史上最大的難題之一——好朋友問你借錢,你借是不借?朋友哭天喊地、再三保證會按時還你。礙于面子,你借給了TA。那么,國際性經典難題來了——如何向朋友討債?老外對這個問題研究頗深,我們一起來學習學習吧。
01、小小暗示,無傷大雅
在不確定對方是否記得欠錢這件事,或者是否愿意及時歸還的情況下,可以先找個合適的切入點,小小的試探一下。
比如:
I was happy to lend you the money when you needed it. That’s what friends do.
我很高興當初能夠在你需要的時候為你提供借款,這是朋友該做的哈。
You’re gently reminding your pal that you came through when he or she was in trouble. Putting it this way shows you sympathize with your friend.
這種暗示方式可以非常委婉地提示朋友,自己曾在他/她需要幫助的時候伸出援手,表現自己懂得為朋友著想。
Chances are, the person feels bad about not paying you back. An understanding tone decreases your chances of a hostile response.
這樣表示理解的表達方式往往可以讓對方對于不還錢感到愧疚,也就避免了一些對自己不利的答復。
優雅指數五顆星啦~
02、開門見山,效率高
能夠委婉、不戳破的把錢要到手自然是再好不過了,但對于有些朋友而言,他們就是真真切切的聽到“還錢”兩個字,才能意識到你內心的焦灼。
比如這樣說:
When do you think you will be able to pay back the $500 I lent you?
你啥時候能把我借你的500刀還上呢?
Hinting will get you nowhere, because the person may misunderstand (perhaps willfully) what you’re asking.Like ripping off a Band-Aid, the process will be less painful if you do it quickly and directly.
暗示可能沒啥用,因為對方會誤解你的用意(甚至會裝傻)。就像撕下一塊創可貼一樣,下手的快準狠才能把痛感降到最低。
Start off nicely; getting angry is more likely to result in the borrower pushing back than if you stay calm.
記得開口要友好些,越是激動越容易嚇到對方,也更容易慌張的退縮。
越直接就越要拿捏好度,完成順利的話也是相當優雅的。
03、適當哭窮,增加緊迫感
“手頭緊”在討債時是一個極好的理由,因為對方在借錢的時候也經歷了相同的窘迫,更能激發同理心。
比如:
We’re going to get hit with some really big tuition bills soon and could really use that money.
我們馬上要交一筆相當大額的學費,實在是需要用上當初借給你的錢。
Of course, you don’t need to justify asking for your money back, but it can be helpful to cite a pressing reason -- as long as it’s true.
欠債還錢是理所當然的事,雖然道理是這么講的,但適當地提供一個討債理由,更能助你順利討債(前提是這個理由確實屬實)。
Evoking a specific thing makes repayment seem more like a necessity than simply an option.
用一個確切的事件來提醒朋友你需要這筆錢,更能讓對方覺得此時還不還錢已經不是他可以選擇的事了。
優雅指數略顯窘迫,但實用性還是很高。
04、對付拖延癥,就要下deadline
拖延癥最讓人咬牙切齒,而且可以一眼看穿對方在拖延。所以,可以給對方定下最后期限!
比如這樣:
I’d really like to get the money back before the end of June.
7月份之前您再不還錢就沒意思了哈。
Specifying a schedule for payback is crucial. Otherwise, the loan may hang out there indefinitely, even if the borrower has given lip service to paying you back -- and you’ll just have to revisit the conversation at a later date.
定下確切的還錢期限是至關重要滴,不然你的錢很可能還是要繼續在別人腰包里打轉了。即使對方口頭承諾會還錢給你,沒有訂下具體日期,之后你很可能還要再進行一次艱難的討債談話。
都已經給人家定下死期,也只能默默接受優雅指數打折。
05、大家都不容易,要不你先還點?
如果你已經明白對方沒有實際能力還錢,或者就是死皮賴臉的不愿意交錢出來,那也可以稍退一步,來個分期付款呀。
比如:
Would it be easier for you to pay me back over time, say, $100 a month?
這錢您慢慢還是不是好接受點,就說一個月100刀咋樣吶?
If the borrower pushes back or you know he will have a tough time coming up with the cash, break repayment into smaller chunks or reaching another compromise.
在談還錢時,如果對方已經推脫著不想還錢,或者你了解他確實手頭緊,那么你應該把借款分期收回或者跟對方各退一步,商議一個更好的妥協方案。
After all, you must really care about this person; otherwise, you would never have lent him the money.
因為不管怎么說,當初會把錢借給他,說明你一定還是非常在乎這一份友誼的呀。
溫情指數都要爆表了,優不優雅的就別管它了。
06、大絕招:優雅,都是虛的!
對于借錢之初就沒想著還的“朋友”,當然要記得每天親切的問候一句:
Hey asshole, where’s my fucken money (with a big smile on your face).
嘿你個臭崽子,欠你大爺的錢呢?(記得要保持圍笑哈)
友誼走到這一步,不是快到盡頭,恐怕就是你倆上輩子的恩怨還沒算清吶