Level 3 · Reading series
Lesson 8 · The Apology That Needed Time
Audio track 08
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Yesterday, I laughed at Sora's idea during our group meeting. I thought I was making a small joke, but everyone heard me. Sora stopped talking for the rest of the meeting.
After class, I apologized. “I was wrong to laugh. Your idea deserved a proper answer.” Sora said, “Thanks for saying that, but I need some time.”
I wanted to explain that I had not meant to hurt him. Instead, I listened and let him leave. Today, I asked the group to look at his idea again. I did not ask Sora to forgive me in front of everyone.
An apology cannot make yesterday disappear. I can only change what I do next.
Check your understanding
After reading, state the main idea in one sentence and find a line that supports it.
Chinese translation
昨天开小组会时，我笑了空提出的想法。我以为只是开个小玩笑，可大家都听见了。接下来的会议里，空再也没有说话。
下课后，我向他道歉：‘我不该笑你的想法。你认真提出的意见值得我好好回应。’空说：‘谢谢你这么说，但我还需要一点时间。’
我本想解释自己并非有意伤害他，却选择先听他说完，让他离开。今天，我请小组重新看看他的建议。我没有当着大家的面要求空原谅我。
道歉不能让昨天的事消失。我能做的，是改变接下来自己的行为。
Key words and expressions
Key terms have Chinese explanations. Hover over dotted words in the English passage for word help and pronunciation when available.
- laugh at
- 嘲笑；laugh at someone's idea 指拿别人的想法开玩笑。
- during
- 在……期间；during our group meeting 是‘开小组会时’。
- the rest of
- 剩下的……；the rest of the meeting 指会议余下的时间。
- apologize
- 道歉；承认自己的言行不妥。
- deserve
- 值得；deserved a proper answer 指意见值得认真回应。
- proper answer
- 认真的答复；不是随口嘲笑或敷衍。
- mean to do
- 有意做某事；had not meant to hurt him 指并非故意伤害他。
- instead
- 转而、相反；叙述者没有继续解释，而是先倾听。
- forgive
- 原谅；叙述者没有要求空当众原谅自己。
- disappear
- 消失；道歉不能让已经发生的事消失。
Background notes (Chinese)
道歉不是催促对方立刻原谅自己的信号。叙述者并非有意伤害空，但空确实受到了伤害；意图与结果要分开看。尊重对方需要时间，同时用后续行动修正错误，比反复解释自己的本意更有帮助。