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拜訪客戶時,客戶問Tony新產品何時開始銷售:"When will this product be released to the market?"(這個產品何時上市?)Tony:"It is already on the shelf."

沒想到客戶露出訝異的眼神,天哪,發生什麼事了!原來"On the shelf"竟會變成擱置或無效。先來看shelf這個字。

 
 

shelf當名詞是「架子」或是任何突出來的東西,當動詞時則有「排放在架上」、「擱置」的意思:

I've had to shelve my plans to buy a new car,because I can't afford it at the moment.(我得緩一緩買車的計畫,現階段資金沒那麼充裕。)

On the shelf是postponed,延遲擱置的意思:

These proposals have been on the shelf from six months to a year.(這些提案已經擱在一旁六個月了)

On the shelf也有not socially active閒置,甚至有結婚無望的意思。

In those days,if you hadn't married by the time you were 30, you were definitely on the shelf.(在舊時代裡,如果到30歲不婚,幾乎就沒希望結婚了。)

因此"It is already on the shelf"真的容易會錯意:

(你以為)這個產品已經上架了。

(其實是)這個產品已經延遲了。

「上架」怎麼說

「上架」的英文不應當用中文直接翻譯,請用:

This product has already hit the store shelves.(這個產品已經開始販售。)

This product is launched already.(這個產品已經發表。)

This product is on the market.(這個產品已經上市了。)

「下架」怎麼說

同樣的,「下架」的英文也不能這樣說:

This product will go off the shelf.

(你以為)這個產品會下架。

(其實是)這個產品會有現貨。

"off the shelf"是「現成的」而不是「客製化的」,經常用在軟體銷售:

You can purchase off-the-shelf software or have it customized to suit your needs.(你可以購買現成的產品,或是我們可以依照你的需求提供客製化服務。)

下架正確的表達方式應該是:

This product will no longer be sold.(這個產品將會被停售。)

This product line will be discontinued.(這個產品現將會停止。)

文章轉自 {商業週刊}

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