Being able to remember the names of the people you meet is crucial if you want to maintain good interpersonal relations at work and in your social life. Remembering names in your own language is hard enough. You will often hear English speakers saying "whatshisname" and "whatsherface" when they are struggling to remember the person in question's actual name. When English is your second language it's even harder to remember names. However, if you can retain a person's name after your first meeting they will be impressed. The following are a few tips on how to keep names in your head. These tips are based on popular career building strategies used in the U.S.A.

　　如果你想在工作中或在社会交往中维持一个良好的人际关系，那么，记住你遇到的人的姓名就变得至关重要。
在本族语中，记忆人名已经很困难了。所以，你会经常听到英语人士在努力想起要谈论的人的真名时，用到“那个谁谁谁”和“长得那样的那个人”之类的话语。如果英语是你的第二语言，记忆人名甚至变得更难。不过，若是你能在初次见面之后便记住别人的名字，他/她会对你印象深刻的。以下是一些帮你记忆人名的窍门。这些窍门是从风行于美国的职业拓展技巧中归纳出来的。

　　1) The main reason for forgetting someone's name is that you don't pay attention when being introduced. We've all done this. Just as the person tells you their name your ears and your brain shut down. When meeting someone for the first time, focus on them and make sure to listen.

　　忘记别人姓名的主要原因是，当你被引见时你没能集中注意力。我们总是这样。当别人告诉你他/她的姓名时，你就没有在听，也没有在想。当与别人初次见面时，把注意力放在他/她身上，并确保你是在听。

　　2) If you don't catch the name at first, verify it as soon as possible. Ask the person to repeat it. Of course, the sooner you do this the better. Asking your wife what her name is on your wedding night, for example, would not be good.

　　如果你第一次便没有记住别人的姓名，要尽快问清楚。请那个人重复其姓名。当然，行动得越早越好。举例来说，如若你在新婚之夜才去问你妻子的姓名，那就不好了。

　　3) This one is a classic. When a person tells you their name, picture it written across their forehead. Apparently, this method was a favourite of Roosevelt, and he never forgot names. By no means should you actually write the person's name across their forehead with a big magic marker.

　　这是一个经典的方法。当一个人告诉你他/她的姓名时，就想象着这个名字写在了他/她的脑门上。实际上，这是罗斯福（美国总统）喜欢使用的一个方法，而他从来就不会忘记别人的姓名。但你绝对不能真的就用一只大大的白板笔在他/她的脑门上写下其姓名。

　　4) Some experts say that when you hear a person's name for the first time you should imagine writing it. You can even make the action of writing it with your fingers (but discreetly unless you never want to meet them again).

　　一些专家称，当你第一次听到别人的姓名时，你应该想象着把它写下来。你甚至可以用你的手指做书写状（但是不能太夸张，除非你再也不想见到他们了）。

　　5) Another trick is to relate the name you hear to that of a famous person and make a mental picture. If you are introduced to someone called Arnold you can imagine that person as "The Terminator". If the person's name is Lewinsky you can…well, that's up to you!

　　另一个方法就是，在你听到名字时，把它跟一个名人的名字联系起来，并在心里想象着那个形象。如果你被引见给一个名叫阿诺德的人，你就可以把那个人想象成“终结者”。如果那个人叫莱温斯基，你可以……那，就随你怎么想了！

　　6) One of the surest ways to retain a person's name is to use it frequently. E.g. "Andrew, it's been nice talking to you. Hope we can meet again soon."

　　记住别人姓名的最稳妥方法之一就是反复使用这个名字。例如，“安德鲁，与你交谈很愉快。希望不久以后我们还可以见面。”

　　7) If none of the above work for you there is only one option left. Keep a file of the names of people you meet and review it routinely.

　　如果以上方法对你都不起作用，那就只剩下一个方法了。把你见到的人的姓名整理成名单，定期复习一下。

　　From time to time you will still find yourself in a situation where you meet someone and can't recall their name promptly enough. The sensible and practical thing to do would be to bite the bullet and say, "I'm terribly sorry, my memory is so bad. Your name has slipped my mind". When they tell you, respond by saying "Of course". However, if you prefer not to bite the bullet, just avoid using their name and ask someone else as soon as you get a chance.

　　可你仍会不时发现，有时候在与别人见面时，你还是不能立刻就想起他/她的名字。而此时需要做的有实际作用的明智之举就是，直截了当地说，“我真的很抱歉，我的记忆力太差了。我忘记你的名字了”。当他/她告诉你时，要回复说“对，对，对”。不过，如果你不太喜欢直截了当的方式，你就要避免提到他/她的名字，并肆机向别人询问其姓名。