not unlike還挺像

把拒絕說得毫無迴旋餘地：先道歉，再抬出「規定」。它一句話堵死所有討價還價，是所有辦事視窗和檢票口前都聽過的那句臺詞。

I'm really sorry, but these are the rules.

想禮貌但堅決地拒絕通融、不給對方餘地時用，語氣正式而冷淡。

I'm sorry, but rules are rules. ／ My hands are tied on this one.

正式

really sorry 放軟，but 稍頓，these are the rules 一字一頓收尾。

I'm sorry, but these are the rules for everyone. 抱歉，這對所有人都是一樣的規定。

I understand, but rules are rules. 我理解，但規矩就是規矩。

一句人人都在某個時刻問過的牢騷，把對他人莫名其妙的無奈一下說盡。它不針對具體的人，所以誰都能拿來用，也誰都聽得懂。

Why do people have to be like that?

被別人的行為氣到、又不便直接指責時用，語氣無奈多於憤怒。

Why are people like this? ／ What is wrong with people?

口語

Why do people 輕快帶過，have to be like that 放慢，that 重讀收尾。

Why do people have to be so rude on the train? 人們在火車上為什麼非得這麼沒禮貌？

Why do people have to make everything so hard? 人們為什麼非得把什麼都搞得這麼難？

用雙重否定的委婉說法遞出一句損人的話：不說像，只說「並非不像」。它把刻薄包進禮貌裡，越繞越扎人，是英式含蓄的經典一招。

not unlike yourself in that picture.

想含蓄地比較或暗暗擠對人時用，語氣越平靜越有效。

Rather like you, actually. ／ You two could be related.

正式

Looks 輕起，not unlike 連讀，yourself in that picture 放慢收尾。

The painting is not unlike your own work. 這幅畫跟你的作品還挺像。

That portrait looks not unlike you. 那幅畫像跟你倒挺像。

用「不開放」這個空間隱喻，把一個人保守、不肯嘗試的性情一語道破。它像批評，也像診斷，換成工作、旅行、口味都能套。

You're not open to new ...

勸人嘗試新事物、或點出對方太保守時用，語氣直接但不失分寸。

You are closed off to anything new. ／ You never try anything different.

口語

You're not open 平讀，to new experiences 放慢，experiences 重讀收尾。

You're not open to new ideas. 你對新想法關著門。

He is not open to new ways of working. 他不接受新的工作方式。