Some do's and don'ts

Jo:  Hello, I’m Jo and this is Question and Answer of the Week from BBC Learning English, and Jean is with me today – hi Jean.
 
Jean:  Hi Jo. 在我们今天的节目当中，我们会为中国的听众解答大家有关英语学习方面的问题。今天我们要解答的问题来自西安的于朝君。
 
Jo:  Yes, they want to know about the usage of the expression do’s and don’ts.
 
Jean:  Usage 用法。他想了解一下英语用语 Do’s and Don’ts 的用法。 
 
Jo:  I asked Callum from BBC Learning English to first of all explain the meaning of do’s and don’ts.
 
Insert
 
Well do’s and don’ts very simply are things that you should do and things that you
shouldn't do. So for example you go to a new school or a new college or a new job and there are certain rules for that place and those rules are the do’s and the don’ts – the do’s and don’ts.
 
Jean:  看来 do’s and don’ts 表示的是在一些情况下该做和不该做的事情，我们也可以叫它行为准则，就如 Callum 说到的  rules.
 
Jo:  He said, for example, if you go to a new school or start a new job there are certain rules, things you should and shouldn't do – and in English we often call these do’s and don’ts.
 
Jean:  So can Callum give us an example?
 
Insert
 
For example if you’re going to be late, do call your manager and don’ts would be don't leave your computer turned on at night – those are some do’s and don’ts. Some simple rules for your job or your workplace.
 
Jo:  So a good example of some do’s and don’ts – if you're going to be late, do call your manager –  you  should call your manager. And don’t  leave  your computer turned on at night.
 
Jean:   就是说，为了节省能源，我们不应该晚上也开着电脑。  
 
 
Jo:  In  today’s BBC Learning English Question and Answer of  the Week, we’re answering Chaojun’s question about  the expression do’s and don’ts. Now Chaojun wanted  to know more about  the usage of  the expression. Here’s Callum again.
 
Insert
 
The expression do’s and don'ts is more commonly something you would hear in spoken English. Somebody will tell you about the do’s and don’ts. You might see it written down on a sign or a notice but it's more something that people say than people write.
 
Jean:  Callum 给我们介绍说，do’s and don’ts 这一短语一般在英语口语 spoken English当中使用的更多。
 
Jo:  He said you might see it written down on a sign or a notice.
 
Jean:  一个指示牌或者布告上– but it’s usually something you would say rather than write. 
 
Jo:  Now, there’s one last question we have to ask Callum – how do you write or spell do’s and don'ts?
 
Jean:  是的，在这个短语中，撇号 apostrophes 的使用确实好像不太简单，不过下面Callum 会给我们讲解一下。
 
Insert
 
Writing is tricky and I had to look at a number of dictionaries to find an agreement on this – do’s and don't is written D.O.’ S. and don'ts D.O.N.’ T.S.
 
Jo:    He said writing is tricky.
 
Jean:  确实不太容易。他已经看了好几本的字典 a number of dictionaries 才找到共识find an agreement on this它就是D.O.’S and D.O.N.’ T.S. 
 
Jo:  So to re-cap the language we’ve learnt so far – usage.
 
Jean:  用法。
 
Jo:  Rules.
 
Jean:  规则。
 
Jo:  A sign.
 
Jean:  一个指示牌。
 
Jo:  A notice.
 
Jean:  一个布告。
 
Jo:  An apostrophe.
 
Jean:  一个撇号标点。 
 
 
Jo:            Tricky.
 
Jean:  不易处理的、需要技巧的。请大家把Callum刚才的讲解再完整地听一遍。
 
Insert
 
Well do’s and don’ts very simply are things that you should do and things that you shouldn't do. So for example you go to a new school or a new college or a new job and there are certain rules for that place and those rules are the do’s and the don’ts – the do’s and don’ts.
 
For example if you’re going to be late, do call your manager and don’t would be don't leave your computer turned on at night – those are some do’s and don’ts. Some simple rules for your job or your workplace.
 
The expression do’s and don'ts is more commonly something you would hear in spoken English. Somebody will tell you about the do’s and don’ts. You might see it written down on a sign or a notice but it's more something that people say than people write.
 
Writing is tricky and I had to look at a number of dictionaries to find an agreement on this – do’s and don't is written D.O.’ S. and don'ts D.O.N.’ T.S.
 
Jean:  为了帮助大家更好的掌握 do’s and don’ts 的用法，我们给大家准备了一些例句，请你们听听看，下面的这些句子说的 dos 和 don’ts 讲的是什么事情呢？
 
Insert
 
- You should try to turn up on time.
- Do look your best.
- You should brush your teeth.
- Don't talk about any of your ex boyfriends or girlfriends.
- Don't start acting as if this is a lifelong relationship, I think you should keep things light
 and friendly.
- And something you shouldn't do is talk too much about yourself.
 
Jo:  Any ideas Jean?
 
Jean:  I think I know Jo but let's have a look at some of the language there.
 
Jo:  To turn up on time.
 
Jean:  要准时到达。
 
Jo:  You should look your best.
 
Jean:  看上去的状态要最好。 
 
Jo:  Don’t talk about your ex boyfriends or girlfriends.
 
Jean:  Exes 前男友或前女友。 
 
Jo:  We heard the verb to act.
 
Jean:  To act 去表现。
  
 
 
Jo:    Don’t start acting as if this is a lifelong relationship.
 
Jean:  一段终身感情，他刚才说到凡事要放轻松。
 
Jo:  To keep things light. So what do you think these are do’s and don’ts for, Jean?
 
Jean:  It wouldn't be dating would it Jo? 听起来讲得像是约会的几大准则吧?
 
Jo:  Oh, well done! Yes and in fact the do’s and don’ts of going on a first date. Do you agree?
 
Insert
 
- You should try to turn up on time.
- Do look your best.
- You should brush your teeth.
- Don't talk about any of your ex boyfriends or girlfriends.
- Don't start acting as if this is a lifelong relationship, I think you should keep things light  and friendly.
- And something you shouldn't do is talk too much about yourself.
 
Jo:  Well,  we  hope  that  answered  your  question  Chaojun.  If  you  have  a question  for  us  you  can  email  us  at  questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk. We’ll leave you with our BBC Learning English do’s and don’ts. 
 
Jean:  Yes, 大家要  do 的，也就是要做的应该是经常到我们的网站来看看，了解更多的实用英语学习内容。
 
Jo:  And don't forget the website address www.bbcchina.com.cn. See you next
time. 
 
Jean:  Bye!  

This week’s question comes from Yu Chaojun in Xi’an who wants to know more about the expression do’s and don’ts.

A sign saying what you shouldn't do

Callum from BBC Learning English explains to us that do’s and don’ts are basically things you should do and shouldn’t do.

So for example, at your place you work, some do’s and don’ts might be:

Do call your manager if you are going to be late.
Don’t leave your computer switched on at work.

It is merely another way of listing rules, often using ‘do’ in the imperative form. Imperatives are verbs used to give orders or instructions.

You might hear people talk about the do’s and don’ts of doing a particular thing.

"Here are some do’s and don’ts at the swimming pool – don’t run, do wear a swimming cap."

"Safe cycling: do’s and don’ts – you should always wear bright clothes, you must never cycle through a red light."

Do’s and don’t are sometimes seen on signs or notices to help you, but more often than not you will hear the expression do’s and don’ts in conversation and people talking about what you should and shouldn’t do in different situations.

Take note of how it’s written too – make sure you put the apostrophes in the right places.

Thanks for your question Chaojun. We hope the answer helped you.

If you have a question about the English language, DO send us an email: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk and DON’T forget to visit this page regularly to learn more about English!

Glossary 词汇

switched on 开启

listing 列举

imperative form 祈使形式

orders 指令

instructions 指令、指示

signs 指示牌

notices 布告

take note 记笔记

make sure 确保

apostrophes 撇号