chapter 4 请求延期
  邮件速览
  from: james kennedy
  to: daniel williams
  subject: a request for an extension of time
  dear daniel,
  i am writing in reply to your doubts about the delay in payment.
  first of all, i would love to offer my apology for the unpleasant delay. admittedly, it wasn't my intention that the unexpected delay might cause you trouble, but i did not receive the invoice you sent to us on june 11th. for some reason or other, it arrived four days later than anticipated. my guess is that the courier once sent the invoice somewhere else by mistake.
  we are terribly sorry for being unable to make payment as per your request due to the delayed receipt of the invoice. i hope that you will make no mistake about it. i take the liberty of requesting an extension of time and defer making payment for four days.
  i would appreciate it if you could give a positive reply at your earliest convenience.
  yours cordially,
  james
  寄件人：詹姆斯•肯尼迪
  收件人：丹尼尔•威廉姆斯
  主旨：请求延期
  亲爱的丹尼尔：
  我写这封邮件，是为了答复你对于延期付款的疑问。
  首先，我想要就不愉快的延期一事而向你道歉。无可否认，此次意外的延误也许给你带来了不便，我并非有意如此，但是，6月11日我并没有收到你寄来的发票。出于某种原因，发票送来的时间比预期的晚了4天。我猜，应该是信使误将发票投往他处了。
  因为延误了收到发票的时间，我们无法如你所要求的那样付款，十分抱歉。我希望，你不会对我们有什么误会。我冒昧地请求延长期限，将我们的付款时间延后4天。
  如果你可以尽早给予肯定的答复，我将不胜感激。
  真诚的
  詹姆斯
  1. admittedly, it wasn't my intention that the unexpected delay might cause you trouble, but i did not receive the invoice you sent to us on june 11th.
  无可否认，此次意外的延误也许给你带来了不便，我并非有意如此，但是，6月11日我并没有收到你寄来的发票。
  ★ 解析：
  admittedly, ..., but...为习惯用法，表示“诚然……但是……”；而it wasn't my intention that...也可以视为习惯用法，表示“我并非有意……”。
  ★ 套用：
  it wasn't my intention that i delayed making payments.
  我并非有意延误付款。
  it wasn't my intention that the payment was delayed for two days.
  我并非有意将付款时间延误两天。
  it wasn't my intention that there was an unpleasant delay in payments.
  我并非有意延误付款时间。
  2. for some reason or other, it arrived four days later than anticipated.
  出于某种原因，发票送来的时间比预期的晚了4天。
  ★ 解析：
  for some reason or other, ...可以视为习惯用法，表示“出于某种原因……”，相当于for one reason or other, ...。
  ★ 套用：
  for some reason or other, we have not make payments as requested.
  出于某种原因，我们尚未应约付款。
  for some reason or other, we delayed making payments.
  出于某种原因，我们延误了付款时间。
  for some reason or other, we have to postpone making payments.
  出于某种原因，我们不得不延误付款时间。
  1. i don't anticipate the unexpected delay in payment causing you trouble.
  我并不希望，此次意外的延期付款给你们带来不便之处。
  2. it's anticipated that you could give an adequate explanation for the delay in payment.
  对于付款延误一事，希望你可以给出合理的解释。
  3. you cannot expect them to approve of the unpleasant delay in delivery.
  你不能指望他们同意延期送货。
  4. against all expectations, the delivery of goods was delayed for almost a week.
  出乎意料的是，货物的运送延误了一周时间。
  5. your completed form arrived three days later than expected.
  你填好的表格比预期的晚了3天到达。
  6. i'm terribly sorry for remitting the money so late. 非常抱歉这么晚才汇款过去。
  7. the main reason is because of the shortage of money. 主要原因是资金短缺。
  8. please accept our earnest apology of the late remittance.
  请接受我们对汇款延迟而做出的诚挚歉意。
  9. we will send the remittance to you immediately. 我们会立马把款项汇给您。
  10. we are very sorry for the trouble it may cause you.
  为此给你造成的不便，我们深感抱歉。
  温馨提示
  ★ 例文写作要点：
  1. 表明写这封邮件的目的，是为了答复对方关于付款延期的疑问；
  2. 就延期付款一事向对方致歉，解释延期付款的缘由，猜测是信使误寄了发票；
  3. 再次就延期付款而道歉，希望对方不要就此产生误会，请求对方延长付款期限；
  4. 表明期待对方尽早回复。
  ★ 请求延期类e-mail综述：
  撰写请求延期类e-mail，通常要注意以下几点：
  1. 首先要写明延期付款的原因，尽量详细，不要一笔带过，以征得对方的谅解。
  2. 如有必要，还需标明是哪一笔款项，即写清楚对方提供发票的票号以及日期。
  3. 请对方相信自己一贯守信的品行，并提出具体的还款日期，以让对方放心。
  4. 最后希望对方尽快回复，并向对方表示感谢。
  5. 言辞要诚恳、真挚。
  回复请求延期类e-mail时，如果要表示同意，通常要注意以下几点：
  1. 首先对对方的理由表示遗憾和理解。
  2. 接着表明自己的态度，即同意对方的请求，允许延期付款。
  3. 最后申明，希望不会再有延期付款这种情况发生。