很乐意参与讨论妹子提出的这个问题。
1. 如你所查到的资料所说,RSVP是个缩写词语,来自法语,意为‘respond if you please’, 即敬请回复。
2. 这个短语原本用于正式的邀请,例如婚礼的请柬。一般会附带responding card(回复卡). 上面有Yes 和No 两个选项,你只要选择一项(也可以自己写,更详细或者更具体),然后寄回去就可以了。这是RSVP的传统也是主要的用法。
3. 由于经常使用,RSVP的用法也渐渐扩大了,也不那么“老实”了。
1) 作为动词用了:Vi. (to)/ Vt. ( sb./sth.) How to RSVP? (a heading)
2) 作为名词用了:Wedding RSVP (对出席婚礼的邀请的回复)
3)作为普通的用语,代替 please reply(请回复)。不一定是对邀请的回复,没有回复卡。回复方式无限制,以方便、快捷、有效为原则。
一下是两种传统的正式的RSVP的示例:
Yes:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark
accept with pleasure
the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Swanson
for Tuesday, the twenty-first of August.
--------------
No:
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Clark
regretfully decline
the kind invitation of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Swanson
for Tuesday, the twenty-first of August.
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Sample Baby Shower RSVP
No:
Dear Mrs. Hollingsworth,
I regret that I am unable to attend the baby shower you are hosting for my cousin Anna Heyworth on August 14, 2012. Our nephew graduates from college the same day, and we will be out of town attending the ceremony. I see from the invitation that Anna is registered at a local baby store. I will contact the store to select a gift and have it shipped to your home. I hope you won’t mind keeping it until the date of the baby shower. Thank you for the invitation. I hope you all have a wonderful time honoring Anna and her little bundle of joy.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Myers
--------------
Yes:
Dear Mrs. Hollingsworth,
We have received and thank you for your invitation to attend Anna’s baby shower. We would be happy to attend! I also think your idea of creating a baby scrapbook for them is a truly wonderful one, and, as requested, I’ve included a few photos of Anna that I was able to locate. Thank you for inviting us to celebrate this special day with all of you.
Sincerely,
Kelly Peterson