Courtesy譯成“禮貌”。但是根據(jù)西方國家函電書籍作者普遍的看法，所謂Courtesy是“客氣而又體諒人”的意思。有的人還把Courtesy和Politeness這兩個同義詞做了比較，認為：Politeness的客氣只是表現(xiàn)在文章的語句上，而Courtesy則表現(xiàn)在對對方的“體諒”，例如：

Polite

a) We have received with many thanks your letter of Oct.7, and we take the pleasure of sending you latest catalog. We wish to draw your attention to a special offer, which we have made in it.

Courtesy
b) You will be particularly interested in a special offer on page 5 of the latest catalog enclosed, which you requested in your letter of Oct. 7.

　　怎樣通過各種語言形式來表達Courtesy呢？這樣的形式很多，現(xiàn)在提供一些常見的供參考：

　　（一） 把命令變成請求的常用形式：

Please, Will you…….., Will you please……..,如：
a) Will you give us more detailed information on your requirement?
b) Will you please (kindly) let us hear from you on these two points?

　　（二） 虛擬式（Past Subjunctive From）如：

a) Would you compare our sample with the goods of other firms?
b) We would ask you to ship the goods by the first available vessel.
c) We wish you would let us have your reply soon.
d) This would seem to confirm our opinion.
e) We should be grateful if you would help us with your suggestion.
f) We think if advisable that you should accept this offer at this price.
g) We should(would) like you to let us know the exact amount.
h) Perhaps you might like to have a look at the actual goods.
i) We might be of some service to you in a similar case.

　　以上的b, f, g, 也可用 will, shall, may, 但是用Past Subjunctive Form則表示更客氣和婉轉些。

　　（三） 緩和用法（Mitigation）

　　為了緩和過分強調或刺激對方，常用:We are afraid, we would say, we may(or, might) say, we(would) think, it seems(or would seem) to us, we(would) suggest, as you are (or: may be) aware, as we need hardly point out等等表達法來緩和語氣，如：

a) It was unwise of you to have done that.
　 We would say that it was unwise of you to have done that.
b) You ought to have done it.
　 It seems to us that you ought to have done it.
c) We cannot comply with your request.
　 We are afraid we cannot comply with your request.
d) Our products are the very best on the market.
　 We might say that our products are the very best on the market.
e) You must keep the matter to yourselves.
　 You must, we would add, keep the matter to yourselves.
f) You must cut off your order in half
　 We would suggest that you cut your order in half.
g) We have not yet had your reply.
　 It appears that we have not yet had your reply.

　　（四）　運用被動語氣

　　有時，運用被動語氣，比主動語氣客氣，如：

a)  You made a very careless mistake.
　 A very careless mistake was made
b)  You did not enclose the check with your order.
　 The check was not enclosed with your order.
c)  For the past two years, you did not give us any order.
　 For the past two years, no order has been given us. Or:
　 For the past two years, no business has been materialized between us.

　　（五）　避免（或力爭避免）使用語氣強烈或容易引起不快的詞匯

　　a) we demand immediate payment from you

　　demand的意思是ask for(sth) as if ordering, or as if one has a right to, 即帶有命令意味的要求。應盡可能避免使用demand而改用request如：

　　We request your immediate payment.

　　b) We are disgusted with your manner of doing business.

　　disguste意味hate而且有strong feeling of dislike or distasted, 既“厭惡”的意思，　因此，還是婉轉或含蓄一些為宜，如：

　　We are not completely satisfied with your manner of doing business.

　　c) We must refuse your offer.

　　Must………帶有威脅性的意味（minatory to

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