keep your word守信用

一句话立住人品，把风险和担当拴在一起，比任何保证都硬。

I would never ask anyone to ...

表明自己不占人便宜、愿意同担风险时用；正式和日常都合适。

I would never ask you to do what I wouldn't. ／ I take the same risk I ask of you.

中性

never 与 risk 重读，I wasn't willing to take 收稳。

I would never ask the team to take a risk I wasn't willing to take. 我绝不会让团队去冒我自己不愿冒的险。

让步和底线摆在同一句里，先舍再守，立场一目了然。

I'll give up ..., but they are not getting ...

谈判中表明可以让步、但有底线时用；语气强硬，适合正式摊牌。

Take the other firms, but not the metal. ／ Everything else can go; the metal stays.

中性

sign away 连读，but 后稍顿，not getting 重读。

They can have the office, but they are not getting my team. 办公室可以给他们，但我的团队别想动。

用最朴素的二分法拒绝人情交易，不容含糊，也不留情面。

I either ... or I don't.

拒绝暧昧安排、要求把话说明时用；语气生硬，对熟人也一样。

Either it is mine or it isn't. ／ I don't do ownership halfway.

中性

either 与 or 两处重读，I don't 收得干脆。

I either own the shares or I don't; there is no in-between. 这些股份要么归我，要么不归我，没有中间地带。

把承诺推回给对方自己执行，一句话既给台阶也划清界限。

If you intend to ..., then ...

要求对方把承诺落到实处时用；语气平板但很硬，适合谈条件收尾。

If you mean to keep your promise, keep it. ／ A promise is only real when you act on it.

中性

intend to 连读，keep your 弱读，末尾 keep it 放重。

If you intend to help, then help; don't just talk. 你要是打算帮忙，那就帮，别光说。

一句法案的通俗版，把所有商业自由收进一个冷冰冰的规则里。

Nobody can ... more than ...

转述规则、点明限制时用；陈述事实的平静语气，反而更有压力。

No one is allowed more than one company. ／ One person, one company, by law.

中性

Nobody 重读，more than one 连读，company 收平。

Nobody can bring more than one guest tonight. 今晚每人只能带一位客人。

把赞许说成一个简单的判断，还用全名叫人，显得郑重。

You're a good man, + 名字

郑重夸一个男人有担当、有品格时用；半正式，适合当面道谢或敬重场合。

You're a decent man, Hank. ／ You are a good man, and I mean it.

中性

good man 稍作停顿，全名一字一字念清楚。

You're a good man, Tom, and everyone here knows it. 你是个好人，汤姆，这儿的人都知道。

用否定句替自己辩护，把怀疑顶回去，委屈和自尊都在里面。

I've never given you any reason to ...

被怀疑、被误解时自辩用；语气偏委屈和不满，适合熟人之间的争执。

I have never given you cause to doubt me. ／ Nothing I've done deserves this suspicion.

中性

never given you 连读，any reason 放慢，mistrust 重读。

I've never given you any reason to doubt my word. 我从没给过你任何理由怀疑我说的话。