Discussing Cultural Differences
The partners delve into a specific cultural topic (e.g., holidays, work culture, social etiquette), comparing and contrasting customs between their home countries, leading to deeper understanding and vocabulary related to culture.
伙伴们深入探讨一个特定的文化话题（例如，节日、工作文化、社交礼仪），比较和对比他们各自国家的习俗，从而更深入地理解文化并学习相关词汇。
对话
聆听并跟进对话
词汇
对话中的必备词汇和短语
fast-paced
Describes a work environment that moves quickly and requires constant activity. Use it when talking about busy jobs or cultures that value speed.
描述一种快速发展和需要持续活动的办公环境。在谈论繁忙的工作或重视速度的文化时使用。
results-oriented
Focuses on achieving goals and outcomes rather than just the process. Common in business discussions about work styles.
注重实现目标和成果，而不仅仅是过程。在商业讨论中关于工作风格的常见表达。
consensus
Agreement reached by a group after discussion. Useful when describing decision-making in team-based cultures like Japan.
群体在讨论后达成的协议。在描述像日本这样的团队导向文化中的决策时有用。
blunt
Direct and straightforward, sometimes seeming rude. Use it to describe honest but harsh communication.
直接而直率，有时显得粗鲁。用它来描述诚实但严厉的沟通。
save face
To avoid embarrassment or loss of dignity for someone. An important cultural phrase in Asian contexts to explain polite interactions.
为了避免某人尴尬或失去尊严。这是一个重要的文化短语，在亚洲语境中用于解释礼貌的互动。
wrap my head around
To understand or come to terms with something difficult. Informal idiom for expressing confusion or learning.
理解或接受某件困难的事情。表达困惑或学习的非正式习语。
work-life balance
The idea of balancing time between work and personal life. A key topic in modern discussions about job satisfaction.
在工作和个人生活之间平衡时间的理念。这是现代关于工作满意度讨论中的一个关键话题。
remote work
Working from home or away from the office using technology. Increasingly common post-pandemic, useful for career talks.
使用技术在家或远离办公室工作。后疫情时代越来越常见，对职业讨论很有用。
关键句型
需要记住和练习的重要短语
What's it generally like in your country?
This is a polite way to ask about general customs or experiences in someone's home country. Use it to start discussions on culture. 'Generally' softens the question to make it less direct.
这是询问某人本国一般习俗或经历的一种礼貌方式。用它来开始文化讨论。'Generally' 使问题不那么直接。
Generally speaking, work culture in my country can be very fast-paced and results-oriented.
Introduces a general opinion with 'generally speaking' for hedging. Useful for describing broad cultural traits without overgeneralizing. Focuses on adjectives to compare work styles.
使用“generally speaking”引入一般性意见，以进行对冲。有助于在不过度泛化的情况下描述广泛的文化特征。重点使用形容词来比较工作风格。
That's quite different from what I'm used to.
Expresses contrast with personal experience. 'What I'm used to' means habits from one's background. Great for conversations comparing cultures; uses 'quite' for emphasis.
表达与个人经验的对比。'What I'm used to' 意味着一个人背景的习惯。非常适合比较文化的对话；使用 'quite' 来强调。
Decisions are often made by consensus, which can take more time.
Explains a process with a relative clause 'which can take more time' to add a consequence. Useful in business English for team decisions; 'often' shows frequency.
使用关系从句 'which can take more time' 解释一个过程，以添加结果。在商业英语中用于团队决策很有用；'often' 显示频率。
In Japan, feedback is often indirect and subtle to avoid direct confrontation.
Describes cultural communication using infinitives of purpose 'to avoid.' Helpful for explaining polite styles; contrasts with direct methods in other cultures.
使用目的不定式 'to avoid' 描述文化沟通。有助于解释礼貌风格；与其他文化的直接方法形成对比。
I'm trying to wrap my head around that concept.
Idiomatic expression for struggling to understand. Use in learning situations or cultural exchanges to show interest. Informal and engaging for conversations.
表示努力理解的习语表达。在学习情境或文化交流中使用，以显示兴趣。非正式且适合对话，引人入胜。
There's a growing movement towards improving work-life balance.
Discusses trends with 'growing movement towards' + gerund. Useful for talking about social changes; gerund after preposition shows ongoing action.
讨论使用 'growing movement towards' + 动名词的趋势。用于谈论社会变化很有用；介词后的动名词显示持续行动。
It really puts things into perspective.
Means it helps see things more clearly or relatively. Idiomatic for gaining new insights. Perfect for ending cultural discussions to show appreciation.
意思是它帮助更清楚或相对地看待事物。用于获得新洞察的习语表达。非常适合以示欣赏结束文化讨论。