In informal spoken English, there are a lot of common patterns of two or more words; for example, "you know," "or something," "the thing is." We call these "chunks." Some of these may not work in formal writing, but native speakers use them a lot in informal social English. Using them in conversations can help you sound more fluent. Can you hear the chunks in this real conversation?
在非正式的口語英文中，有很多常見的兩字或多字組合形態；例如：「you know（你知道）」、「or something（或什麼的）」、「the thing is（重點是）」。我們叫這類的詞語「語塊」。有些語塊也許在正式寫作中行不通，但母語人士很常將這些用語用在非正式的社交英語上。在對話中運用這些詞語能幫助你聽起來更流暢。你能在下列真實對話中聽到那些語塊嗎？
The thing is, we need coordinators in all the main cities, who are going to cover everything and get together and decide what they want, discuss dates, schedules, that sort of thing.
重點是，我們在所有主要城市中都需要協調者，協調者需要處理所有事情，整合意見並決定他們想要什麼、討論日期、行程，那類事情。
Well, the other thing is, I happen to know that we're just about to take on a new person here.
嗯，另一個重點是，我剛好知道我們這剛要雇用一個新人。
Oh, right. Would that person be able to... Is this a full-time worker?
喔，好。這個人可以... 他是全職員工嗎？
Yes, the good thing is she is full time.
對，好處是她是全職的。
Working beside you?
幫你工作？
Yes. She's full time, and she's got great IT skills, apparently.
是的。她是全職的，而且顯然有厲害的資訊科技技能。
Yes. Well, that sounds good. The only thing is, she's going to be more or less chained to a desk, then, isn't she?
好。嗯，那聽起來很棒。唯一一件事情是，那她多少會被綁在辦公桌前，對吧？
Hmm.
嗯。
Nine to five, staring at a computer screen.
朝九晚五，盯著電腦螢幕。
Yes. But, I mean, she could certainly offer any, you know, assistance in whatever way... The only thing is, she won't really know the business yet.
對。但，我的意思是，她的確可以提供，妳知道，無論哪方面的協助... 唯一一件事情是，她還沒有確切了解業務內容。
No, no. Right now she won't, but she soon will, I suppose. Let's wait and see.
不，沒有。現在她還不知道，但我想她很快就會熟悉了。讓我們等著看吧。
People say "the thing is" when they want to introduce an important point, problem, or issue into the discussion.
人們會說「the thing is（重點是）」，在他們想要將一個重要的重點、問題或議題引入討論的時候。
The thing is, we need coordinators in all the main cities.
重點是，我們在所有主要城市中都需要協調者。
People say "the other thing is" when they want to add a point to a discussion.
人們想要將一個重點加入討論時，就會說「the other thing is（另一個重點是）」。
Well, the other thing is, I happen to know that we're just about to take on a new person here.
嗯，另一個重點是，我剛好知道我們這裡剛要雇用一個新人。
"The other thing is" is especially frequent in spoken business English because business meetings are often organized with one point following another.
「The other thing is（另一個重點是）」在口語商業英文中特別常見，因為商業會議上通常都是由一個又一個的重點組織而成。
People say "the only thing is" when they think there is a problem or a complication with something that has been said.
人們會說「the only thing is（唯一一件事情是）」，在他們認為在剛剛討論過的事情中有問題或困難的時候。
The only thing is, she won't really know the business yet.
唯一一件事情是，她還沒有確切了解業務內容。
- 「重點是、問題是、要緊的是」- The Thing Is
The thing is, we need coordinators in all the main cities, who are going to cover everything and get together and decide what they want, discuss dates, schedules, that sort of thing.
重點是，我們在所有主要城市中都需要協調者，協調者需要處理所有事情，整合意見並決定他們想要什麼、討論日期、行程，那類事情。 - 「雇用」- Take On
Well, the other thing is, I happen to know that we're just about to take on a new person here.
嗯，另一個重點是，我剛好知道我們這剛要雇用一個新人。 - 「多少、或多或少」- More Or Less
The only thing is, she's going to be more or less chained to a desk, then, isn't she?
唯一一件事情是，那她多少會被綁在辦公桌前，對吧？
