
- What do people usually get wrong about your language? — 大家对你的母语一般有哪些误解?
- Is there a phrase that sounds polite but is actually rude? — 有没有什么话听起来很客气,其实很不礼貌?
- How do you disagree politely in your language? — 用你的母语怎么委婉地表示不同意?
- Which book should I read to understand your country? — 想了解你们国家,我应该读哪本书?
聊聊心里话
- Which memory always makes you smile? — 哪段回忆每次想起来都会让你笑?(发语音)
- Has your opinion of someone ever changed completely? — 你对一个人的看法有没有彻底改变过?
- What do you miss most about being a child? — 你最怀念小时候的什么?
- What are you really afraid of? — 你真正害怕的是什么?
- Who do you turn to when things go wrong? — 遇到不顺心的事,你会找谁?
- What would your friends say is your worst habit? — 如果问你的朋友,他们会说你最糟糕的习惯是什么?
- What’s the bravest thing you’ve ever done? — 你做过最勇敢的事是什么?
- If you could live one day again, which would it be? — 如果可以重过一天,你会选哪一天?
- What does home mean to you? — 对你来说,“家”意味着什么?
- What question do you wish people asked you more often? — 你希望别人多问你什么问题?
第一次见面之前
如果你们俩的个人主页上都选了“线下见面”或“心动与浪漫”,这些问题能帮你们从容地把见面的事商量好。问题都很简单,什么水平都能用。
- Would you prefer to meet for coffee or go for a walk? — 你想一起喝杯咖啡,还是出去走走?
- Which part of town works for you? — 你觉得在哪个区见面比较方便?
- How much time do you have that day? — 那天你有多长时间?
- Shall we swap voice messages first? — 我们先发语音聊聊,好吗?(发语音)
- How will I recognise you? — 到时候我怎么认出你?
- Is there anything you don’t eat or drink? — 你有什么不吃或者不喝的吗?
- Which language shall we speak when we meet? — 见面的时候我们说什么语言?
- I always tell a friend where I’m going — is that OK with you? — 我每次都会告诉朋友我去哪里,这样可以吗?
- What would help you feel comfortable at a first meeting? — 第一次见面,怎样能让你觉得舒服一点?
- What would you like us to do together? — 你想一起做点什么?
有些问题,最好晚点再问
这些问题并不是不能问,只是不适合在认识的第一周问:
- 钱。“你一个月挣多少?”“房租多少?”在有的文化里这是很平常的话题,在另一些文化里却很不礼貌。
- 政治和宗教:在你知道对方怎么看之前,先别提。
- 外貌和身材,哪怕是夸奖。第一天就说“You look so hot”,对方听到的不是恭维,而是拉黑你的理由。
- 前任和婚恋状况:如果你的目标不是约会,而对方也没有主动提起,就别问。
- “你怎么还没……”:还没结婚,还没搬家,还没学会。这类问题听起来像是在评判对方。
- 具体住址和工作单位。这无关礼貌,而是为了安全:这些细节等你们更了解彼此之后再说。
如果对方自己聊起这些话题,你可以顺着聊下去,但别由你先挑起。
怎样把一个问题聊开
问题只是个开头。对方回答之后,你再往前走一步,话才能聊起来:
你:What did you do last weekend?
语伴:I went to a concert.
你:Nice! Who did you see? I went to a jazz bar on Friday — first time in years.
三个在任何水平都管用的方法:
- 追问。“Who?”“Where?”“What was it like?”
- 说说你自己的。对方讲了一段经历,你也回一段,简短就好。
- 抓住一个词往下聊。“A concert? I love live music. What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?”
去哪里找语伴
问题有了,还差一个可以问的人。在 Date&Learn 的目录里,你可以找到以你在学的语言为母语、自己也在学中文的人。搜索、消息和语音消息都是免费的。
常见问题
第一条消息该问语伴什么?
问一个和对方个人主页有关的简单问题:关于 TA 的城市、爱好或者语言。比如:“You’re from Porto — what should I eat there first?”第一条消息怎么写,这篇找语伴的指南里讲得更详细。
一次问几个问题合适?
一两个。再多,聊天就成了填问卷:一下子收到五个问题,对方通常要么三言两语打发,要么先放着不回。
语伴回复总是只有一两个字,怎么办?
先讲讲你自己的事,再问一句“Why?”或“What was it like?”。如果回复还是很短,也许对方现在没时间,或者没心情。这很正常:换一天再试,或者找别的语伴聊聊。
语伴的水平比我高,我还能问简单的问题吗?
当然可以。简单的问题也能换来丰富的回答:问一句“What’s your favourite place in your city?”,母语者可能会讲一整个故事给你听,你就能从里面记下不少新词。
用哪种语言提问?
用你们当下在练的那门语言。如果你们的时间是五五开,轮到你练时,就用对方的语言提问;轮到 TA 练时,就用中文问 TA 同样的问题:清单里的中文翻译正是为此准备的。