4

　　口音是个问题

　　WeChat does have a function to automatically convert audio messages into text messages if you hold a bubble down. But this only works in the simplified Chinese version of the WeChat app.

　　虽说微信有将语音信息自动转化为文字的功能(长按语音信息即可选择)，但这仅适用于简体中文版本的微信应用。

　　And the conversion may not be accurate if the sender speaks a Chinese dialect or has a strong accent.

　　而且，如果发送者讲的是方言或口音较重，都会影响文字转换的准确性。

　　5

　　耗流量

　　Moreover, WeChat does not support pausing in the middle of playing a voice message or scrubbing the audio to jump to another point in time.

　　此外，微信并不支持在播放一段语音信息时停顿或快进。

　　If you miss one important word, you must replay the whole message from the very beginning.

　　如果你听漏了一个重要的词，就只能从头播放整段信息。

　　Receiving voice messages also takes up more data, which could incur costs if the recipient doesn’t have wifi.

　　接收语音信息也会耗费更多流量，如果没有WIFI，就会产生更多流量费用。

　　incur：招致;引发

　　6

　　接收者的内心是崩溃的

　　Sending someone a voice message—instead of typing it out—tells them: “I’m obviously busier and more important than you.”

　　向某人发送一段语音，而不是把文字打出来，无异于向对方宣告：“我显然比你更忙也比你更重要。”

　　The sender saves time—at the recipient’s expense.

　　发送者节省了时间，却让接收者付出代价。

　　Thus it is almost always used in asymmetric relationships: when a boss is communicating a directive to a subordinate, for example.

　　因此语音信息一般只用于不对等的关系中，比如，当老板向下属下达指令时。

　　asymmetric [ˌæsɪˈmɛtrɪk]：不对称的

　　综上所述：

　　Do not send voice messages on WeChat in a professional situation unless you are communicating with people who clearly consider you to be their boss.

　　在职场中不要用微信发送语音信息，除非和你交流的人把你当成领导。

　　Even if you are sending a very long message, type it out — and type it in one long message instead of in multiple short sentences.

　　即使你发送的是一条超长的信息，也请打成文字，而且最好是一条长信息而非多个短句。

　　This reduces the number of times the recipient’s phone vibrates and saves them battery life.

　　这样可以减少对方手机震动的次数，节省电池电量。

　　If you have to send voice messages for special reasons (e.g., you are driving and the message is urgent, or if your fingers are broken and you cannot type), begin with an apology and communicate that you have no other choice.

　　如果你出于特殊原因不得不发语音信息(比如正在开车而要说的事很紧急，或者你的手指断了无法打字)，你得先道个歉并告诉对方你实在没办法。

　　总而言之，尽管微信上的麦克风按钮很诱人，还是老老实实打字吧 ：)