Shut up! 闭嘴!

The script of this programme 本节目台词

(Li and Rosie are at the cinema)

Li: No, come on - don't do it! 别进去!

Rosie: Li, she's an actress in a film, she can't hear you. And besides, it's rude to talk in the cinema.

Li: But it's just so frustrating. Don't go into the house! Don't do it! Noooo! I can't watch. 不行不行，我看不了!

Rosie: Li, shut up!

Li: I know, he's shut her up in that house and won't let her go. 她被锁住了，出不来了...

Rosie: No, Li... I didn't mean that he 'shut' her up in the house. I was telling you to 'shut up'. It's a rude way of saying 'Be quiet'.

Spectator: Excuse me, will you please shut up?

Rosie: I'm really sorry. Li, I can't take you anywhere.

Li: Oh well look, the film is over now, anyway. Sorry about the talking, but I just get a bit carried away. 我有点落入电影的情节里了。

Rosie: Well, I'm sorry I told you to shut up. It is quite a rude expression in English, but you just kept talking and talking and just wouldn't shut up!

Li: 这么说，当我想要其他人别出声的时候就可以说闭嘴？So, can I tell someone to shut up when they are making noise?

Rosie: You can, but it's informal and can be rude. So if you're in a formal context you should say something like, "Could you please be quiet?"

Li: 好吧，在开会的时候不能使用 shut up 这个短语， 这太不礼貌了。可以说: Could you please be quiet? 不过我要是真的跟朋友不耐烦了，我可以对他们说 shut up.

Rosie: Yes, although sometimes it's used when people are joking in English. Let's listen to some examples:

• "I'm so tired. And thirsty. When are we going to get there? If only you'd drive a bit faster..."
• "Will you please shut up? I can't concentrate with your constant moaning."

• "I look fat in this dress. It's so clingy!"
• "Oh shut up! You look great."

• "I just read the whole book in an hour."
• "Shut up! No one can read that quickly."

Rosie: So, in that first example, we heard the expression 'shut up' used in a serious way. But in the second and third examples, it doesn't mean we want someone to be quiet - it means: "I don't believe you" or "Don't be ridiculous!"

Li: 这么说，如果某人说的话让你觉得可笑，那么你就可以说 shut up. 但是对方一定是关系不错的朋友，千万要记住啊! You've been warned!

Rosie: Well, one thing's for sure, I'm never, and I mean never, going to the cinema with you again.

Li: Shut up! I don't believe you... 我才不信 Rosie 的话呢，所以我对她说 shut up! You love going to cinema with me. I always buy you popcorn!

Rosie: Shut up! I always get the popcorn!

Li: Oh... shut up.

Rosie: You shut up...

Li: No you shut up.