A：I have a real problem when I meet people.

我在和人会面的时候有个问题。

B：What is it? Maybe I can help.

什么疑问?或许我能帮你。

A：I never know when to shake hands and when not to. Can you tell me something about it?

我不知道该在什么时候握手，什么时候不握手。你能不能告诉我有关这方面的事?

B：Do you come from a country where they shake hands?

你们国家的人握手吗?

A：Oh yes. Men, women, and children shake hands all the time.

握呀。男人、女人、小孩、时时刻刻都在握手。

B：It’s very simple. Men shake hands, women and children don’t.

那很简单。男人握手，女人和小孩不握。

A：But some women do shake hands. And now a lot of children have such good manners, they shake hands too.

可是有些女人也握手呀。而且现在很多有礼貌的孩子也握手。

B：Well, a good rule to follow is, for men you hold out your hand, for women and children, you wait and see what they do.

你就遵循这条原则：对男人你先伸手，对女人和孩子就看他们怎么做。

A：That sounds easy enough.

这听上去再简单不过了。

B：Sure. Once you get the hang of it, it’s a piece of cake! It’s nothing to worry about.

可不是嘛。你一旦掌握了窍门，那就成了小菜一碟!没什么可担心的。