How to Write an Apology Letter
如何寫道歉信
Hi, I'm Chris from Clarity. I've been a professional writer for 10 years now. And today, I'm going to give you some tips on writing a few different things.
嗨，我是 Clarity 的 Chris。我已經從事專業寫作十年了。今天我要跟大家分享寫一些不同東西的技巧。
So, if you're going to write a letter of apology, the first most important thing to do is to apologize, to actually be sincere and simple and say, "I am sorry." Those are the most—the three most important words. It's very important not to try to wriggle out of it, not to be legalistic and try to cover yourself but to come out and say that you're sorry. So, don't say, for example, "I can apologize if I may have hurt your feelings"; say, "I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings."
如果你要寫一封道歉信，首先且最重要的事情就是道歉，真誠、簡單直白地說：「對不起。」那就是最重要－－三個最重要的字。很重要的是，不要嘗試逃避、過度拘泥對錯、掩蓋自己的過錯，直接表明說你很抱歉。不要像這樣講：「如果我可能傷害到你，那我可以道歉」；直接說：「我很抱歉傷害到你了。」
There are three parts to an apology letter. The first part is to say what you did. The second part is to say why you did it. And the third part is to say how you'll put it right.
道歉信可以分為三個部分。第一部分就是說你做了什麼。第二部分說明你為什麼那樣做。然後第三部分說你要怎麼導正這個錯誤。
So, the first part is to say what you're sorry for. And it's important to focus on your actions to say, "I am sorry that I didn't turn up for the meeting," for example. If possible, echo their words when they made a complaint to you or when they spoke to you. So, say, "I'm sorry I was rude." And when you're explaining what you're sorry for, don't presume anything about the way they feel. If they haven't told you that they were upset, or angry, or frustrated, then don't use those words. It's safest to say what you did rather than how they feel.
第一部分要說你為什麼感到抱歉。很重要的是，要把重點放在自己的行為上，例如說：「我很抱歉我沒有出席會議。」如果可以的話，對方在抱怨或跟你對談的時候可以重複對方說的話。像是說：「很抱歉我太無禮了。」當你在解釋自己為什麼感到抱歉的時候，不要假設對方的感受。如果對方沒有告訴你他們很不開心、生氣或沮喪，那就不要用那些字眼。講自己的行為比起講對方的感受更安全。
So, the second thing is to say why you did whatever it was. Often, people aren't so much upset about your actions as about what those actions show them about your feelings towards them. So it's very important to explain your motivation. Often, you had good intentions, and you just simply need to say what those were. If it was a mistake, or if it was carelessness or thoughtlessness, again, just say that. Be simple, and be honest. Tell them how you feel about your action now. "I wish I hadn't done it." "I'm really sorry I did it." And reassure them about how you feel about them. "I respect you, and I didn't want to upset you."
第二件事情就是要說你為什麼那樣做。常常比起行為本身，人們反而會對那些行為傳達出來的感覺而更生氣。所以解釋你的動機很重要。你常常意圖是好的，你只是需要講出來你的意圖是什麼。如果是個失誤，或是因粗心或思慮不周而導致，一樣，就說出來。簡單，並誠實。告訴他們你現在對自己行為的感受。「真希望我沒有那樣做。」「做了那樣的事情我很抱歉。」並且向他們重申一次自己對於他們的感受。「我尊重你，所以我不希望讓你不開心。」
The third thing is to say what you're going to do about it. In a lot of cases, the main—sometimes the only—thing that you will do is make sure you never do it again. That's fine. Just say so. Sometimes, you'll need to repair the damage; you'll need to make good what you did. And then just say what you'll do to make things the way they were. More occasionally, you'll want to make some gesture to try to make it up to them. In that case, it's quite important how you say that, how you phrase that. And the best way of doing it is to say, something like, "To show you how sorry I am, I've attached a gift" or "I've sent a gift." In signing off, just tell them that you know the apology won't magically make everything better, and that it'll take time for them to forgive you, but that your main intention was just to say how sorry you are and to explain why you did what you did.
第三件事情就是要講你要怎麼做。很多時候，你主要－－有時候是唯一－－能做的事情就是保證你永遠不再犯。那是沒關係的。就說出來就好。有時候你必須修復傷害；你得對自己做過的事情做出補償。接著就說你會怎麼做來讓事情回到正軌。更多時候，你會想要做出一些表示，試圖要補償他們。那樣的情況下，你怎麼說、怎麼表達是很重要的。最好的方式是說出像是這類的話：「為了要表達我無比的歉意，我買了一個禮物要給你」或者「我寄了一份禮物要給你。」信件結尾，只要告訴他們，你知道道歉不會奇蹟似地讓所有事情好轉，你知道他們要花點時間才能夠原諒你，但你主要只是想告訴他們你有多抱歉，並解釋你的所作所為以及背後原因。
And that's how to write an apology letter.
以上就是如何寫一封道歉信啦。
- 「逃脫、避開」- wriggle out of something
It's very important not to try to wriggle out of it, not to be legalistic and try to cover yourself but to come out and say that you're sorry.
很重要的是，不要嘗試逃避、過度拘泥對錯、掩蓋自己的過錯，直接表明說你很抱歉。 - 「糾正錯誤、導正」- put something right
And the third part is to say how you'll put it right.
然後第三部分說你要怎麼導正這個錯誤。 - 「補償、修復」- make good
Sometimes, you'll need to repair the damage; you'll need to make good what you did.
有時候你必須修復傷害；你得對自己做過的事情做出補償。 - 「補償（自己傷害了的人）」- make it up to someone
More occasionally, you'll want to make some gesture to try to make it up to them.
更多時候，你會想要做出一些表示，試圖要補償他們。
