這場戲：酒吧重逢舊日暗戀
第 4 章 · 共 21 章 · 2'13"
魯伯特在酒吧撞見當年的暗戀物件麗塔，終於遞上禮物、約她今晚出去。當年他 I didn't have the nerve（沒膽量開口），如今一句 It only took you 15 years to ask me for a date（你花了十五年才開口約我）把他噎在原地。想學怎麼把遲到的告白說出口，這場重逢全是素材。
as beautiful as ever（還和從前一樣漂亮）怎麼說
How have you been 你最近怎麼樣as beautiful as ever 還和從前一樣漂亮makes good 混出了名堂
遲到十五年的邀約：ask me for a date（約某人出去）
what are you doing tonight 你今晚有事嗎ask me for a date 約某人出去a little late 有點晚
魯伯特走進酒吧，認出了在吧檯工作的老同學麗塔。他送上小禮物，坦白自己十五年前投過她一票、選她當最美小姐，也終於說出當年 I didn't have the nerve（沒膽量開口）。他誇她 You're looking as beautiful as ever（還是那麼漂亮），問她在這兒開不開心，還說能帶她去更好的地方，順勢問她今晚有沒有空。麗塔不接招，回他一句 It only took you 15 years to ask me for a date（你花了整整十五年才開口約我）。隨後魯伯特玩起「你最喜歡的電影明星是誰」的遊戲，問出麗塔最愛瑪麗蓮·夢露。想學寒暄、夸人和約人，這三步在這場戲裡一次看全。
A1–C2 是歐標等級。點一個等級後，比它高的卡片會變淡，播放到那裡不會自動暫停。
“It only took you 15 years to ask me for a date. Don't you think it's a little late?”
你花了整整十五年才開口約我。你不覺得有點晚了嗎？
把等待算成精確的年份，一句調侃就把對方的遲鈍點破。
It only took you ... to ...
調侃對方拖太久時用，情侶朋友間開玩笑，對長輩上司別說。
It took you long enough to ask. ／ Only fifteen years, huh?
口語
only took you 連讀，15 years 重讀，句尾反問上揚。
It only took you an hour to find the place. 你花了一整小時才找到這地方。
“Isn't that the final irony of life? Isn't it?”
這不就是人生最大的諷刺嗎？是不是？
把一個人的怯懦說成人生的通例，自嘲裡透著認命的聰明。
Isn't that the final irony of life?
感嘆事與願違時用，朋友閒聊合適，寫論文或正式場合別用。
Isn't that the great irony of it all? ／ Life has a strange sense of humor.
literary
Isn't that 連讀，final irony 重讀，句尾 Isn't it 再挑一下。
Isn't that the final irony of life, being brave too late? 等到敢開口時已經太晚，這不就是人生最大的諷刺嗎？
“You're looking as beautiful as ever, Rita.”
你還是那麼漂亮，麗塔。
老套的恭維，可配著舊情和怯意，反而顯得真誠。
You're looking as ... as ever.
對久別的人寒暄時用，誇外貌要分場合，職場裡別亂說。
You look as lovely as ever. ／ You haven't changed a bit.
中性
looking as 連讀，as ever 輕輕收，句尾別拖。
You're looking as cheerful as ever, Sam. 你還是那麼樂呵呵的，山姆。
“Well, here I am. Local cheerleader makes good.”
喏，我就在這兒。本地啦啦隊長也算混出了頭。
用第三人稱播報自己的近況，自嘲裡帶著體面，一句就把十五年後的落差說清。
Local ... makes good.
重逢時半自嘲地介紹近況用，老同學老同事之間合適，正式場合別用這種自嘲體。
Small town girl done all right. ／ The hometown kid actually made it.
口語
here I am 輕快帶過，makes good 收得乾脆。
Well, here I am. Local dropout makes good. 喏，我在這兒。本地退學生也算混出來了。
下一章 · 05gift for comedy喜劇天賦這場戲：簽名冊裡寫下自己就是「沒膽量、沒勇氣開口」。魯伯特說當年他 didn't have the nerve to tell you，指十五年前不敢表白。想說當年膽小、錯過機會，這句很地道。
what are you up to。老朋友重逢寒暄時很常用，也可以說 What have you been up to? 後面加 these days 就是「最近」。
ask someone for a date，也可以直接說 ask someone out。麗塔那句 It only took you 15 years to ask me for a date 就是「你花了十五年才開口約我」。
麗塔自稱 Local cheerleader makes good，意思是「本地啦啦隊長混出了名堂」，帶著一點自嘲和認命——她留在老家，過得並不算出彩。
字面是「人生最終的諷刺」，指年輕時不敢說、老了才敢說，機會卻已經過去了。魯伯特用它感慨這份遲到的坦白。
