a weakness for特別偏愛

一句開場就把風景、鄉愁和距離講透，還帶著自嘲的書卷氣。

It's easy to understand why ...

想引出一個人人都能會意的道理時用；閒聊時別這麼文縐縐。

No wonder the best poems are written far from home. ／ It makes sense that distance sharpens the love of home.

literary

why 後換氣，most beautiful 重讀，Italy 與 at the time 連讀。

It's easy to understand why homesickness makes the best songs. 不難明白，為什麼思鄉才寫出最好的歌。

先亮傘再損帽子，客氣的句子裡藏著一句精準的挖苦。

I'm not ..., but ..., if I may say so, ...

想半開玩笑地損人又留點體面時用；對不熟的人風險不小。

I don't mean to be rude, but that hat is useless today. ／ Far be it from me to criticize, but that hat won't do.

正式

but 前稍停，if I may say so 壓低快過，inadequate 重讀。

I'm no expert, but those shoes, if I may say so, are all wrong for a hike. 我不是行家，可恕我直言，那雙鞋走山路可不行。

替對方把罵人的詞說出來，反被動為主動，俏皮又佔上風。

The word you're looking for is ...

對方含沙射影、你想替他把話挑明時用；正式場合別用。

I think the word you want is cheek. ／ You mean brazen, don't you?

口語

you're looking for 連讀，brass 放慢並加重。

The word you're looking for is stubborn, not careful. 你想說的詞是固執，不是謹慎。

把恭維包進比較句裡，夸人又誇書，分寸拿捏得漂亮。

It's ... enough to find someone infinitely more ... than ...

想文雅地誇對方本人勝過其作品時用；關係不到會很冒失。

The author turns out far more interesting than the heroine. ／ Meeting the writer beats reading the book.

正式

infinitely more 重讀，than 後輕快帶過，句尾平收。

It's surprising enough to find a chef more exciting than his own menu. 發現一位大廚比他自己寫的選單還有意思，真夠讓人意外。

把兒童作家的人設一句話掀翻，深與恨配小東西，反差極好笑。

Deep in my innermost heart, I ...

半開玩笑地坦白自己藏起來的真實想法時用；別對當事人說。

Honestly, I can't stand the little things. ／ In my heart of hearts, I dread them.

口語

Deep in my innermost 逐詞加重，loathe 拖長，句尾輕輕收。

Deep in my innermost heart, I loathe team-building weekends. 我打心底裡討厭團建週末。

剛說討厭小孩，轉頭就為她破例，心軟的轉彎又體面又好笑。

I shall make an exception of ...

答應為某個人破一次規矩時用；對一般人不這麼說。

For your daughter I'll make an exception. ／ She can be the one exception.

正式

make an exception 連讀，of your daughter 放慢收尾。

I shall make an exception of your case and waive the fee. 您這事我就破個例，費用免了。