當你的主管在最後一刻指派任務時，你的回覆方式可能會建立或瓦解彼此的信任。在現代職場中，你會常聽到 urgent（緊急）、deadline（截止期限）、prioritize（排定優先順序），以及 「by EOD」（今天下班前）、「I’ll keep you posted.」（我會隨時更新進度） 這類片語。熟練這些用法能幫助你在壓力下保持冷靜、表達清楚，並展現專業。
（小提醒：像 urgent／deadline／prioritize／by EOD 這些字與片語，在職場 Email、會議與聊天訊息中非常常見，熟練就能穩住專業形象！）
🎧Apple Podcast | Spotify
💬 Dialogue｜情境對話
Scenario：It’s 4:30 PM. The client moved tomorrow’s demo earlier. Your manager assigns you a last-minute slide update for the meeting.
情境：現在是下午四點半。客戶把明天的簡報時間提前了。你的主管臨時交辦你要更新會議的投影片。
English Dialogue
Manager (Ava): Hey Daniel, urgent update—the client pulled the demo to 9 AM. Can you revise the deck tonight?
Daniel: Understood. What’s the priority—product metrics or pricing changes?
Ava: Prioritize metrics. Add Q2 figures and highlight conversion rates.
Daniel: Got it. Do we have the latest numbers approved by Finance?
Ava: Yes, Finance approved them an hour ago. Check the “Q2-Final” sheet.
Daniel: I’ll allocate one hour to charts and another to speaker notes.
Ava: Perfect. Please submit a draft by EOD, and I’ll review around 8 PM.
Daniel: If we need to reschedule the internal run-through, I’m flexible after 8:30.
Ava: Thanks. Also, include a slide on risk and a brief mitigation plan.
Daniel: Copy. I’ll follow up on legal disclaimers with Mia.
Ava: Great. Keep me posted if anything blocks you.
Daniel: Will do. Expect a link in 90 minutes; we’ll be on track for the morning.
繁體中文翻譯
主管（Ava）： Daniel，臨時更新—客戶把明天的 Demo 改到早上 9 點。今晚能改投影片嗎？
Daniel： 明白。優先順序是產品數據還是價格變動？
Ava： 先做數據。加入第二季數字並強調轉換率。
Daniel： 收到。財務核准的最新數字有嗎？
Ava： 有，財務在一小時前已核可。看「Q2-Final」表。
Daniel： 我會分配一小時做圖表、再一小時整理講者筆記。
Ava： 很好。請在今天下班前交第一版，我 8 點左右會看。
Daniel： 若要改期內部彩排，我 8:30 之後都行。
Ava： 另外加上一張風險與因應的頁面。
Daniel： 沒問題。我會追蹤法務的免責聲明，找 Mia 確認。
Ava： 好。如有阻礙隨時回報。
Daniel： 會的。90 分鐘內給連結；明早的進度可控。
常用詞彙／片語：priority, approved, allocate, submit, by EOD, reschedule, follow up, keep (someone) posted, on track
📚 Vocabulary Boost（高頻字彙表）
| 單字 | 詞性 | 中文意思 | 英文例句 | 中文翻譯 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| urgent | adj. | 緊急的 | Due to the schedule change, the request is urgent. | 因排程更動，此需求很緊急。 |
| deadline | n. | 截止期限 | Please confirm if the deadline is 6 PM today. | 請確認截止時間是否為今天 6 點。 |
| prioritize | v. | 排定優先順序 | We must prioritize the slides with client metrics. | 我們必須優先處理含客戶數據的投影片。 |
| approve | v. | 核准 | Finance has approved the Q2 figures. | 財務已核准第二季數字。 |
| allocate | v. | 分配 | I’ll allocate 30 minutes to revise the charts. | 我會分配30 分鐘修圖表。 |
| submit | v. | 提交 | Please submit the draft by EOD. | 請在今天下班前提交初稿。 |
| EOD | abbr.（縮寫） | 工作日結束（End of Day） | Please send me the revised report by EOD today. | 請在今天下班前把修改後的報告寄給我。 |
| reschedule | v. | 改期 | We may reschedule the rehearsal if needed. | 需要的話我們可以改期彩排。 |
| follow up | phr. v. | 追蹤、跟進 | I’ll follow up with Legal on the disclaimer. | 我會與法務追蹤免責聲明。 |
| deliverable | n. | 可交付項目 | The final deliverable includes slides and notes. | 最終交付物包含投影片與講稿。 |
| on track | phr. | 按計畫進行 | We’re on track to finish before the meeting. | 我們可按進度在會前完成。 |
🔍 Grammar Moves｜職場常用句型
| 句型結構 | 中文意思 | 英文例句 | 中文翻譯 | 職場用途 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| be supposed to + V | 預期／應該 | The team is supposed to finish by EOD. | 團隊預計在今天結束前完成。 | 對齊共識與預期 |
| due to + N | 由於… | The meeting was moved due to a client request. | 由於客戶要求，會議提前。 | 說明原因、避開情緒化 |
| as soon as + S+V | 一…就… | As soon as I get the file, I’ll start. | 我一拿到檔案就開始。 | 承諾回應時點 |
| be + past participle（被動） | 被動語態 | The figures were approved by Finance. | 數字已被財務核准。 | 專業、客觀表述 |
| If possible / If you could… | 委婉請求 | If possible, share the source file. | 如果可以請分享來源檔。 | 緩和語氣、提升合作 |
| keep + 人 + posted | 隨時回報 | I’ll keep you posted on changes. | 有變動我會隨時回報。 | 管理期待、降低焦慮 |
📖 Transcript 逐字稿
J: Today, we’re tackling a situation I think we’ve all been in:
J：今天要探討一個我想大家都遇過的情境：
J: that sudden, really urgent task that lands on your desk with a super-tight deadline.
J：那種突然冒出來、超級緊急而且時限緊迫的臨時任務。
J: How you respond can make all the difference.
J：你如何回應決定一切。
J: Let’s listen to a quick, realistic chat between a manager, Ava, and her colleague, Daniel.
J：先聽一段經理 Ava 與同事 Daniel 的簡短、貼近真實的對話。
It’s 4:30 PM. The client moved tomorrow’s demo earlier. Your manager assigns you a last-minute slide update for the meeting.
現在是下午四點半。客戶把明天的簡報時間提前了。你的主管臨時交辦你要更新會議的投影片。
English Dialogue
Manager (Ava): Hey Daniel, urgent update—the client pulled the demo to 9 AM. Can you revise the deck tonight?
Daniel: Understood. What’s the priority—product metrics or pricing changes?
Ava: Prioritize metrics. Add Q2 figures and highlight conversion rates.
Daniel: Got it. Do we have the latest numbers approved by Finance?
Ava: Yes, Finance approved them an hour ago. Check the “Q2-Final” sheet.
Daniel: I’ll allocate one hour to charts and another to speaker notes.
Ava: Perfect. Please submit a draft by EOD, and I’ll review around 8 PM.
Daniel: If we need to reschedule the internal run-through, I’m flexible after 8:30.
Ava: Thanks. Also, include a slide on risk and a brief mitigation plan.
Daniel: Copy. I’ll follow up on legal disclaimers with Mia.
Ava: Great. Keep me posted if anything blocks you.
Daniel: Will do. Expect a link in 90 minutes; we’ll be on track for the morning.
中文
主管（Ava）： Daniel，臨時更新—客戶把明天的 Demo 改到早上 9 點。今晚能改投影片嗎？
Daniel： 明白。優先順序是產品數據還是價格變動？
Ava： 先做數據。加入第二季數字並強調轉換率。
Daniel： 收到。財務核准的最新數字有嗎？
Ava： 有，財務在一小時前已核可。看「Q2-Final」表。
Daniel： 我會分配一小時做圖表、再一小時整理講者筆記。
Ava： 很好。請在今天下班前交第一版，我 8 點左右會看。
Daniel： 若要改期內部彩排，我 8:30 之後都行。
Ava： 另外加上一張風險與因應的頁面。
Daniel： 沒問題。我會追蹤法務的免責聲明，找 Mia 確認。
Ava： 好。如有阻礙隨時回報。
Daniel： 會的。90 分鐘內給連結；明早的進度可控。
J: Let’s unpack this conversation a bit and see what gems we can find for you. What immediately jumps out about Daniel’s response there—especially, you know, under that kind of pressure?
J：我們來拆解一下這段對話，看看能挖到哪些重點。特別是在那種高壓情況下，你覺得 Daniel 的回應有什麼最突出的地方？
M: What’s really fascinating, I think, is how Daniel immediately shifts gears. He gets this urgent request, but instead of panicking, he goes straight into managing it. He clarifies, confirms details, and then commits to a plan. That’s such a crucial skill, right? Especially in any fast-paced job.
M：我覺得很有意思的是，Daniel 立刻「換檔」。接到緊急請求時，他沒有慌，而是直接進入「管理模式」：先釐清、再確認細節，接著承諾一個計畫。這是非常關鍵的技能，對吧？尤其在節奏很快的工作裡。
J: And he uses some really great phrases that signal professionalism. Let’s look at a few. So Ava starts with “urgent,” and Daniel right away asks about the “priority.” How do those two words work together there?
J：而且他用了幾個很專業的關鍵用語。來看幾個例子：Ava 先說「urgent」，Daniel 立刻問「priority」。這兩個字在那裡是怎麼搭配運作的？
M: Well, “urgent” obviously means it needs attention right now, but “priority” refines it. Daniel isn’t just reacting to the “Oh no, it’s urgent” feeling; he’s asking, “Okay, what’s the most important part of this urgent thing?” And Ava guides him: “Prioritize metrics.” So it turns this general rush into a focused task. It’s about strategy, not just speed.
M：Urgent」顯然代表它需要立即處理，但「priority」則進一步釐清了這件事。Daniel 不只是在對「天啊，這很緊急」的感覺做出反應，他是在問：「好，這件緊急的事情中，最重要或最關鍵的部分是什麼？」而 Ava 則引導他：「優先處理指標。」所以，這句話將一個籠統的緊急情況轉化為一個有重點的任務。這關乎策略，而不僅僅是速度。
J: That makes sense. And Ava gives a clear deadline: “Please submit a draft by EOD.” We hear “EOD” all the time. Why is it effective?
J：有道理。然後 Ava 給了明確的期限：「Please submit a draft by EOD。」我們常聽到「EOD」，為什麼這麼有效果？
M: EOD—end of day—is super common. It’s more than just shorthand, though. It sets a definite expectation—a commitment point. It cuts down on ambiguity, you know? It makes sure everyone’s accountable. And when she adds her specific review time—around 8:00 p.m.—it makes the whole workflow really transparent.
M：EOD（end of day，一天結束）非常常見。但它不只是縮寫，還設定了明確的期望與承諾點，能減少模糊空間、確保每個人都負起責任。她又補充大約晚上 8 點會審閱，讓整個流程更透明。
J: Then Daniel says, “I’ll allocate one hour to charts.” What does that word “allocate” tell us?
J：接著 Daniel 說：「I’ll allocate one hour to charts.」「allocate」這個字告訴了我們什麼？
M: “Allocate” shows he’s thinking methodically. He’s planning it out. He’s basically saying, “I’m setting aside this specific block of time for this part and another block for that part”—mentally and verbally. It demonstrates control, like he has a clear strategy. That must be reassuring for his manager, seeing he’s thinking it through.
M：「allocate」表示他用有條理的方式在思考與規劃。他其實是在說：「我把特定的一段時間留給這個部分，另一段時間給那個部分。」無論心裡或口頭上，都是在展現自我掌控與清楚的策略。對主管來說，看到他想得很清楚，會很放心。
J: And later, Ava uses that supportive phrase, “Keep me posted if anything blocks you.” That feels really important.
J：後面 Ava 用了很有支持性的話：「Keep me posted if anything blocks you.」這感覺超重要。
M: “Keep me posted” is about open, transparent communication. It’s basically an invitation: “Let me know what’s happening, especially if you hit a snag.” It builds trust and lets managers step in early if needed. It turns potential problems into shared problems to solve, instead of hidden surprises later. It’s proactive.
M：「Keep me posted」強調開放透明的溝通，等於在邀請對方：「讓我知道最新狀況，特別是你遇到小卡關時。」這能建立信任，也讓主管必要時能提早介入，把潛在問題變成可以一起解決的共同課題，而不是最後冒出的驚喜包。這是前瞻性的做法。
J: Good point. And Daniel ends on a positive note.
J：說得好。而且 Daniel 以正向的方式收尾。
M: We’ll be on track for the morning.
M：我們明早能照計畫進行。
J: What does “on track” really communicate?
J：「on track」真正傳達的是什麼？
M: “On track” signals that things are moving forward as planned. It shows progress but also confidence. He’s saying, “Yep, despite the rush, we’re managing it, and we’ll hit the goal.” Finishing up like that after a demanding exchange is incredibly reassuring. It shows competence.
M：「on track」表示事情按計畫推進，展現進度也展現信心。他其實是在說：「沒錯，雖然很趕，但我們正在努力，會達成目標。」在高壓溝通後這樣收尾，會讓人非常安心，也顯出專業能力。
J: So, pulling this all together, what does this mean for you, listening? Well, mastering these kinds of phrases—understanding how to use them strategically—means you can sound calm, professional, and really clear, even when things get hectic at work. It helps you manage expectations, show you’re reliable, and, you know, elevate your whole communication game.
J：把這些串起來，對正在收聽的你代表什麼？其實就是：掌握這些用語並懂得策略性使用，工作忙亂時你仍能聽起來冷靜、專業又清楚。它能幫你管理他人期待、展現可靠度，也能把你的整體溝通能力拉上去。
M: And it raises a bigger point, doesn’t it? Beyond just memorizing words: How can you practice staying composed? How can you structure your thoughts clearly when a sudden task hits your desk? Think about how Daniel didn’t just react—he organized his response, his questions, his actions. It’s about the “how” as much as the “what.”
M：而且還有更大的重點，對吧？不只是背單字：你要如何練習保持沉著？臨時任務丟到你桌上時，怎麼清楚地架構自己的想法？想想 Daniel——他不是只反應，而是把回應、發問與行動都「組織化」。不只在「說什麼」，更在「怎麼做」。
J: Remember, just five minutes a day is all you need to win at work, and win over your colleagues. If you found this useful, please don’t forget to follow—and maybe share it with your friends. See you next time.
J：記得，每天只要花五分鐘，你就能在職場取勝、還能贏得同事好感。如果覺得有幫助，別忘了追蹤、也可以分享給朋友。下次見！
✅ Quick Check 小測驗
📌 延伸閱讀建議
- 〈商務 Email 英文：禮貌請求與截止時間的 20 個實用句型〉
- 〈會議英文必備：彙報進度、風險提醒與行動項目怎麼說〉
