top of the class名列前茅

把规矩说成一句对等的承诺，客气外壳下是「照做就没事」的警告。

You will be treated with X if you treat others with X.

讲对等规则、劝人守规矩时用；语气正式，日常可说 If you're nice, people are nice back。

You get respect when you give respect. ／ Treat people well and they treat you well.

正式

respect 两次重读，if 处稍顿。

You will be helped if you help others first. 你先帮别人，别人才会帮你。

You will be heard if you listen to others. 你愿意听别人，别人才会听你。

用 not...but 把责任钉死在行为上，一句堵死「倒霉才被抓」的借口。

X is not that ..., but ... itself.

纠正别人找借口、强调根本问题时用；语气重，别在轻松场合说。

The problem is not that you failed, but that you never tried. ／ It's not the getting caught, it's the doing.

正式

not that 连读，itself 重读收尾。

The issue is not that you were late, but that you never called. 问题不在于你迟到，而在于你连电话都没打。

把「谁做主」用 zoo 的比喻甩出来，结尾 we are 短促有力。

You are not in charge of X, we are.

宣示主导权、划清上下级时用；语气强硬，朋友间开玩笑别用。

You don't run this place, we do. ／ This isn't your call, it's ours.

口语

charge of 连读，we are 重读。

You are not in charge of the budget, she is. 预算不归你管，归她管。

一句反话夸词，把犯人和「优等生」并置，羞辱得不动声色。

Just like yourselves, they've ...

反讽式夸奖、绵里藏针时用；正式场合别说，容易被当成挑衅。

Just like you, they passed with flying colours. ／ Same as you, they made the honour roll.

口语

Just like 连读，top of the class 放缓。

Just like you, he finished top of the class in excuses. 跟你一样，他找借口也是全班第一。

把「自以为」当场拆穿，节奏短促，像一记耳光。

If you think you're X, you're not.

戳破别人自夸、泼冷水时用；半开玩笑或严厉都行，看关系。

If you think you're clever, you're not. ／ Thinking you're cool means you're not.

口语

you're 弱读，not 重读收尾。

If you think you're funny, you're not. 你要是觉得自己很幽默，那你就错了。

用 suggest 把命令包装成建议，客气里全是压力。

I suggest you do something.

委婉下命令、给人台阶时用；对长辈或上级少用，会显得居高临下。

I'd advise you to keep calm. ／ My suggestion is that you follow the rules.

中性

suggest 后稍顿，rules 重读。

I suggest you check the address before you drive. 我建议你出发前核对一下地址。

用问句收尾，其实是命令式的确认，比直说「听懂没有」更压人。

Have I made myself understood?

上级确认对方听清命令时用；语气居高临下，平辈间别用。

Do I make myself clear? ／ Is that understood?

正式

made myself 连读，句尾降调。

Have I made the deadline clear to you? 截止时间我跟你说清楚了吗？