研討會的咖啡休息時間，你站在人群裡，手上是一杯喝不完的美式，眼神飄來飄去不知道要跟誰講話——這種尷尬大家都有。一句自然的 “Mind if I join you?” 有時候比你西裝再挺都重要。
今天這集教你在國際研討會、展會場怎麼破冰、怎麼把一個陌生人變成下週可以 follow up 的聯絡人。重點放在九個商務英文關鍵詞，加上五個不尷尬的實用句型，學完可以直接上場用。
🎧 Apple Podcast | Spotify
情境對話 Dialogue
Kevin 在咖啡區遇到剛從展位走出來的 Sarah，決定主動搭話。
重點單字與片語 重點句型
English Dialogue
Kevin: Mind if I join you? The coffee line was insane.
Sarah: Please do. I’ve been looking for an excuse to mingle before the next keynote.
Kevin: Same here. Honestly, I freeze up at these things. What brings you here?
Sarah: I run a small e-commerce brand, so I’m here to scout tools. You?
Kevin: I’m on the product team at a fintech startup. I came for the AI track, but the booth area’s been the real highlight.
Sarah: The booth area is wild. Any icebreaker that actually worked for you today?
Kevin: Asking people what talk they hated. Surprisingly effective.
Sarah: Noted. I’d love to pick your brain about how you handle cold outreach—it’s my weak spot.
Kevin: Happy to. Want to swap contacts and circle back next week?
Sarah: Yes. Here’s my card. Is LinkedIn okay, or do you prefer email?
Kevin: LinkedIn works. I’ll reach out tonight so it doesn’t get buried.
Sarah: Perfect. Let’s keep it short—a twenty-minute call, no pitch.
Kevin: Deal. Enjoy the keynote.
中文翻譯
Kevin：介意我一起站這嗎？剛那個咖啡隊伍誇張地長。
Sarah：請。我正好想找理由和別人聊一下，下一場主題演講還有空檔。
Kevin：我也是。老實說我在這種場合會當機。你是什麼風吹來的？
Sarah：我做一個小的電商品牌，來看看有什麼好用的工具。你呢？
Kevin：我在一家金融科技新創的產品團隊。本來是衝著 AI 那一路來的，結果展區才是最精彩的。
Sarah：展區真的很瘋。你今天有用哪個破冰招式真的有效的嗎？
Kevin：問別人今天最討厭哪一場演講。意外地好用。
Sarah：學起來。我很想跟你請教一下你怎麼做陌生開發——這是我最弱的一環。
Kevin：沒問題。要不要交換聯絡方式，下週再約時間聊？
Sarah：好。這是我的名片。LinkedIn 可以嗎，還是你比較習慣用 email？
Kevin：LinkedIn 就好。我今晚就傳訊給你，不然會被埋掉。
Sarah：太好了。我們就聊短一點——20 分鐘電話，不推銷。
Kevin：成交。好好享受主題演講。
重點單字 Vocabulary Boost
- mingle / ˈmɪŋɡəl / v. → 在人群中走動聊天、社交
（比 network 放鬆，帶點「隨意晃來晃去聊」的感覺）
I’ll mingle for a bit and find you at the keynote.（我先去晃一下聊聊，主題演講時再找你。） - keynote / ˈkiːnoʊt / n. → 主題演講、開場大場
（通常是全場必聽、由重量級講者主持的那一場）
The keynote starts in ten minutes—let’s grab seats.（主題演講十分鐘後開始，我們去佔位吧。） - booth / buːθ / n. → 展位、攤位
（研討會、展會裡每家公司擺的那一格）
Our booth is right next to the coffee station.（我們的展位就在咖啡站旁邊。） - icebreaker / ˈaɪsˌbreɪkər / n. → 破冰話題、破冰招式
（用來讓陌生人開始聊的第一句話或小活動）
“What talk did you hate?” is a surprisingly good icebreaker.（「你最討厭哪場演講？」意外是個很好的破冰話題。） - cold outreach / koʊld ˈaʊtriːtʃ / n. → 陌生開發、主動聯絡不認識的人
（商務常見說法，通常指發 email 或訊息給沒見過面的對象）
Cold outreach feels awkward, but it’s how most deals start.（陌生開發感覺很尬，但多數合作都是這樣開始的。） - swap contacts / swɑːp ˈkɑːntækts / phr. → 交換聯絡方式
（現場互加 LinkedIn、傳 email 都可以叫 swap contacts，比 “exchange business cards” 年輕口氣）
Let’s swap contacts before you head to your next session.（你去下一場之前，我們交換聯絡方式。） - circle back / ˈsɜːrkəl bæk / phr. v. → 之後再聯繫、回頭再聊
（商務場合常用，比 “contact you later” 更口語、有行動感）
I’ll circle back next week once I’ve read the proposal.（下週我看完提案再回頭跟你聊。） - reach out / riːtʃ aʊt / phr. v. → 主動聯絡（某人）
（”contact” 的口語版，感覺主動、有禮貌，不會太商業）
I’ll reach out tonight so it doesn’t get buried in your inbox.（我今晚就聯絡你，免得被信箱埋掉。） - pitch / pɪtʃ / n./v. → 推銷、簡短介紹產品或想法
（動詞可當「推銷給某人」，名詞就是那段推銷話術）
No pitch—I just want to hear how you do it.（不推銷，我只是想聽你怎麼做的。）
重點句型 Sentence Patterns
- Mind if I + 動詞原形? → 介意我…嗎？（禮貌請求）
Mind if I join you?（介意我一起嗎？）| 替換詞：sit here（坐這）/ ask a quick question（問個快問題）/ grab one too（也拿一個）
💡 台灣人常直譯成 “Can I join?” 文法沒錯但太直接。”Mind if I…” 字面意思是「你會介意我…嗎」，反而比較有禮貌。用在排隊、坐下、借東西都通。回答「不介意」要說 “Not at all” 或 “Please do”，不能說 “Yes”（yes 等於「對，我介意」）。
- What brings you here? → 你怎麼會來這？（破冰萬用句）
What brings you here?（是什麼風把你吹來的？）| 替換詞：to Taipei（來台北）/ to this talk（來聽這場）/ today（今天）
💡 比 “Why are you here?” 柔軟太多。Why are you here 有「你憑什麼來」的質問感，尤其對陌生人很不禮貌。What brings you here 把主詞換成「是什麼把你帶來」，讓對方輕鬆回答工作、興趣或純好奇都可以。
- Want to + 動詞原形? → 要不要…？（朋友式的隨意邀約）
Want to swap contacts?（要不要交換聯絡方式？）| 替換詞：grab lunch（一起吃午餐）/ sit together（一起坐）/ share a cab（共乘計程車）
💡 “Do you want to…?” 的省略版，商務場合也很常用。刻意省掉 “Do you” 反而讓邀約聽起來輕、不強迫。如果想更正式可以說 “Would you like to…?”，但同輩之間 “Want to…?” 就剛剛好。
- I’d love to pick your brain about + 名詞. → 很想跟你請教關於…
I’d love to pick your brain about cold outreach.（很想跟你請教陌生開發這件事。）| 替換詞：your pricing model（你們的定價模式）/ how you hire（你們怎麼招人）
💡 pick your brain 字面上是「挖你的腦子」，聽起來誇張但其實是英文母語者超常用的客氣說法，意思是「請教你、借重你的經驗」。用這句隱含一個訊息：我把你當專家。對方聽了通常會很樂意分享，比 “Can I ask you some questions?” 好用太多。
- Is X okay, or do you prefer Y? → 用 X 可以嗎，還是你比較習慣 Y？
Is LinkedIn okay, or do you prefer email?（LinkedIn 可以嗎，還是你比較習慣 email？）| 替換詞：Slack / WhatsApp（用 Slack / WhatsApp）、morning / afternoon（上午 / 下午）
💡 把兩個選項同時拋出去，對方不用解釋「我其實不喜歡 X」就可以直接選 Y，對彼此都輕鬆。關鍵在於「do you prefer」這個動詞，表示尊重對方的習慣，比 “Can I get your email?” 這種單方要求有溫度多了。
逐字稿 Transcript
J: Okay, did you catch that very first line? “Mind if I join you?” Such a small sentence, but it carries a lot of weight. Welcome back to MJ English, I’m Jason.
J：好，你有抓到第一句嗎？”Mind if I join you?” 這麼短一句話，其實分量很重。歡迎回到 MJ English，我是 Jason。
M: And I’m Mary. Today we’re at a conference coffee break with Kevin and Sarah, and honestly, Kevin’s opening line is the whole reason we chose this scene. Most Taiwanese listeners would walk over and say “Can I join?” which is grammatically fine but socially a little too direct.
M：我是 Mary。今天我們的場景是研討會的咖啡休息時間，主角是 Kevin 和 Sarah。老實說，Kevin 的開場白就是我們選這段的原因。大部分台灣聽眾走過去會說 “Can I join?” 文法沒錯，但語感上太直接了。
J: Right. “Mind if I join you?” literally means “would you mind if I joined you?” So you’re asking for permission by checking if it bothers them. That tiny shift—asking about their feelings instead of your own action—is the entire difference between sounding pushy and sounding polite.
J：對。”Mind if I join you?” 字面是「你會介意我加入嗎？」你是在問對方會不會不舒服。這個小轉換——把焦點從你的動作換到對方的感受——就是「讓人覺得你很強勢」跟「讓人覺得你很有禮貌」的差別。
M: And a trap for learners: the answer. If someone says “Mind if I join you?” and you say “Yes,” you just said “Yes, I do mind”—meaning, “No, don’t.” So the correct polite reply is “Not at all,” “Please do,” or “Go ahead.” Remember: no means yes, yes means no.
M：還有一個學習者的陷阱：回答。如果對方說 “Mind if I join you?” 你回 “Yes”，你等於說「對，我介意」——意思是「別來」。所以正確的禮貌回應是 “Not at all”、”Please do”、”Go ahead”。記住：no 其實是 yes，yes 其實是 no。
J: Sarah’s reply was “Please do,” then she said she was looking for an excuse to mingle. Let’s talk about mingle. Mary, how would you distinguish mingle from network?
J：Sarah 的回應是 “Please do”，然後她說她正想找理由 mingle。來聊聊 mingle 這個字。Mary 你會怎麼區分 mingle 跟 network？
M: Network feels like work. You have a goal, you want to collect leads, you carry a stack of business cards. Mingle feels like a party. You’re just floating around, chatting, letting things happen. At a conference you do both, but mingle sounds relaxed and friendly. If you say “I’m here to network,” people brace. If you say “I’m here to mingle,” they smile.
M：Network 聽起來像在工作——你有目標，你想收集名單，你帶一疊名片。Mingle 聽起來像在派對，你只是晃來晃去聊天、讓事情自然發生。在研討會兩個都會做，但 mingle 聽起來輕鬆友善。你說 “I’m here to network” 大家會警戒；你說 “I’m here to mingle” 大家會笑。
J: Then Sarah mentioned the next keynote. Keynote is the big headline talk—usually by the CEO or a celebrity speaker—the one everyone blocks their calendar for. Regular talks are just called “talks” or “sessions.” Saying keynote correctly signals you actually know how conferences work.
J：接著 Sarah 提到下一場 keynote。Keynote 是招牌大場——通常是 CEO 或名人講者——就是那種大家會空下行事曆去聽的。一般場次就叫 talks 或 sessions。Keynote 這個字用對，會讓人覺得你真的懂研討會的節奏。
M: Kevin then answers with “Same here. Honestly, I freeze up at these things.” Look at what he just did. He admitted vulnerability. He said he’s not smooth, he’s not naturally a networker. That lowers the stakes for Sarah too. A lot of networking advice tells you to look confident, but actually, a tiny honest admission creates faster connection than any rehearsed line.
M：Kevin 接著說 “Same here. Honestly, I freeze up at these things.”——看他做了什麼。他示弱了。他承認自己不擅長、不是天生的交際咖。這反而把場面壓力降下來，Sarah 也跟著放鬆。很多社交建議叫你要看起來很自信，但其實，一點點誠實的自白比任何排演過的開場白更能快速建立連結。
J: Then came the classic: “What brings you here?” This is the single most useful sentence in networking English. Never ask “Why are you here?”—that sounds like you’re a security guard. What brings you here is soft, curious, and gives the other person room to answer any way they want.
J：然後經典句來了：”What brings you here?” 這是商務社交英文最好用的一句話。永遠不要問 “Why are you here?”——那聽起來像你是警衛。What brings you here 柔軟、好奇，對方可以回答工作、興趣、偶然路過都可以。
M: Sarah answers naturally—she runs a small e-commerce brand, she’s here to scout tools. Then she pivots: “You?” That single word flips the conversation back. In English networking, conversation ping-pong matters more than content. If you talk for sixty seconds straight, you’ve lost them. Answer, flip, answer, flip.
M：Sarah 很自然地回答——她做一個小電商品牌，來看工具。然後她用 “You?” 把問題丟回去。這一個字就把對話翻面了。在英文社交裡，乒乓球式的來回比內容本身重要。你如果連講六十秒，對方就丟了。回答、丟回去、回答、丟回去。
J: Now my favorite moment: Sarah says “I’d love to pick your brain about how you handle cold outreach.” Pick your brain literally translates to「挖你的腦子」which sounds creepy, but it’s one of the most common compliments in English business culture. You’re telling someone: I see you as an expert, and I want to learn from you.
J：我最喜歡的一刻：Sarah 說 “I’d love to pick your brain about how you handle cold outreach.” Pick your brain 字面是「挖你的腦子」，聽起來很獵奇，但在英文商業圈這是最常見的恭維之一。你在告訴對方：我把你當專家，我想跟你學。
M: And notice—she didn’t say “Can I ask you some questions?” That wording sounds transactional, like you’re taking something. Pick your brain sounds like you’re admiring something. Huge difference in how the other person feels.
M：注意——她沒有說 “Can I ask you some questions?” 那種講法有交易感，像你要跟對方拿東西。Pick your brain 聽起來像你在欣賞某樣東西。對方感受差很多。
J: Kevin then proposes “Want to swap contacts and circle back next week?” Three big vocab points here. Swap contacts is the modern casual version of “exchange business cards”—because these days contacts might mean LinkedIn, WhatsApp, or just a phone number.
J：Kevin 接著提議 “Want to swap contacts and circle back next week?” 這裡有三個關鍵詞。Swap contacts 是 “exchange business cards” 的現代口語版——因為現在聯絡方式可能是 LinkedIn、WhatsApp，或只是一個手機號碼。
M: Circle back means “come back to this conversation later.” It’s office English, slightly corporate, but not annoying when used naturally. And “Want to…?” is the dropped-verb version of “Do you want to…?”—keeping the invite casual. If Kevin had said “Would you like to exchange business cards and schedule a follow-up call?” it would’ve felt ten years older and twice as stiff.
M：Circle back 意思是「晚點回頭聊這個話題」——辦公室英文，有點商務味但自然用就不討厭。”Want to…?” 是 “Do you want to…?” 把動詞省略的版本，保持邀約的輕鬆感。如果 Kevin 說 “Would you like to exchange business cards and schedule a follow-up call?” 會老十歲、僵兩倍。
J: Sarah’s response also hides a gem: “Is LinkedIn okay, or do you prefer email?” Two choices, and the word prefer. You’re not asking “give me your email”; you’re asking “which of your channels respects your time?” That small move tells the other person you see them as a person, not a lead.
J：Sarah 的回應藏了一個寶：”Is LinkedIn okay, or do you prefer email?” 兩個選項，加上 prefer 這個字。你不是在要對方的 email，你是在問「你哪個管道比較方便？」這個小動作告訴對方：我把你當一個人，不是一個名單。
M: Kevin finishes with “I’ll reach out tonight so it doesn’t get buried.” Reach out is the warm version of “contact”—contact feels corporate, reach out feels human. And the phrase “so it doesn’t get buried” is a little pro move: he’s acknowledging the reality of busy inboxes without making a big deal of it.
M：Kevin 最後說 “I’ll reach out tonight so it doesn’t get buried.” Reach out 是 contact 的溫暖版本——contact 有商業味，reach out 有人情味。而 “so it doesn’t get buried”（免得被埋掉）是一個老手級的小動作——他承認信箱爆炸的現實，但不把這件事講得太嚴重。
J: And Sarah closes with “Let’s keep it short—a twenty-minute call, no pitch.” She set the rules. She told Kevin exactly what she wanted and what she didn’t. That level of clarity makes Kevin relaxed, because he now knows this isn’t a trap meeting.
J：Sarah 用 “Let’s keep it short—a twenty-minute call, no pitch.” 收尾。她把規則定好。她告訴 Kevin 她要什麼、不要什麼。這種清楚度讓 Kevin 放心，因為他知道這不是一個陷阱會議。
M: Okay, let’s test your ears again. Listen for four moments this time: the polite “Mind if I…” opener, the softer “What brings you here,” the compliment hiding inside “pick your brain,” and the double-choice “Is X okay, or do you prefer Y?”
M：好，再考驗一次你的耳朵。這次注意四個點：禮貌的 “Mind if I…” 開場、柔軟版的 “What brings you here”、藏在 “pick your brain” 裡的恭維、還有給對方選擇的 “Is X okay, or do you prefer Y?”
[DIALOGUE REPLAY]
[重播情境對話]
J: How did it feel the second time? I bet “pick your brain” didn’t sound weird anymore. That’s the tell—when a phrase stops feeling foreign, it’s yours.
J：第二次聽感覺怎麼樣？我猜 “pick your brain” 不再怪了。這就是信號——當一個片語不再有距離感，它就變成你的了。
M: And notice the rhythm. Sarah and Kevin are basically playing ping-pong: short answer, flip the question. Short answer, flip. Neither of them talks for more than two sentences at a time. That’s the real shape of good networking—not your vocabulary, but your turn-taking.
M：還有注意他們的節奏。Sarah 跟 Kevin 根本在打乒乓球：短回答、把問題丟回去，短回答、丟回去。兩個人沒有一次講超過兩句。好的社交真正的樣子不是你的詞彙量，而是你懂得把球打回去。
J: The nine vocabulary words and five sentence patterns are all in the show notes below, with examples you can steal for your next event. Your only homework: pick one line and say it out loud three times tonight. Muscle memory matters more than understanding.
J：九個單字和五個句型都在下方連結，附例句，你下次活動可以直接拿來用。今晚的功課只有一個：挑一句，今晚大聲唸三次。肌肉記憶比懂得多還重要。
M: The next time you’re holding a cold cup of coffee at a conference, don’t wait for someone to rescue you. Walk up, say “Mind if I join you?”—and see what happens. I’m Mary.
M：下次你在研討會手拿一杯涼掉的咖啡、不知道找誰講話的時候，不要等人來救你。走過去，說 “Mind if I join you?”——看看會發生什麼。我是 Mary。
J: I’m Jason. Go mingle. This is MJ English.
J：我是 Jason。Go mingle. 這是 MJ English。
