A：I have a real problem when I meet people.

我在和人會面的時候有個問題。

B：What is it? Maybe I can help.

什么疑問?或許我能幫你。

A：I never know when to shake hands and when not to. Can you tell me something about it?

我不知道該在什么時候握手，什么時候不握手。你能不能告訴我有關這方面的事?

B：Do you come from a country where they shake hands?

你們國家的人握手嗎?

A：Oh yes. Men, women, and children shake hands all the time.

握呀。男人、女人、小孩、時時刻刻都在握手。

B：It’s very simple. Men shake hands, women and children don’t.

那很簡單。男人握手，女人和小孩不握。

A：But some women do shake hands. And now a lot of children have such good manners, they shake hands too.

可是有些女人也握手呀。而且現在很多有禮貌的孩子也握手。

B：Well, a good rule to follow is, for men you hold out your hand, for women and children, you wait and see what they do.

你就遵循這條原則：對男人你先伸手，對女人和孩子就看他們怎么做。

A：That sounds easy enough.

這聽上去再簡單不過了。

B：Sure. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake! It’s nothing to worry about.

可不是嘛。你一旦掌握了竅門，那就成了小菜一碟!沒什么可擔心的。