日米会話学院 Podcasting

2007.12.08

062_I_Would_Rather_Not_Say

We cover three phrases used to avoid answering someone's questions. The phrases are, I'd rather not say. Oh, Let's not go there and It's none of your business.

Kevin:

Hello everyone. this is Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. A quick and easy way to review English words and phrases. I'm your host, Kevin Jones. With us today to help us out is Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin student Kana. Thank you very much for helping out.

Kana:

It's my pleasure Kevin, but I'm not sure what today's subject is.

Kevin:

I'd rather not say.

Kana:

Excuse me?

Kevin:

The main phrase for this episode is "I'd rather not say"

Kana:

I'd rather not say? How can I use this phrase.

Kevin:

Use this phrase as a polite way to avoid answering someone's question. Maybe you don't want to answer because it's embarrassing, or maybe you feel it's private information.

Kana:

I'm not sure I understand.

Kevin:

the word rather is used to show your preference, what you want. So I'd rather not say means I prefer not to say, or I don't want to say. This is a phrase you should use when you don't want to answer a question.

Kana:

I think I need an example.

Kevin:

Sure. Ahh...Kana

Kana:

Yes?

Kevin:

How much money does your boyfriend make?

Kana:

Uhh.... I'd rather not say.

Kevin:

Right, that's a very personal question so it is fine to answer, I'd rather not say. Please notice the stress on the the word rather. I'd rather not say. Try repeating that again.

Kana:

I'd rather not say.

Kevin; Great! That sounded perfect. Let's try that one, one more time. Kana, How much money does your boyfriend make?

Kana:

I'd rather not say.

Kevin:

Good job.

Kana:

Are there other phrases that can be used in the same way?

Kevin:

Sure. Another more casual and very modern phrase is "Let's not go there."

Kana:

Let's not go where?

Kevin:

In this case, go there, means some subject. So if you say oh, let's not go there, it means let's not talk about that or I don't want to talk about that. Let's try that phrase.

Kana:

OK

Kevin:

Kana. I heard that you had a big fight with Takako. What happened?

Kana:

Oh, Let's not go there.

Kevin:

Good. Now let's add on a reason why you don't want to talk about your big fight with Takako. Can you think of a reason?

Kana:

It's over? It's not important?

Kevin:

That's a good reason. Let's do it again.

Kana:

OK.

Kevin:

Kana. I heard that you had a big fight with Takako. What happened?

Kana:

Oh, Let's not go there, It's over. It's not important.

Kevin:

OK. Great. That was good.

Kana:

Say Kevin. I know another phrase that's good for this situation.

Kevin:

What is it?

Kana:

It's none of your business!

Kevin:

Ah, yeah. It's none of your business is a very strong way to say, "You are asking about my private life", "my private business". "It's none of your business". Be careful with this phrase. Only use it if you are angry about some private question.

Kana:

Of course. I know that.

Kevin:

OK then. Let's try that phrase.

Kana:

Sure.

Kevin:

Kana, You don't have a job right?

Kana:

Ah, no

Kevin:

Well, your new car is so expensive! Who paid for that car anyway?!

Kana:

Kevin! It's none of your business!

Kevin:

Oh! sorry

Kevin:

Kana. That was fun. We covered three phrases used to avoid answering someone's questions. And those phrases were...

Kana:

I'd rather not say. Oh, Let's not go there

Kevin:

and

Kana:

It's none of your business!

Kevin:

Thanks for your help Kana.

Kana:

Happy to help. I enjoyed it.

Kevin:

And that brings us to the conclusion of episode 62 of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting. When you have a moment why don't you visit the podcast website where you can read the transcript for this episode. The address is, www.nichibei.ac.jp/podcasting. This podcast is a production of Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin and Live Mix Media.

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