7
01. 整段故事
When it comes to someone apologizing to me, the first thing that comes to mind is an experience with a naughty child. This kid was a cousin of mine. One day, his mom brought him to our house for a visit. While his mom and my mom were busy chatting, I was left to play with him.
At that time, we had a very friendly pet bird at home that would stand on your hand and play. The kid was really interested, so I let the bird perch on my hand for him. At first, he just stroked it gently, and I thought they were getting along well. So I went to the kitchen to grab him a snack.
But no sooner had I left than I heard the bird let out a terrified scream. I rushed back and saw the kid clutching my bird tightly. I quickly told him to let go, which luckily saved the bird from getting hurt. I was absolutely livid, thinking he’d done it on purpose to scare the bird.
But then he looked up at me with big, teary eyes and said he hadn’t meant to hurt it—he’d just got excited and forgot how fragile the bird was. He sincerely apologized and promised never to do it again. Looking at him, I could tell he really felt bad, so I forgave him. Still, it’s a very memorable experience for me.
2. 6段观点
1. I don’t remember which scientific study I read it in, but women are indeed more emotionally sensitive than men. One study seemed to show that mothers are significantly more sensitive to their children’s emotions than fathers. This might be because women are inherently more emotional beings, thus more compassionate and empathetic.
2. I don't think it's entirely like that. I don't deny that some "sorry"s are sincere—they truly express regret and apology, hoping to be forgiven. But there are also "sorry"s that are just a formal courtesy. In reality, the speaker doesn't truly think they did wrong, and may not even have the intention to change; they just say it out loud.
3. I think people often apologize when they do something impolite. For example, being late is the most common one. If you're late, it's best to first apologize to everyone and then briefly explain the reason—this is a polite thing to do. Another occasion is during conversations. When people accidentally interrupt others or say something wrong, they also often need to apologize; it's a basic social etiquette.
4. Yes, exactly. In China, people attach great importance to politeness, so they often say "sorry" during communication. For example, in daily conversations, if we accidentally say something wrong or interrupt others, we should say "sorry". Or in daily interactions, if we accidentally step on someone's foot, we also need to apologize. Sometimes, even when we want someone to make way for us on the street, we will first say "sorry" and then ask, "Could you let me pass, please?"
5. I think it's absolutely necessary. If you've done something wrong, it usually means you've infringed upon others' interests or offended them. In such cases, even if you don't make amends, you should at least offer an apology—it's the most basic courtesy. If you hurt someone and don't apologize, then such a society must be disharmonious and not beautiful.
6. I think there are many complex reasons behind this. First, they are afraid of losing face. They think apologizing will make them seem inferior and hurt their self-esteem. Second, some people simply don't think they did anything wrong, so they won't apologize. Third, because some people are afraid of taking responsibility—apologizing is equivalent to admitting their mistake, which means they have to pay for it, and they don't want to compensate.
