可以啊 不不 工作时间我不喝酒的
“Sure. No, I don't drink during work hours.”
THE DIALOGUE REEL
她就爱开玩笑 来律师 我们要不要来点酒
“She was just kidding. Mr. Lai, should we get some drinks?”
可以啊 不不 工作 时间 我不喝酒的
“Sure. No, I don't drink during work hours.”
那来律师 你不工作的时候我请你喝酒
“Well then, I'll buy you drinks when you're off work.”
“I need to stay professional and keep my guard up, so I cannot drink right now.”
In Chinese business dining culture, outright refusing a drink can cause loss of face, so professionals often appeal to objective constraints like work rules or driving.
LEARNING CHUNKS & PARTICLES
working hours / during work
Commonly used to invoke professional protocol as a neutral, non-offensive reason to refuse a request.
I don't drink (as a rule/principle)
Adding '的' at the end emphasizes an ongoing habit, policy, or inherent rule rather than a temporary state.
Softens the initial tentative agreement before the speaker self-corrects.
Emphasizes the established characteristic or rule of not drinking on duty.
