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B2-37 / CEFR B2 / EPISODE 37

Professionally Misread

Correcting a misunderstanding without embarrassment

SceneAt a conference, Frank and Tina ran into Frank's colleague, Dan. On the way out, Tina brings up something Dan said.

The friends talking as they walk after a conference.
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STORY English with optional Japanese translations

Narrator

At a conference, Frank and Tina ran into Frank's colleague, Dan. On the way out, Tina brings up something Dan said.

学会で、フランクとティナはフランクの同僚ダンに出くわした。帰り際、ティナはダンの言ったことを話題にする。

Tina01

Your colleague called me "the better half." Twice.

あなたの同僚、私のこと「よくできた奥さん」って呼んだわよ。2回も。

Frank02

I know. Then he asked how long we've been together.

知ってる。それから、僕たちがどれくらい一緒にいるのか聞いてきた。

Tina03

And you said, "Since the night we met." In a very warm voice.

で、あなたは「出会った夜からずっと」って答えた。すごく温かい声で。

Frank04

It was accurate. I didn't hear how it sounded until he winked at me.

正確な答えだった。彼にウインクされるまで、どう聞こえるか気づかなかったんだ。

Tina05

So why didn't you correct him?

じゃあ、どうして訂正しなかったの？

Frank06

Dan talks in paragraphs. By the time he stopped, he was complaining about parking.

ダンは段落単位でしゃべるんだ。話が止まった頃には、駐車場の文句になってた。

Tina07

Fair. I could've said something, too. I thought you'd correct him when he finished talking.

そうね。私も何か言えたけど、彼の話が終わったら、あなたが訂正すると思ってたの。

Frank08

I'd better email him before he tells the whole department we're a couple.

僕たちがカップルだって部署中に話される前に、メールしておいたほうがいいね。

Tina09

Good idea. We can clear it up without making him feel bad.

いいわね。相手に嫌な思いをさせずに、誤解を解けばいいのよ。

Frank10

So I write, "Correction: we are not romantically involved"?

じゃあ、「訂正します。私たちは恋愛関係にありません」って書く？

Tina11

Too formal. Just write, "We're friends."

堅すぎるわ。ただ「私たちは友達です」でいいの。

Frank12

"We're friends." Short. I'll send that now.

「僕たちは友達です」。短いね。今、それで送るよ。

Tina13

Good. If he gets it wrong again, I'm charging him a correction fee.

よし。今度また間違えたら、訂正料を請求するわ。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“the better half”

One's better half jokingly refers to a spouse, especially a wife. Dan twice uses it because he mistakenly assumes Tina is Frank's wife. Although it sounds complimentary, it misidentifies their relationship.

“Dan talks in paragraphs.”

Talk in paragraphs compares someone's long, uninterrupted speech to whole blocks of text rather than individual words or sentences. Frank says Dan left no gap to correct the misunderstanding before moving on to complaints about parking.

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