BE 538：你应该说“必需的”、“必要的”还是“重要的”？

这是《商务英语播客》第538期。

This is the Business English Podcast episode five thirty eight.

你应该说 essential、necessary 还是 important？

Should you say essential, necessary, or important?

欢迎收听来自 All Ears English 的《商务英语播客》。

Welcome to the Business English Podcast from All Ears English.

掌握你需要的英语技能，实现全球商业中的梦想。

Get the English skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business.

无论是做演示、参加会议，还是参加公司派对，这都是由你喜爱的美国主持人琳赛和米歇尔带来的真实商务英语，她们从美国纽约和科罗拉多为你带来节目。

For a presentation, a meeting, or your office party, this is real business English with your favorite American hosts, Lindsay and Michelle, coming to you from New York City and Colorado, USA.

你是否曾经在会议结束后心想：我本可以表达得更好。

Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking, I could have said that better.

你完全听懂了，但你的回应却简短、模糊，或者不像你平时的风格。

You understood everything but your response came out short or unclear or not quite like you.

也许你的想法很有力量，但你的英语还未能充分展现出来。

Maybe your ideas are strong but your English doesn't show it yet.

你会忘记自己知道的单词。

You forget words you know.

你无法自然流畅地表达，快速的对话让你默默追赶。

You can't explain things naturally and fast conversations leave you quietly catching up.

这种差距可能让人沮丧，但它非常具体，而且完全可以弥补。

That gap can be frustrating but it's also very specific and very fixable.

我们的两分钟流利度测试能帮助你了解这种差距在哪里，以及你的水平是B1、B2还是C1。

Our two minute fluency quiz helps you understand where that gap is and whether your level is B1, B2, or C1.

当你清楚自己的水平后，进步会感觉更轻松、更快。

When you know your level, progress feels lighter and faster.

现在就去 allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore 参加测试，离用你思考的方式说英语更近一步。

Take the quiz now at allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore and move closer to speaking English the way you think.

再提醒一次，去 allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore。

One more time, go to allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore.

嘿，米歇尔。

Hey there, Michelle.

你最近怎么样？

How's everything going with you?

还不错。

Going well.

还不错。

Going well.

林赛，你

Lindsay, do

这周有重要的会议吗？

you have any important meetings this week?

是的。

Yeah.

我的意思是，这周我其实开了不少会，比如公司正在考虑采购的一些潜在产品相关的会议，还有团队会议。

I mean, I've had actually quite a few meetings this week with, you know, different, you know, potential products we're thinking about buying as a company, and, you know, team meetings.

不过都是挺好的事情。

Lots of good stuff, though.

都是好事。

All good stuff.

这很令人兴奋。

It's exciting.

这一年这个时候真令人兴奋。

It's an exciting time of year.

对吧？

Right?

我们还在第一季度，为今年的成功做准备。

We're still in Q1, setting up for success this year.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yep.

当然。

Definitely.

所以今天我们要回答一个听众提出的关于三个相似词汇及其区别的好问题。

So today we are going to answer a great listener question about three similar words and how to tell the difference between them.

今天的内容真的很棒。

This is really good stuff for today.

不错。

Nice.

这是一个来自侯赛因·阿德南（5433）的绝佳问题，可能来自YouTube。

This is a great question that came straight from Hussein Adnan five four three three, possibly on YouTube.

朋友们，别忘了All Ears English有一个YouTube频道。

Guys, don't forget that All Ears English has a YouTube channel.

如果你没有收听All Ears English播客，那你可就错过太多了。

If you're not listening to the All Ears English podcast, you are missing out big time.

所以如果你是播客听众，只需打开你收听的平台——无论是Spotify还是Apple——搜索这个节目即可。

So if you're listening if you're a podcast listener, just open your search bar wherever you listen, Spotify, Apple, find the show.

如果你是YouTube用户，可以直接在YouTube上搜索“All Ears English”，就能找到这个节目。

If you're a YouTube person, you could just type in All Ears English on YouTube, and you'll find the show.

你可以直接点击订阅。

You can hit subscribe right there.

明白吗？

Okay?

是的。

Yes.

侯赛因说，这是我最喜欢的YouTube播客。

Hussein says, my best YouTube podcast.

我有个问题。

I've got a question.

谢谢。

Well, thank you.

谢谢。

Thank you.

important、necessary 和 essential 之间有什么区别？

What is the difference between important, necessary, and essential?

哦，我喜欢这个问题非常微妙，米歇尔。

Oh, I love that this question is very nuanced, Michelle.

是的。

Yeah.

这是一个非常具体的问题。

It is a very specific question.

这里有很多我们可以讨论的内容。

Really a lot that we can talk about here.

好问题。

Great question.

非常感谢你发来这个问题。

Thank you so much for sending it in.

那我们就开始吧。

So let's let's do it.

我们开始吧。

Let's get started.

是的。

Yeah.

让我们是的。

Let's Yeah.

让我们是的。

Let's Yeah.

好的。

Alright.

是的。

Yeah.

所以我们要分解一下，我很想知道，区别是什么？

So we're gonna break this down, and I'm curious, what is the difference?

我也在问自己。

I ask myself too.

区别是什么？

What is the difference?

所以希望我们这里都清楚了，米歇尔。

So hopefully we know here, Michelle.

我们清楚。

We do.

我们清楚。

We do.

所以让我们先谈重要的事。

So let's get into important first.

对吧？

Right?

那么，‘重要’是什么意思？

So what does important mean?

是的。

Yeah.

好吧，我在本集开头问过你，这周你有重要的会议吗？

Well, so I asked you at the beginning of the episode, do you have any important meetings this week?

这意味着重要的。

So this means significant.

这是重要的事情。

It's something that matters.

所以它并不是完全必需的，或者这也不是关注的重点。

So it's not completely required, or that's not what the focus is on.

这取决于上下文。

And it depends on the context.

它可能是必需的，但使用这个词时并没有明确表达这一点。

It may be required, but it's not explicitly saying that by using this word.

例如，给这个客户打电话很重要。

So for example, it's important to get this client on the phone.

我们在说这件事很重要，但并不是像我们想到‘必须’时那种意思。

We're talking about that, you know, this matters, but we're not saying it's like when we think about, like, must.

对吧？

Right?

嗯嗯。

Mhmm.

这并不一定意味着我们必须联系这位客户。

It's not necessarily saying we must get this client on the phone.

它是在说这很重要。

It's saying it's important.

而且，是的，它确实表示我们应该做、必须做，但这个词的重点没那么强烈。

And, yeah, it's saying that we we should and we have to, but the focus on that word is not quite as strong.

对吧？

Right?

我明白你的意思。

I can see what you're saying.

是的。

Yeah.

所以这是另一个例子。

So here's another one.

哦，我们说过这个吗？

Oh, did we say this one?

客户满意度对我们来说极其重要。

Customer happiness is extremely important to us.

继续教育对于在行业中保持竞争力很重要。

Continuing education is important to stay relevant in your industry.

对吧？

Right?

对。

Right.

是的。

Yeah.

所以，是的，这很重要。

So, yeah, it's significant.

这很重要。

It matters.

是的。

Yes.

而且，是的，客户持续教育对于在行业中保持竞争力非常重要。

And yeah, a customer Continuing education is important to stay relevant in your industry.

所以这并不是完全必需的，但它会对你有帮助。

So it's not totally required, but it's gonna help you.

对吧？

Right?

不错。

Nice.

我喜欢这一点。

I love that.

我喜欢这一点。

I love that.

是的。

Yes.

是的。

Yeah.

我的意思是，林赛，对我们All Ears English来说，什么是重要的？

I mean, Lindsay, what is important to us at All Ears English?

所以，单就这个播客或者我们的三个节目而言，我认为非常重要的一点是持续性，因为我们的听众依赖我们。

So just breaking down just this podcast or our podcasts, our three shows, I'd say one thing that's really important is consistency because our listeners, they count on us.

他们每周五天都在All Ears English上等着我们，另外三天则在Business English上等着我们。

They're ready for us five days a week over on All Ears English and three here on Business English.

因此，我们希望通过每周按时发布内容来赢得听众的信任。

And so we we want to build trust from our listeners by publishing on time on a weekly basis.

所以，我认为持续性实际上是播客成功背后默默无闻的英雄。

So, consistency, I think is the unsung hero of podcasting success, actually.

是的。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

另一个表示重要的词可以是‘关键’，对吧？

And another word for important could be key, right?

一致性是关键。

Consistency is key.

对吧？

Right?

你可能会听到这种说法。

You might hear that.

对吧？

Right?

太棒了。

Love that.

K-E-Y。

K e y.

更高的

A higher

说得更高级一点。

level thing to say.

对吧？

Right?

确实如此。

Definitely is.

好的。

Alright.

那我们来谈谈‘必要’这个词。

So let's go into necessary.

这个是完成某件事所必需的。

So this one is required in order to get something done.

对吧？

Right?

为了实现某件事。

In order to accomplish something.

而这正是这里的重点。

And that's really the focus here.

就像是完成某件事。

It's like accomplishing something.

是的。

Yes.

如果没有完成某些事情，某件事就无法发生。

Something can't happen without some this being done.

对。

Right.

就像你想到大学里的先修课程。

Like you think about prerequisites in college.

记得你必须先修完100级别的课程，才能上200级别的课程。

Remember you had to take like the 100 level before taking the 200 level.

对。

Yeah.

这个想法是。

Is this idea.

所以去看医生时必须带上保险卡。

So it's necessary to bring your insurance card to your doctor's appointment.

对吗？

Right?

对。

Right.

所以必须先完成这件事，你才能见到医生。

So it has to get done in order for you to see your doctor.

或者在会议之前必须完成在线培训。

Or it's necessary to complete the training online before the meeting.

是的。

Yeah.

或者必须给每个客户打电话。

Or it's necessary to call every client.

我这是在问你问题吗。

Is it I'm asking you a question here.

必须给每个客户打电话，还是发邮件就可以？

Is it necessary to call every client or is email okay?

好的。

Okay.

有点棘手。

Tricky.

我的意思是，另一种说法是：我们必须给每个客户打电话吗？发邮件可以吗，对吧？

I mean, another way you could say that is do we have to call every client is email okay, right?

再次强调，你

Necessary, again, you

你知道，这是必须的。

know, it's required.

对。

Right.

这里有一个非常微妙的差别。

And there's a very subtle difference.

这其实是个很难的问题，如果你认真想想的话，因为‘重要’在这里并不完全意味着同样的事情，对吧？

This is really a tough question, actually, if you really think about it because, yeah, important wouldn't quite mean exactly the same thing here, would it?

嗯。

Mhmm.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

我的意思是，你也可以这么说，带保险卡去看医生是很重要的。

I mean, again, you could say it's important to bring your insurance card to your doctor's appointment.

这是同一个想法，只是表达方式略有不同。

It's the same idea, but it's just it's it's framed slightly differently.

是的。

Yeah.

嗯。

Mhmm.

用不同的方式表达同样的意思。

Kinda saying the same thing with different framing.

我同意。

I agree.

是的。

Yeah.

哇。

Wow.

是的。

Yeah.

所以另一个我想提到的关键词，我们可以专门做一期节目来讨论这个，或者我们已经做过了。

So another keyword I wanted to bring up, we can do a whole episode on this, or maybe we have.

不必要的恶。

Unnecessary evil.

是的。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

那就是你不喜欢做但不得不做的事情。

That's something that you don't like doing, but you have to do it.

这真是个难题。

That's a tough one.

打扫卫生。

Cleaning.

对吧？

Right?

倒洗碗机里的碗碟，再把碗碟放进洗碗机。

Emptying the dishwasher, loading the dishwasher.

我的意思是，还能列好多呢，米歇尔。

I mean, could go on, Michelle.

哦，是的。

Oh, yeah.

作为成年人，生活中有很多不得不做的麻烦事。

There's all as an adult, there's a lot of necessary evils.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

当然。

For sure.

林赛，那你每天必须做但其实不太喜欢的事情是什么？

Lindsay, but what is something in your that's necessary for you to do every day, but you don't really like?

嗯，就像我刚才说的那些

Well, it's kind of what I just said all the

是的，刚才说的就是这个。

Yeah, well, just said this.

家务事。

Domestic things.

我最不喜欢的家务活可能是周日晚上把垃圾拿出去，提到车道上等收垃圾的人来。

My least favorite domestic maybe taking out the garbage, like on Sunday nights, bringing it up to the driveway for the garbage man to come.

是的。

Yeah.

这确实不有趣。

That's not fun.

对。

Yeah.

但如果我们不做，垃圾就会堆在车库里，那也不好玩。

But if we don't, the garbage will pile up in our garage, and that's not fun either.

对吧？

Right?

那太坏了。

So that would very evil.

你呢，米歇尔？

What about you, Michelle?

你有什么必须做的、不得不做的烦人事吗

What's one of your necessary evils that you have to

每周或每天都要做的？

do on a weekly or daily basis?

叠衣服并收起来。

Folding the laundry and putting it away.

所以我并不总是做。

And that's why I don't always do it.

这就是为什么我家人很多时候不是从抽屉里拿衣服，而是去洗衣房从那堆衣服里挑，我完全理解。

That's why a lot of times my family, instead of getting clothes out of their drawer, is going to the laundry room and picking things up off the That's, I totally get you.

那就是

That is

一个很糟糕的习惯。

a bad one.

有时候我觉得，那些我本来就要挂起来的衣服，没必要叠起来。

Also like sometimes it doesn't make sense to me to fold something that I'm going to hang.

我知道。

I know.

关于洗衣，是的，我完全同意。

And so laundry, yes, Totally agree.

午餐

Lunch

是的。

Yeah.

是那个‘是的’。

Is the Yeah.

天哪。

Oh my god.

好的，米歇尔。

Alright, Michelle.

让我们深入探讨核心要点。

Let's dive into essentials.

那么，这与必要和重要有什么不同呢？

So how is this different from necessary and important?

我的意思是，我们真的在探讨细微差别。

I mean, we're really looking at subtleties here.

是的。

Yeah.

所以我会说，这非常、非常强烈，意味着必须完成。

So I would say this is very, very strong, and it means it must be done.

嗯。

Mhmm.

所以，是的。

So I yeah.

我把这个词理解为‘必须’。

I think of it as that word must.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

必须。

Must.

这个词多么强烈啊。

How that's so strong.

对。

Yep.

那我们来看一些例子。

So let's look at some examples.

找到一个既有经验又性格优秀的人来填补这个职位至关重要。

It is essential to find a person to fill the spot who is both experienced and a great personality.

你会说这算是

Would you say this is kind

三者中最强烈的吗？

of the strongest of the three?

我会这么认为。

I would say so.

你怎么看？

What do you think?

我也这么认为。

I think so too.

是的。

Yeah.

是的。

Yeah.

所以我觉得，我们可以说是越来越强了。

So I think we kinda like I think we kinda got progressively stronger.

所以，嗯，这一点很重要。

So, like, important yeah.

当然。

Sure.

我们可以说这一点很重要。

We could say it's important.

是的。

Yeah.

这没问题。

And that's fine.

然后我们变得更强大了一点。

And then we went a little stronger.

这是必要的。

It's necessary.

是的

Yeah.

然后我

Then I

我不会这么说。

wouldn't say so.

嗯哼

Mhmm.

这是必不可少的。

It's essential.

就像我们不能，这是不可协商的。

It's like we cannot it's a nonnegotiable.

是的

Yeah.

我记得2021年我们去德国旅行的时候，那正是奥密克戎新冠疫情期间。

Like, I remember when we took a trip to Germany in 2021, that was during, like, Omicron COVID days.

对吧？

Right?

而且进入任何酒吧、餐厅或博物馆之前，必须出示你的新冠疫苗接种证明，这非常重要。

And it was essential to have your COVID card proving that you'd been vaccinated before entering any bar, restaurant, museum.

你知道的？

You know?

这非常重要。

It was essential.

他们真的会把你拒之门外，对吧。

Like, they would actually turn you away Right.

如果你不知道的话。

If you didn't know that.

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Right.

重要的是，是的。

Important is yeah.

你也可以说是重要，但这样并不能充分强调

You could say important as well, but it doesn't quite emphasize

是的。

Yeah.

你看，你可能会被拒之门外。

How, yeah, you could get turned away.

是的。

Yeah.

没错。

Exactly.

它它是它

It's a it's a it's

一个令人震惊的场面。

a showstopper.

对吧？

Right?

一个根本行不通的主意。

A a nonstarter.

米歇尔，我们完全可以另做一期，聊聊如何判断事情无法推进。

There there there's a whole other episode, Michelle, we could do about how to say when things won't move forward.

对吧？

Right?

是的。

Yeah.

对。

Yeah.

那会是个不错的主题。

That would be a good one.

是的。

Yeah.

那么，还有其他例子吗？

So other examples here?

是的。

Yeah.

这是至关重要的。等等，我之前已经提到过那个人了吗？

It's essential So wait, did I already say the person?

是的。

Yeah.

第一个。

The first one.

好的。

Okay.

那么第二个。

So the second one.

我们的公司，提供尽可能最好的客户服务是至关重要的。

Our company, it's essential to provide the very best customer service possible.

所以这比说它重要稍微强一点，

So it's just a little stronger than saying it's important,

但只是稍微一点。

but very slightly.

我的意思是，你知道，我们在这方面绝不妥协。

I mean, you know, it's just we will not compromise on this.

没错。

Exactly.

或者必须记住U盘。

Or it's essential to remember the thumb drive.

否则我们会出问题。

Otherwise, we will have a problem.

是的。

Yes.

是的。

Yes.

你需要这些东西。

You need these things.

没错。

Exactly.

还有另一个词，我们的听众侯赛因没有提到，但应该包含在这一讨论中，米歇尔，要保持批判性。

And then another word that's not that our listener Hussein didn't ask about, but is belongs in this mix, Michelle, be critical.

对吧？

Right?

批判性。

Critical.

是的。

Yes.

批判性也是非常强烈的。

Critical is also extremely strong.

这是至关重要的。

It's critical.

我觉得，你认为这比‘必不可少’更强吗？

I think that do you think that's even stronger than essential?

是的。

Yeah.

我觉得是的。

I I think so.

可能吧。

Probably.

或者同样强烈。

Or equally strong.

是的。

Yeah.

关键。

Critical.

是的。

Yeah.

就是这个意思。

It's along those lines.

是的。

Yep.

对。

Yeah.

所以各位，再强调一遍，essential 真的是最强的。

So guys, again, remember, essential is really the strongest.

这就是我们对 'must' 这个词的理解。

It's how we think about the word must.

没错。

Yes.

important 并不意味着某件事必须做。

Important is not necessarily that something must be done.

它只是可能在某种意义上是关键、有用或重要的。

It just might be key or useful or significant in some way.

这对我来说很重要。

This is important to me.

别说什么我不知道之类的。

Like, don't say like I don't know.

比如，家庭对我来说非常重要。

It like, family is very important to me.

你可以这么说。

You could say something like that.

是的。

Yes.

我觉得它实际上稍微更灵活一些。

A little bit I think it's a little bit more versatile, actually.

是的。

Yeah.

我觉得是的。

I think yeah.