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.
什麼疑問?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?
我不知道該在什麼時候握手，什麼時候不握手。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麼做。
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!沒什麼可擔心的。