Asking for information or help is a very common and necessary activity,especially when we visit a foreign country.So knowing how to ask for information politely is important.
In English ,where are the restrooms?and Counld you please tell me where the restroomsare?Are similar requests- both are correct English,but the first could sound rude.It’s important to use correct language,but sometime this alone is not enogh-we need to lean how to be polite when we make requestes.In English,just like in Chinese ,we change the way we speak when talking with different people.The experssionsyou use might depend on whom you are speaking to or how well you know them.If you say to your teacher ,Where is my book?Your question will sound much more polite.On the other hand,it might be alright to to say Where is my book?In some situations,perhaps with people you know well.
And you would not usually say,Peter ,lend me your pen.A very dirct order like this can sound rude in English.Usually in English polite questions are longer and include extra language such as Could you pleas….or Can I ask```?It sounds more polite to say,Peter,Could you pleasa lend me your pen?Sometimes we might even need to spend some time leading in to a question or request,for example,if you stop a stranger in the street,we might first say,Excuse me,I wonder if you can help me or I’m sorry to truble you but,before asking them for help.
It might seem that speaking politely is more difficutew than being direct,and in a way this may be true.However,in order not to offend people,learning about language eiquette is just as better ai English,or any other language you wish to speak.