Do you have difficulty speaking English? Sometimes the hardest part is simply starting a conversation. Learn these expressions for starting a conversation in English in any situation – formal or informal, at work, school, or other contexts! And stay tuned for the next lesson, which will be on how to continue the conversation.
说英语的时候你有没有碰到过什么困难呢？有时候最困难的事情就是开始一段对话。不管是在正式、非正式、工作场合、学校或者其他场景，你都需要学习一些能够发起对话的英语表达。以及欢迎继续收听下一节课，如何继续对话。

STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND
朋友聊天
With friends, you can use informal English expressions like these:
和朋友在一起的时候你就可以用一些非正式的英语表达，以下这些口头语可供参考：
What’s up?
How’s it going?
The correct answer to “What’s up?” is “Not much.” You can then add a detail about what’s happening in your life at the moment. If someone says “How’s it going?” you can answer “Good” or “Not so good” and then say why.

“What’s up?”的正确回答应该是“Not much”，你还可以加上一点你生活中正在发生的事情以作补充。如果有人说“How’s it going?”，你可以回答“Good” 或者 “Not so good”然后说说为什么。

 

STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH A COLLEAGUE
同事聊天

In the office, you use slightly more formal English, such as these common expressions:
在办公室里你就可以用一些稍微正式一点的英语表达方式，就像以下这些习惯用法：
Hi, John. How are you doing?
How’s your day going?
We’re sure having a busy/slow day today.
Have you heard the news about ________?
(on Friday周五): Have you got any plans for the weekend?
(on Monday周一): How was your weekend?
You can talk about projects you’re working on, or about hobbies you have outside work. Current national and international news is also a good topic of conversation.
你可以聊聊你正在从事的项目，或者工作以外的兴趣爱好。最近的国内、国际新闻也是适合聊天的好话题哦。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH A FRIEND WHO YOU HAVEN’T SEEN IN A LONG TIME
和许久未见的朋友聊天
Here are some common expressions to start a conversation with someone you see after a long separation:
以下这些表达方式，适用于和久未谋面的朋友聊天：
Hi Paula! How have you been?
Long time no see!
So, what have you been up to lately?
How’s your family?
Are you still working at ABC Company?
In this case, you can ask about news in your friend’s work, study, family, and hobbies. The friend will probably ask you about recent developments in your own life, too.
在这种情况下，你可以问问你的朋友事业、学业、家庭、兴趣爱好方面有没有什么新变化。与此同时，你的朋友也很可能会问问你最近生活的进展。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION AT A PARTY OR WEDDING
在派对或婚礼上聊天
I don’t think we’ve met – I’m Shayna.
Are you from New York?
So, how do you know Mary?
Have you tried the chocolate cake? It’s delicious!
If you’re at a party or wedding, you can start a conversation by asking how the person knows the host of the party (or the people getting married). You can also comment about the food and drinks, or about the music.
如果你在一个派对或者婚礼上，你可以问问对方是怎么认识派对的主人（或者举办婚礼的新人），以此开始对话。你也可以评论一下派对或婚礼上的食物、饮料或者音乐。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION AT A CONFERENCE OR WORK EVENT
在会议或工作场所对话
I don’t think we’ve met – I’m Shayna.
So, where are you from?
What did you think of the speaker?
That was an excellent workshop – I learned a lot. How about you?
The expression “I don’t think we’ve met” can be used in professional situations too. You can ask about the person’s job, what company they are from, and their opinions about the conference events.
“I don’t think we’ve met”这种表达法既可以用于非正式场合，也可以用于正式场合。你可以问对方的工作情况，他们是哪个公司的，以及他们对会议内容的看法。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVE JUST BEEN INTRODUCED TO
和刚认识的人对话
Nice to meet you!
How do you two know each other?
So, what do you do for a living? (= what is your job?)
What are you studying?
How long have you been (a journalist / doing yoga / interested in music)?
How did you get into it?
Imagine you have a friend, Nora, who introduces you to her friend Ryan. You can ask about how they know each other, and about Ryan’s job. If Nora says Ryan is a student, you can ask about his area of study and what year of college he’s in. If Nora introduces Ryan as a journalist, or a friend from yoga class, or a musician, you can ask about how long he has done that activity, or how he first got interested in it. His answer will then provide material to continue the conversation.
想象一下你有个朋友Nora，她把你介绍给了她的朋友Ryan。你可以问问他们是怎么认识的，也可以问问Ryan的工作。如果Nora说Ryan是个学生，你就可以问问他的专业和年级。如果Nora介绍Ryan是个记者、或者是从瑜伽班认识的朋友，或者是个音乐家，你就可以问问他干那行多久了，或者他为什么对这个感兴趣。他的答案也能给你提供展开对话的素材。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH SOMEONE YOU MEET OUTSIDE
和外面遇到的人对话
It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?
It looks like it’s going to rain/snow.
Can you believe all this rain/snow we’ve been having?
Sure is a hot/cold one today!
Your dog is so cute! What’s his name?
If you’re in a park, on the street, etc., the most common way to start a conversation is by talking about the weather.
如果你在公园里、街上或者别的地方，要想打开话匣子，最通常的方式就是先聊聊天气。
 
STARTING A CONVERSATION WITH A STRANGER IN OTHER SITUATIONS
在其他情况下和陌生人聊天
The secret to starting a conversation with someone you don’t know is to make a comment about the current social context. Here are a few examples of how to do this:
和陌生人搭话的秘诀是，就当前所处情景发表评论。下面有几个例子，教你什么场合说什么话：
美术馆
At an art gallery:
“That’s an interesting painting. What do you think of it?”
酒吧
At a bar:
“This is a great song – I love Latin music. How about you?”
体育比赛现场
At a sports game:
“Wow, that was a great play! So, who’s your favorite player?”
咖啡厅
At a cafe:
“Boy, do I need a coffee!”
音乐会或者重大活动
At a concert or event:
“What a great turnout! Have you ever been here before?”
操场
At a playground:
“My kids are sure full of energy today!
As in the example of the cafe and playground, you don’t need to ask a direct question. You can simply make a comment to the other person, and this is like an invitation for the other person to comment, too. This can then begin a conversation.
就像以上咖啡馆和操场两个例子一样，你不需要开门见山地问问题，你可以简单地向对方发表一句你的评论，就好像是邀请对方一起加入评论，这样同样可以开始一个对话。
 
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