國立教育廣播電臺

(Joey just returned from a meeting and having a chat with Hope in the office break room.)

Hope:

Hey, Joey. How’s your first week back from vacation?

Joey:

Don’t mention it. I just got out of that two-hour meeting, and I already feel like I need another vacation!

Hope:

Haha! Welcome back! Vacation is over and it’s time to get back to work. Here… a coffee for you.

Joey:

Thanks. Ever since I got back, it’s been non-stop—projects, emails, meetings…

I go to work at 9 a.m., but my brain doesn’t start working until at least 10:00.

Hope:

I see what you mean. But Joey, you don’t go to work at 9:00. You leave for work at 8:00.

Then you arrive at the office at 8:30. You formally start work at 9:00.

Joey:

Oh! So, “go to work” means 去上班 and “start work” means開始工作?

Hope:

That’s right. For example, I go to work at 8:00, and I clock in at 8:30. but I start work at 8:30.

Joey:

Got it. I go to work at 8:30, clock in at 8:50, and start work at 9:00.

By the way, when I leave the office, I usually say, “I finish work at 6:00.” That’s correct, right?

Hope:

It is not wrong, but more commonly we say, “get off work at 6:00.” It sounds more natural.

Joey:

I see. 所以下班 I should say, “I get off work at 6:00”, not just “finish work,” because “finish work” only means 做完工作, right?

Hope:

Exactly.

Joey:

By the way, how do you say 我開車上班in English? I always sound awkward when I say “I drive a car go to work.”

Hope:

Oh, You should say “I drive to work.” Or “I go to work by car.” You don’t use two verbs together like that.

Joey:

Thanks a lot. 這真幫我解惑了。I drive to work. 就是我開車上班。So, “I ride a scooter to work” means 我騎車上班, right?

Hope:

That’s right. You can ask people “How do you commute to work?” or “How do you go to work?”

And you also use commute as a noun. For example, “How long is your commute every day?” and “My commute takes 30 minutes.”

Joey:

I see. “My commute takes 20 minutes.”

Hope:

Nice! So, what was the meeting about?

Joey:

Just the usual… planning the next business trip to Taipei and that ongoing project. (Sigh!) I have to overtime again!

Hope:

Wait… you should say, “work overtime”, not just “overtime.”

Joey:

Right! I have to work overtime again. Ha! I’ve been saying it wrong for years.

Hope:

No problem! You are improving a lot.

Joey:

Hmm… It’s almost time to get off work. I can’t wait to head home.

Hope:

Then let’s call it a day!

Joey:

Let’s call it a day? 把這稱為一天? 為什麼這樣說?

Hope:

Haha! No. It means “let’s stop here and go home.” It’s a casual way to say “Work is done for today.”

Joey:

Got it! Let’s call it a day. Want me to clock out for you?

Hope:

Sure. Thank you.