不管在正式的商務場合還是相對隨意的社交場合，small talk都是人與人之間建立友好關系的紐帶。今天，咱們一起領略下商務場合small talk的藝術。

先來看看何為small talk?

Small talk: Conversation without real meaning; conversation without any particular purpose; conversation about general subjects; conversation one starts with unfamiliar people in order to be more involved; conversation used to make friends with new people; conversation used to make the atmosphere better.
所謂small talk，就是“閑聊、寒暄”的意思，指沒有具體意義的對話；沒有特殊目的的對話；關于大眾話題的對話；為了進一步融入而展開的與陌生人的對話；為了結交新朋友而展開的對話；為了使氣氛更融洽而展開的對話。

Good topics（適合的話題）

1. How was your flight or train ride? Perhaps the first question you would ask them, out of politeness.
旅途如何？這可能是你首先該問的問題，比較禮貌。

2. How is your hotel? If they have already checked into a hotel, you can ask if their accommodations are acceptable to them. Just another polite question.
你的旅館如何？如果他們已經入住的話，你可以問問他們覺得住宿是否可心，這又是一個比較禮貌的問題哦。

3. Do you play any sports? / Do you play golf? This is a good question to ask Western businessmen especially. Most of them do play golf - it has become very, very common in recent years. Others might play tennis, squash or basketball. Most Western women do yoga or at least go to the gym.
你做什么運動嗎？你打高爾夫嗎？這個是可以問西方商務人士的很典型的話題。大多數西方商務人士都打高爾夫，近些年，高爾夫已經成為一項非常常見的運動。也有一些可能會打網球，壁球或者籃球的。大部分西方女士做瑜伽或者至少會去健身房運動。

4. How’s the weather like in your country? Whereabouts are you from?
你們國家天氣如何？你來自具體哪個地方呢？

5.?American businessmen especially like to get down to business without too much small talk. After your meeting, you could go to a bar or pub to get to know each other better. Your foreign friend will be more relaxed and more talkative in that situation.
美國商人特別喜歡直接進入商務話題，所以過多寒暄就不必了。你們會面之后，你們可以去酒吧或酒館來進一步了解彼此。那時你的外國友人會更加放松，也更健談些。

在閑談過程中，要不時地表現出對對方談話的興趣。常用的短語有：

Really?
真的嗎？

I see.
原來如此。

What a coincidence!
真巧！

That’s amazing!
太神奇了！、太棒了！

That sounds interesting.
聽起來很有趣。

Oh dear…
天哪！

Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that.
哦，很遺憾聽到這個消息。

雖然在閑聊的過程中有很多話題可以選擇，但也要注意避免提及一些忌諱的話題。那么到底哪些話題需要避免呢？

Bad topics（不適合的話題）

Health健康

Private life(age,marital status, etc.)私生活（年齡、婚姻狀況等）

Personal gossip私人八卦

Religion宗教

Politics政治

Offensive jokes帶有冒犯性的玩笑

（來源：滬江英語 編輯：劉明，實習生張憶婉）