JOkay, small confession. A coworker once asked me, “Would you mind helping me with this?” and I said, “Yes, of course!” She just stared at me. I’m Jason, by the way. I thought I was being friendly. I was actually saying no.小小告白一下。有次同事問我：「Would you mind helping me with this?」我回：「Yes, of course!」她就瞪著我看。對了，我是 Jason。我以為自己很親切，其實我是在說不要。
MAnd I’m Mary. Oh, that happens so much! Here’s why. “Mind” means “to be bothered by.” So “Would you mind?” really asks, “Does it bother you?” Today we’ll fix this with a little story from a long flight.我是 Mary。這種事超常發生！原因是這樣：mind 的意思是「覺得困擾、介意」。所以「Would you mind?」其實是在問「這會讓你困擾嗎？」今天我們用一個長途飛行的小故事來把它搞懂。
JPicture it. It’s a long daytime flight. Eric, a guy from Taiwan, has the window seat. Rachel, an American woman, sits next to him in the aisle seat. And the sun is shining straight through the window.想像一下。這是一趟白天的長途班機。來自台灣的 Eric 坐靠窗的位子，美國女生 Rachel 坐在他旁邊的走道位。陽光正直直從窗戶照進來。
MAnd Rachel says, “Excuse me, would you mind closing the window shade? The sun is right in my eyes.” Very polite. Eric wants to help, so he answers super fast. He says, “Yes, of course!”然後 Rachel 說：「Excuse me, would you mind closing the window shade? The sun is right in my eyes.」很有禮貌。Eric 想幫忙，所以他馬上回答：「Yes, of course!」
JBut remember, she asked, “Do you mind?” So “Yes” means “Yes, I mind.” That’s what Rachel hears. She hesitates and says, “Oh. So you do mind? That’s okay, I can just move.” Poor Eric!但別忘了，她問的是「你介意嗎？」所以 Yes 就是「對，我介意」。Rachel 聽到的就是這個意思。她猶豫了一下說：「Oh. So you do mind? That’s okay, I can just move.」可憐的 Eric！
MEric panics a little. He says, “No, no! I mean, I’m happy to close it.” Rachel laughs and explains, “With would you mind, you say, no, not at all. No means it’s fine.” I love that tip.Eric 有點慌。他說：「No, no! I mean, I’m happy to close it.」Rachel 笑著解釋：「With would you mind, you say, no, not at all. No means it’s fine.」我超愛這個小提醒。
JThat’s the key, right? For “Would you mind?” the happy answer is no. So you say, “No, not at all.” Or just, “Not at all.” Or, “No problem.” All three mean, “Sure, I’m totally fine with it.”這就是關鍵，對吧？被問「Would you mind?」，開心的答案是 no。所以你說：「No, not at all.」或只說「Not at all.」，或「No problem.」這三句都是「當然，我完全沒問題」。
MEric gets it fast. He says, “Oh! So yes means I mind. Okay then, not at all.” And Rachel says, “Thank you. That’s so much better.” The sun is gone, and everybody’s happy.Eric 很快就懂了。他說：「Oh! So yes means I mind. Okay then, not at all.」Rachel 說：「Thank you. That’s so much better.」陽光不見了，大家都開心。
JNow, an honest note. Native speakers often just say “Sure,” too, and that’s totally fine. But “Not at all” is the safest one, because nobody can misunderstand it. If you feel nervous, pick that one.老實說一下。母語人士也常常直接回「Sure.」，這完全沒問題。但「Not at all」是最保險的，因為不會有人誤會。如果你會緊張，就選這句。
MWhat if you really don’t want to do it? Don’t say, “Yes, I mind.” That sounds too blunt. Try, “Sorry, I’d rather not.” Or, “Sorry, I can’t right now.” Starting with “Sorry” makes it so much softer.如果你真的不想做呢？別說「Yes, I mind.」那樣太直接了。試試「Sorry, I’d rather not.」或「Sorry, I can’t right now.」先說 Sorry 會柔和很多。
JLater in the story, Eric needs the restroom. And Eric says, “Can I ask you something too? Would you mind to let me out? I need the restroom.” Rachel says, “Not at all.” Then she adds a tip.故事後來，Eric 要去洗手間。Eric 說：「Can I ask you something too? Would you mind to let me out? I need the restroom.」Rachel 說：「Not at all.」然後她又補了一個小提醒。
MAnd Rachel says, “Little tip: would you mind letting me out. No to, just the ing form.” So after “mind,” use the ing word. Would you mind closing it? Would you mind helping me? Would you mind speaking slower?然後 Rachel 說：「Little tip: would you mind letting me out. No to, just the ing form.」所以 mind 後面要接 ing 的字。Would you mind closing it? Would you mind helping me? Would you mind speaking slower?
JEric says, “Would you mind letting me out. Got it! Thanks for the free English lesson.” Now what if you want to ask permission? Use “Would you mind if I sit here?” Or the casual one, “Mind if I join you?”Eric 說：「Would you mind letting me out. Got it! Thanks for the free English lesson.」那如果你是要問可不可以呢？用「Would you mind if I sit here?」或隨性一點的「Mind if I join you?」
MI messed this up once. A woman on a train asked, “Would you mind if I sit here?” and I said, “Yes, please!” She froze. I laughed and said, “I mean, not at all!” Now I say, “Go ahead.” It’s easy.我也搞砸過一次。有位女士在火車上問：「Would you mind if I sit here?」我回：「Yes, please!」她僵住了。我笑著說：「I mean, not at all!」現在我會說「Go ahead.」很簡單。
JGood fix. Remember the “if,” though. Don’t say, “Would you mind I sit here?” That one is missing a word. Say, “Would you mind if I sit here?” Then the answer can be “Go ahead” or “Not at all.”改得好。不過別忘了 if。不要說「Would you mind I sit here?」那句少了一個字。要說「Would you mind if I sit here?」然後答案可以是「Go ahead」或「Not at all.」
MNow the politeness ladder. Step one is “Can you pass the salt?” That’s casual, great for friends. Step two is “Could you pass the salt?” That’s more polite. Step three is “Would you mind passing the salt?” That’s the extra polite one.現在來看禮貌的階梯。第一階是「Can you pass the salt?」這句很隨性，跟朋友講很適合。第二階是「Could you pass the salt?」比較客氣。第三階是「Would you mind passing the salt?」更客氣、更有禮貌。
JSo who gets which one? Friends get “Can you.” Most people get “Could you.” And when you want to sound extra polite, like with an older person or a client, use “Would you mind.” If you’re not sure, start with “Could you.” You won’t go wrong.那誰適合哪一句？朋友用「Can you」。一般人用「Could you」。想特別客氣的時候，像是對長輩或客戶，就用「Would you mind」。如果不確定，就從「Could you」開始，不會錯。
MLet’s try a mini quiz. Someone says, “Would you mind moving your bag?” You’re happy to do it. What do you say? Right, “No, not at all.” Or “Sure.” Just don’t say “Yes.”來個小測驗。有人說：「Would you mind moving your bag?」你很樂意移開。你要怎麼說？沒錯，「No, not at all.」或「Sure.」只要別說 Yes。
JAnother one. Your boss asks, “Would you mind staying late today?” But you have plans. You can say, “Sorry, I can’t tonight. I already have plans.” Short, kind, and clear.再一題。老闆問：「Would you mind staying late today?」但你今天有事。你可以說「Sorry, I can’t tonight. I already have plans.」簡短、客氣又清楚。
MSo let’s sum it up. Say yes with “Not at all.” Say no with “Sorry, I’d rather not.” Ask a favor with “Would you mind” plus ing. Ask permission with “if I.” That’s the whole toolbox.我們來總結。想答應就說「Not at all.」想拒絕就說「Sorry, I’d rather not.」要拜託人就用「Would you mind」加 ing。要問可不可以就用「if I」。這樣就夠你用了。
JGreat. Now for the fun part. Listen to Eric and Rachel’s conversation one more time. This time, hear what Eric says, and what Rachel notices. You’ll catch much more than the first time.太好了。接下來是好玩的部分。再聽一次 Eric 和 Rachel 的對話。這次仔細聽 Eric 說了什麼，還有 Rachel 注意到什麼。你會比第一次聽到更多。
MOkay, sit back and relax. You already know the rules, so you can follow every word. Nothing new, just a fresh listen. Just enjoy the flight. Here’s the whole thing.好，放輕鬆。規則你都知道了，所以每個字都跟得上。沒有新東西，就是重新聽一遍。好好享受這趟飛行吧。完整對話來了。
🔁 [DIALOGUE REPLAY] 重播情境對話
JSee? The second time, Eric still says “Yes, of course!” and “mind to let me out.” Now you can hear both mistakes right away, and you know exactly how to fix them.看吧？第二次聽，Eric 還是說「Yes, of course!」和「mind to let me out」。現在你一聽就知道這兩個錯，也知道該怎麼改。
MTell us in the comments: when did someone ask you “Would you mind” and you weren’t sure what to say? Write your answer in English, and we’ll help. And follow MJ English for more.在留言告訴我們：什麼時候有人問你「Would you mind」，而你不知道怎麼回？用英文寫下你的答案，我們幫你看看。也記得追蹤 MJ English 看更多內容。
JThanks for hanging out with us today!謝謝你今天陪我們聊天！
MHave a lovely week, and see you soon!祝你這週過得愉快，我們很快再見！
