suit yourself隨你便

用一句最普通的請求說盡牽掛：不是要訊息，是要那個人還在的證據。樸素得讓人心軟。

I just needed to + 動詞原形.

向親近的人表達思念和依靠時用，口語、真摯；對不熟的人說會顯得越界。

I just wanted to know you're okay. ／ All I needed was your voice.

口語

needed to hear 連讀，your voice 放慢收。

I just needed to hear my daughter laugh again. 我只是想再聽聽女兒的笑聲。

I just needed to know you got home safe. 我只是想知道你平安到家了。

用 hard to hear 先給壞訊息墊一層緩衝，既誠實又體貼。宣佈艱難事即時的標準開場。

I know this is gonna be hard to hear, but + 句子.

在宣佈不利訊息前先做鋪墊時用，正式、溫和；好訊息別用，會讓人先緊張。

This won't be easy to take in. ／ I wish I had better news.

正式

gonna be 弱讀，hard to hear 連讀後放慢收。

I know this is gonna be hard to hear, but the store is closing. 我知道這話不好受，但這家店要關了。

I know this is gonna be hard to hear, but we have to cancel the trip. 我知道這話不好聽，但這趟旅行得取消了。

用 what'll do me good 的正經句式和假裝沒發生形成反差，自嘲裡全是疲憊。拒絕關心也是求救。

What'll do me good is to + 動詞原形.

用半自嘲的方式拒絕別人的好意時用，口語、疲憊；安慰正在難過的人時別搶著說。

Honestly, I'd rather just lie down. ／ Right now nothing helps but pretending.

口語

do me good 連讀，pretend this isn't happening 放慢收。

What'll do me good is to sleep for a week, not a party. 對我有好處的是睡上一星期，不是去聚會。

What'll do me good is to turn off my phone and forget today. 對我有好處的是關掉手機，把今天忘掉。

用 costume party 比喻一群人臨時穿上別人的衣服、扮演陌生的自己，輕盈的意象裡藏著身份的鬆動。

It's somehow like we're at a + 地點.

描摹一種人人都不像自己的氛圍時用，書面、有餘味；日常閒聊裡說會顯得端著。

Everyone's playing dress-up. ／ We're all wearing someone else's life.

literary

somehow like 連讀，a costume party 放慢收。

It's somehow like we're at a wedding where nobody knows the bride. 不知怎麼的，就像在一場沒人認識新娘的婚禮上。

It's somehow like we're all extras in someone else's movie. 不知怎麼的，我們像是別人電影裡的臨時演員。