同事约你周五下班喝一杯，你不想去，可以说：I'd love to, but I've already got plans on Friday. Maybe next time?
这一句有三个部分：先接住（I'd love to），给一个简短的理由（I've already got plans），再给一个替代方案（Maybe next time?）。大部分场合的委婉拒绝都是这个结构，区别只在于每一部分换什么词。
先改掉这 6 句
- I don't want. ——不完整，语气也像小孩闹脾气。朋友间说 I think I'll pass, thanks. 或 I'll sit this one out.
- No, I can't. ——光一个 No 太硬，也没理由。说 I wish I could, but I'm working that day.
- Sorry, I have no time. ——意思对，但听起来像“我没空理你”。说 Sorry, I'm a bit tied up right now. 或 I'm swamped this week.
- It's not convenient for me. ——“不方便”直译，很生硬。约时间说 That doesn't really work for me.
- I will consider it. ——中文“我考虑一下”常常就是拒绝，英语里对方会当你真的在考虑，过两天来问结果。不想要就说 Thanks, but I'll pass.
- Maybe. / I'll try. ——对方会按“你可能来”来安排。确定不去，就说 I don't think I can make it, sorry.
三步结构：接住、理由、替代
第一步，接住。先回应对方的好意，再说不：
- Thanks for asking.
- That sounds fun.
- I'd love to, but…
- I wish I could, but…
- I appreciate you thinking of me.
第二步，给理由。简短、真实就行。英语里 I've got plans 或 I've got something on that night 这样的模糊理由很常见，对方一般不会追问具体是什么。
- I've got something on that night.
- I'm trying to save money this month.
- I've got an early start tomorrow.
- I'm on a deadline.
第三步，给替代方案（可选）。只在你真的愿意时才给，否则对方会当真来约：
- How about next week instead?
- I can't do Friday, but I'm free on Saturday.
- I can't take it on today, but I could look at it Monday.
- Maybe ask Lisa? She knows more about this than I do.
三步不一定每次都说全。推销电话只需要一句 No, thanks.；朋友的邀请，接住加理由就够了。
拒绝邀请：聚餐、喝酒、派对
- I'd love to, but I'm completely wiped out. Rain check? ——rain check 是“改天再约”，朋友间很常用。
- Thanks for the invite! I can't make it this time, but have fun.
- That sounds great, but I've got a family thing that day.
- I think I'll pass tonight. I need an early night.
A: A few of us are going for drinks after work. Want to come?
B: Ah, I wish I could, but I promised my mum I'd call her tonight. Are you guys going again next week?
A: Probably Thursday.
B: Count me in for Thursday, then.
被劝酒、劝菜的时候，说 I'm good, thanks. 或 No more for me, thanks. I'm driving. 吃饱了可以说 I couldn't eat another bite. It was delicious, though.
同事请你帮忙
- I'd like to help, but I'm on a deadline for the report. Could it wait till tomorrow?
- I'm not the best person for this. Maybe ask Tom? He set up the system.
- I can give you fifteen minutes now, but then I have to jump on a call.
- I'm a bit swamped today. Can I get back to you this afternoon?
第三句只拒绝了一半：能帮一点，但划了时间。很多时候这比完全拒绝更好开口。
上级让你加班或接新活
直接说 No, I can't 风险太大。常见做法是说明现在手上的事，请对方帮你排优先级：
- I can't stay late tonight. I have a family commitment. I could come in early tomorrow and finish it then.
- I've got a lot on my plate right now. If I take this on, the client report might slip. Which one should I prioritize?
- I'd be happy to help with this, but I won't be able to start until Thursday. Would that work?
Manager: Could you put together the slides for Monday's meeting?
You: I'd be happy to, but I'm still finishing the budget review, and that's due Friday. If the slides are more urgent, I can push the review to next week. Which would you prefer?
你没有说“不”，但把“做不了两件”说清楚了，决定权交回给对方。
推销、店员、街头拉人
这类场合不需要理由，越短越好：
- No, thanks.
- I'm just looking, thanks. ——店员问 Can I help you? 时用。
- Thanks, but I'm all set. ——表示“我都弄好了，不需要”。
- I'm not interested, thanks.
- 电话推销：I'm not interested. Please take me off your list.
对方继续推，就把同一句再说一遍，不用加解释。理由给得越多，对方越有地方接着劝。
中文式含糊拒绝，在英语里可能被当成答应
中文里“我考虑一下”“再说吧”“看情况”“我尽量”，很多时候双方都明白是拒绝。直译成英语，对方听到的是字面意思：
- I'll think about it. ——对方会等你的答复，可能过几天来问。
- Let me see. ——听起来像还在查时间。
- I'll try to come. ——对方可能把你算进人数。
真想拒绝，就用上面的结构说清楚，I don't think I can make it 已经足够客气。如果确实需要时间想，就给一个具体的回复时间，比如 Can I get back to you by Friday?，然后到时候真的回复。
还有一个容易反过来的：别人问 Would you mind helping me with this?，愿意帮忙要说 Not at all. 或 No, go ahead.。回答 Yes 等于说“我介意”。
用像话练你自己的拒绝
把你最近真想拒绝、又不知道怎么开口的那件事，在像话里长按直接说中文，比如「我很想去，但那天要加班，下次吧」，结果卡会给出母语者的说法。跟读两遍，下次真遇到就能直接说出来。
更多“语法没错但听着冲”的句子，见礼貌英语：语法没错但听着冲的客气话；反过来听懂对方的客气拒绝，见老外客气话的潜台词。
常见问题
拒绝的时候一定要给理由吗？
不一定。推销、店员这类场合不用给。朋友和同事之间给一个简短的就够了，I've got plans 这种模糊理由很常见。编一个很详细的理由反而容易被追问。
I'd love to, but… 会不会显得假？
这是很常用的客气拒绝开头，母语者听了会理解成“谢谢你邀请，但我去不了”。如果你确实不太想去，用 Thanks for asking, but… 也可以，语气更平。
像话口语（MirrorSay）是一款免费的英语口语练习 App：你说一句（说中文也行），它告诉你母语者会怎么说，再带你跟读。无需注册，语音优先在手机本地处理。