break it gently委婉地开口

他明明在夸她，却故意说成打广告，自嘲里全是喜欢。

What am I doing? ... or ...?

自嘲地夸人、把真心话包进玩笑时用；正式场合别这么绕。

What am I doing, writing poetry or a sales pitch? ／ Am I praising you or advertising shampoo?

中性

What am I doing 轻快上扬，poetry 与 advertising 重读。

What am I doing, writing a poem or a birthday card? 我这是干嘛，写诗还是写生日贺卡？

三个短词一路铺开，把散着头发被海风吹的感觉写活了。

It's wonderful like this, all ... and ...

形容自在、自然的状态时用；写正式报告这样叠词会显随意。

It feels lovely like this, open and easy and windblown. ／ This is perfect, all loose and free in the wind.

literary

loose、free、windblown 三个词各顿一下，句尾放轻。

It's wonderful like this, all quiet and open and green. 这样多好，安安静静，开阔，满眼绿色。

一句轻描淡写的解释，把她的孤独和身世都带出来了。

It's just I've never known anyone who ...

解释自己反常的原因时用；对不熟的人说会显得交浅言深。

It's just that I never knew anyone who laughed much. ／ I suppose I've never been around people who laughed.

中性

just 轻读，never known anyone 连读，句尾放平。

It's just I've never known anyone who cooked at home. 只是我从没认识过在家做饭的人。

一句平淡的话，把对亡母的思念藏在「舍不得用完」里。

I've made it last a long time.

说某件有纪念意义的东西被自己珍惜很久时用；对刚认识的人说太重。

I have made it last for years. ／ I have been eking it out for a long time.

中性

made it 连读，last 重读，a long time 收尾。

I've made it last a long time, this old watch of his. 他这块旧表，我一直省着戴，戴了很久。