John: Hello, welcome to Real English from BBC Learning¹ English. I’m John.

Helen: 嗨，我是 Helen.

John: Today, we’re going to look at words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary.

Helen: 地道英语和大家一起学习现代英式英语中经常出现的流行词汇和实用表达。那 John，今天你给我们带来的新词是什么呢？

John: Today’s word is – whatever!

Helen: Whatever 不管什么。这个词我们都知道，好像不是一个新词吧，是不是现在它又有什么新的意思了？ Is 'whatever' being used in a new way, John?

John: Yes it is. If you finish a sentence with 'whatever' and say it in that way, then you are dismissing² someone, you are showing disinterest in them.

Helen: I see. 你是说如果在说 whatever 这个词的时候用了一种特别的语调的话，那么意思就是说随你便，不管我的事儿。对别人带有轻视，没兴趣的感觉 dismissive.

John: Listen to this example.

Insert

A: Hey, let’s go to the cinema tonight. Or maybe the theatre. Or what about the museum?

B: Yeah, whatever.

A: You don’t sound very interested.

B: Whatever.

Helen: 大家留意到了吗，虽然 whatever 是一个常用词，只要你说的语调改变了，带着那种无所谓的感觉，这个意思就完全不一样了。Say it again John.

John: Whatever.

Helen: 再说一遍。

John: Whatever.

Helen: 关键就是在发音! 记住了，这个词现在特别流行。

John: You’ve been listening to Real English from BBC Learning English. Join us next time. Whatever.

Helen: 我们下次节目再会。