Ending a small talk conversation can be tricky business. You have other things to do - you need to go back to your desk or have another call to make. Or perhaps you're at a party or networking event and want to have a chance to speak with someone else. You certainly don't want to leave the conversation with hurt feelings, but you also don't want to unnecessarily prolong it. So, how can you increase the chances that all the work you've done to build a relationship won't go down the tubes with an awkward ending?
结束聊天是一件很棘手的事。你有其他事要做——需要回到桌前或者打一通电话。也许你在一个派对或社交活动中，想找机会和其他人聊天。你肯定不会想在结束聊天时伤害别人感情，但你同样不想不必要地拖延。所以，怎样才能避免让自己的努力不以尴尬告终呢？

Tip 1: Provide a rationale for ending the conversation.
技巧一：为结束聊天提供合理原因

Rationales serve two purposes: they provide an explanation for why you're signaling an end to the conversation - which gets you off the hook; and they can also they show that you've enjoyed the conversation - which increases the odds of a future interaction. Here are a few examples:
合理原因适合两种目的：它们为你结束话题提供解释，帮助你脱离困境；同时表现出你很享受这次谈话，为以后的交流增加机会。如下是一些例子：

"I have to go in a few minutes, but before I go, I'd love to hear a bit more about (whatever you were discussing)... "
“我得马上走了，但在我走之前，我想再多听一些...（你们在讨论的话题）”

"I have to go, but I really like your advice about (whatever you were discussing). I'll keep you in the loop about how it goes..."
“我必须得走了，但我真的非常喜欢你的建议（你们在讨论的内容）。我会让你随时掌握事情的发展动态...”

"I'm enjoying this conversation, but I notice that it's 9:30 and we only have until 10 to finish the project. If it's OK with you, I'm going to go but let's talk again..."
“我很享受这次交流，但我看已经九点半了，我们十点之前必须结束这个项目。如果你没什么意见，我这就要走了。但希望我们再次交流...”

Tip 2: Leverage your immediate surroundings to create the rationale.
技巧二：利用即时环境创造合理原因

Use what's in your immediate surroundings to help construct your rationale. For instance, if there is a drink table nearby, ask your colleague if they want to grab a drink - knowing full well that you might either get split up in the crowd or encounter other people along the way - and thus ending the conversation "organically."
利用当时的环境来创造原因。比如，如果旁边有个饮料桌，问你的同事是否想喝饮料。这样你就很可能在人群中和对方分开，或者在路上遇到其他人。这就是所谓的“有机地”终结对话。

Tip 3: Make an introduction.
技巧三：介绍给他人

Along the same lines as the previous tip - introduce your conversational partner to someone else as a way to end the conversation and also help two additional people make a connection.
和之前的技巧一样，把你的谈话对象介绍给其他人也是一种终结话题的方式，同时也使得两个互不相识的人建立了联系。

Tip 4: Foreshadow the ending.
技巧四：提前预示结束

Whenever we deliver "bad news" it's good to let someone know it's coming. And although ending small talk isn't a major case of bad news, it still has the potential to disappoint. So, cushion the blow and preview your ending ahead of time with something like:
无论何时我们传递“坏消息”，最好让人知道它要到来了。虽然结束聊天不是坏消息的主要案例，但它同样可能导致失望。所以，说话悠着点，提前预示结束。

"I have to go in a few minutes, but I'd love to hear one last example of..."
“我得马上走了，但我想听听最后一个例子...”

Or: I promised my colleague I'd introduce him to someone, but before I do, I'd love to hear a little bit more about..."
或者“我答应了同事要把他介绍给别人，但在那之前，我想多听一些关于...”

Tip 5: Remember that you might not be the only one hoping to end the conversation.
技巧五：记住你可能不是唯一一个想终结对话的人

Finally, remember that if you're itching to end the conversation, you might not be alone. Most people mingling at a public gathering know the deal: you talk for a while and then move on. The trick is doing it in a graceful manner that preserves the relationship you've built. So, don't worry about hurting the other person's feelings by ending the conversation. They might be thinking the exact same thing.
最后，记住如果你渴望结束对话，你可能不是唯一一个这么想的。大多数在公开场所社交的人都知道这个规矩：聊一会儿就离开。这个方法是用一种优雅的方式保护你所建立起来的关系。所以，不要害怕结束对话会伤害别人的感情，他们可能和你想的完全一样。

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