Put yourself in someone's shoes

Jessica 在北京學中文，她的中國朋友要是遇到了不知道用美語怎么說的詞，就會來請教她。今天是于苗要問的：換位思考。

YM: Hey Jessica! How's it going?...你怎么看起來氣呼呼的？

Jessica: I AM angry! One of my friend said she's going to come visit me, but she canceled her trip AT THE LAST MINUTE! I've saved all my weekend for her!

YM: 啊？這可真掃興，不過你有沒有問她，為什么不來了呢？

Jessica: She said a very important client is coming to town over the weekend, and she got the opportunity to accompany them.

YM: 哦，原來是這樣。你想想，你朋友剛開始工作，能有這么好的接觸大客戶的機會，你應該為她高興呀! 試著換位思考一下嘛！

Jessica: 換位思考？哦，我知道了，you are telling me to put myself in her shoes. Yeah, I guess I'm being a little harsh.

YM: 對啊! 她一定也很想跟好朋友過個休閑的周末，but sometimes you've got to sacrifice your personal life for work, especially when you are new at your job! Jessica, 你這么善解人意，一定明白的！

Jessica: Yeah, I guess I should be more considerate.

YM: 哦！原來善解人意就是 considerate! 我其實特別明白你朋友的心情，我感同身受! Hmm, 這個“感同身受”用美語要怎么說呢？

Jessica: You can say it strikes a chord. Strike is spelled s-t-r-i-k-e； and chord, c-h-o-r-d, chord. If something strikes a chord, it means it evokes a similar emotion or reaction. 就是你說的感同身受！

YM: 原來是這樣！Yes, your friend's situation strikes a chord with me!

Jessica: You know, Yumiao, I think you are right. I will call her and apologize for overreacting, and I will wish her good luck!

YM: 我來總結一下今天所學的：第一，換位思考叫做 put oneself in someone else's shoes；第二，善解人意可以用 considerate；第三，感同身受，叫做 strike a chord!

B: If I put myself in other radio host's shoes, I realize that they must have a lot of pressure! They don't get to have half as much fun as we do, right Yanglin?

A: Ha, yeah, right, 不知道微薄上誰的粉絲多呀? (兩人笑) 好啦同學們，這次節目時間就到這里。 如果你對我們的節目有什么建議，或者想提什么問題，請發電子郵件到meiyu@voanews.com.

B: Tune in next time for American English Mosaic!

A: See you next time!