Every culture around the world has different customs and ways of communicating. When you learn a language, you learn more than words.
In China, people are used to saying “sorry” to show that they regret doing something wrong. But it’s very proud for American people to have polite manners towards one another in public. They often use the word “sorry” —even when they don’t really mean it! Usually, if they want to ask a stranger for the time, they will start by saying “Sorry to trouble you. ” If they’re five minutes late for the appointment, they will greet the person by saying “Sorry, I’m late!” It’s quite different in China. They use the word “sorry” in so many different situations that the meaning of the word has changed a little over time. The two main dictionary definitions（定义）of “sorry” are: 1）feeling sad for someone else because of their problems or bad luck; 2）feeling regret because you’ve done something wrong.
So what does “sorry” really mean? And why do western people use it so much? Well, in western culture, saying “sorry” is a way to be polite. It’s also a very clever way to get what they want. If you want to borrow something from others, you’d better say “sorry” to them about something. Or it’s hard for you to get what you want. So maybe saying “sorry” is not only just being polite, but also a good method to get what you want!
【小题1】When do people in China say “sorry” according to the text?
| A．When they regret doing something wrong. | B．When they ask strangers for help. |
| C．When they greet people for the first time. | D．When they arrive at a place early. |
【小题2】What does the underlined word “appointment” in the second paragraph mean?
【小题3】In which country do people say “sorry” to get what they want?
| A．Japan. | B．Korea. | C．Germany. | D．China. |
【小题4】What’s the best title for the text?
| A．How to Say “Sorry” Correctly | B．The Different Meanings of “Sorry” |
| C．Why Western People Say “Sorry” | D．Why Chinese People Say “Sorry” |
