'As Soon As Possible' vs 'When You Have a Chance':點樣表達急切程度
點解呢句話會咁棘手
當你叫人做一件事嘅時候，你亦需要話畀對方知你幾快要佢完成。有兩句話負責咗呢方面嘅大部分工作：'as soon as possible' 同 'when you have a chance'。佢哋分別位於一條急切程度刻度尺嘅兩端。
棘手嘅地方在於，學英文嘅人有時係按習慣揀其中一句，而唔係按意思去揀。如果你為一件唔急嘅事講 'as soon as possible'，你會聽落咄咄逼人。如果你為一件今日真係好重要嘅事講 'when you have a chance'，對方可能唔會意識到件事重要。
將急切程度拿揑得啱，可以令你嘅請求公平又清晰。
大家通常想表達咩
當學英文嘅人加上一句表達急切程度嘅話時，佢哋通常想講以下其中一樣：
- 呢件事有時間限制，而家就需要處理。
- 呢件事重要，但有少少彈性。
- 呢個只係一個小忙，幾時做都得。
- 我唔想畀壓力你，但我最終都係需要呢樣嘢。
你揀邊句話，應該配合上面邊一個係真實情況。
聽落會係點
'As soon as possible' 表達真正嘅急切。當一件事真係等唔到嘅時候，佢誠實又有用。但係如果用得太頻密，或者用喺低優先次序嘅工作上，佢就會聽落帶要求性，而對方亦可能會開始忽視當中嘅急切感，因為樣樣都好似好急。
'When you have a chance' 聽落輕鬆又有禮貌。佢好適合用喺真正嘅幫忙上。風險就剛好相反：佢可以聽落柔和到令呢個請求喺對方嘅清單上一直向下沉，結果一個真正嘅死線就被錯過咗。
呢兩句話亦都可以好含糊。'As soon as possible' 冇講出一個時間，'when you have a chance' 同樣冇。一個具體嘅時間幾乎一定係更清晰、亦更體貼。
更好嘅講法
最好嘅解決方法通常係講出一個真實嘅時間或者時間範圍，等對方可以安排。
| 如果你想表達⋯ | 試吓咁講⋯ | 語氣 |
|---|---|---|
| 呢件事真係等唔到 | Could you do this by 3pm today? It's time sensitive | 清晰、直接 |
| 要快，但有少少彈性 | If you could get to this by tomorrow, that would help | 堅定但親切 |
| 完全唔急 | No rush, just whenever it suits you this week | 輕鬆、有禮貌 |
| 一個小忙，幾時做都得 | When you get a moment, could you take a look? | 輕鬆、容易 |
| 緊急但你想保持有禮貌 | Sorry for the short notice, I need this today | 誠實、尊重 |
簡短例子
一個真係好急嘅請求。
含糊："Please send the file as soon as possible."
較清晰："Could you send the file by noon today? We need it for the meeting."
一個唔急嘅請求。
容易誤導："Please review this as soon as possible."
較清晰："When you have a chance this week, could you review this? No rush."
一個向朋友提出嘅幫忙。
咄咄逼人："Reply as soon as possible."
較順耳："Whenever you get a moment, let me know what you think."
一封有真實死線嘅電郵。
太柔和："Let me know when you have a chance."
較清晰："Could you let me know by Thursday? That's when I have to confirm."
簡單原則
將 'as soon as possible' 留返畀真係等唔到嘅事，將 'when you have a chance' 用喺真正嘅幫忙上，並且喺可能嘅情況下都加上一個真實嘅時間或者日期。
練習：揀出較好嘅語氣
你需要一份文件用喺一個一個鐘之後就開始嘅會議。你電郵一位同事：
- A. Send this when you have a chance.
- B. Could you send this within the next half hour? I need it for a meeting at 10.
- C. Send this now.
Answer: B — 佢講出咗真實嘅死線同原因，又唔會聽落苛刻。
你叫一個朋友幫你睇一張相，完全冇死線。你會講：
- A. Look at this as soon as possible.
- B. Whenever you get a moment, could you take a look at this?
- C. I need your opinion right away.
Answer: B — 佢配合到呢個幫忙輕鬆、冇壓力嘅性質。
一件事重要，你想要喺聽日完成，但你想保持友善。你會講：
- A. I need this as soon as possible.
- B. When you have a chance.
- C. If you could get to this by tomorrow, that would really help.
Answer: C — 佢講出咗一個清晰嘅時間範圍，同時保持親切嘅語氣。