Hani worries that Basim disliked a gathering because he left before dinner. Basim explains his prior arrangement and reassures his host.
01Read the Arabic conversation
تَوْضِيحُ سَبَبِ الْمُغَادَرَةِ الْمُبَكِّرَةِ
هَانِئٌ: غَادَرْتَ اللِّقَاءَ أَمْسِ قَبْلَ الْعَشَاءِ، وَقَلِقْتُ قَلِيلًا. أَكُنْتَ مُنْزَعِجًا مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَمْ كُنْتَ مُسْتَعْجِلًا؟
بَاسِمٌ: كُنْتُ مُسْتَعْجِلًا فَقَطْ. اِسْتَمْتَعْتُ بِاللِّقَاءِ، لَكِنْ كَانَ عِنْدِي مَوْعِدٌ سَابِقٌ لَمْ أُخْبِرْكَ بِهِ.
هَانِئٌ: لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْرِفُ ذَلِكَ. رَأَيْتُكَ تَنْظُرُ إِلَى هَاتِفِكَ، فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّ الْجَلْسَةَ لَمْ تُعْجِبْكَ.
بَاسِمٌ: كُنْتُ أَنْتَظِرُ رَسَائِلَ أَخِي، لِأَنَّ قِطَارَهُ يَصِلُ فِي الثَّامِنَةِ. وَعَدْتُهُ أَنْ أَلْقَاهُ فِي الْمَحَطَّةِ.
هَانِئٌ: إِذَنْ، لِهَذَا خَرَجْتَ فِي السَّابِعَةِ وَالنِّصْفِ؟ الْمَحَطَّةُ بَعِيدَةٌ قَلِيلًا عَنْ بَيْتِي.
بَاسِمٌ: نَعَمْ، أَرَدْتُ الْوُصُولَ قَبْلَ الْقِطَارِ. وَكَانَ أَخِي يَسْأَلُنِي عَنْ مَكَانِ لِقَائِنَا عِنْدَ الْمَحَطَّةِ.
هَانِئٌ: فَهِمْتُ سَبَبَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى الْهَاتِفِ. لَكِنْ لِمَاذَا لَمْ تَذْكُرِ الْمَوْعِدَ عِنْدَ وُصُولِكَ؟
بَاسِمٌ: كُنْتُ أَنْوِي ذَلِكَ، ثُمَّ اِنْشَغَلْتُ بِالتَّحِيَّةِ وَالْحَدِيثِ وَنَسِيتُ. كَانَ مِنَ الْأَفْضَلِ أَنْ أُوَضِّحَ الْأَمْرَ.
هَانِئٌ: وَقُلْتَ عِنْدَ الْبَابِ إِنَّكَ سَتَذْهَبُ فَقَطْ. لِذَلِكَ تَسَاءَلْتُ إِنْ كُنْتُ قَدْ أَزْعَجْتُكَ.
بَاسِمٌ: آسِفٌ عَلَى الْوَدَاعِ السَّرِيعِ. لَمْ يَكُنْ لِخُرُوجِي عِلَاقَةٌ بِكَ أَوْ بِالضُّيُوفِ؛ كُنْتُ أُرَاقِبُ الْوَقْتَ.
هَانِئٌ: أَرْتَاحُ لِسَمَاعِ ذَلِكَ. كُنْتُ أُرِيدُ أَنْ يَشْعُرَ كُلُّ ضَيْفٍ بِالرَّاحَةِ.
بَاسِمٌ: وَهَذَا مَا شَعَرْتُ بِهِ. أَعْجَبَنِي حَدِيثُنَا عَنِ الْكِتَابِ الْجَدِيدِ، وَاسْتَمْتَعْتُ بِقِصَّتِكَ عَنِ الْمَكْتَبَةِ.
هَانِئٌ: أَتَذَكَّرُ ضَحِكَكَ عِنْدَمَا رَوَيْتُهَا. رُبَّمَا رَكَّزْتُ عَلَى خُرُوجِكَ وَنَسِيتُ بَقِيَّةَ التَّفَاصِيلِ.
بَاسِمٌ: شَرِبْنَا الشَّايَ وَتَحَدَّثْنَا بِسُرُورٍ. كَانَ وَقْتِي قَصِيرًا، لَكِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَعْنِي أَنَّ اللِّقَاءَ لَمْ يُعْجِبْنِي.
هَانِئٌ: صَحِيحٌ. كُنْتُ أَتَوَقَّعُ بَقَاءَكَ لِلْعَشَاءِ وَأَعْدَدْتُ الطَّعَامَ، لِذَلِكَ فَاجَأَنِي رَحِيلُكَ.
بَاسِمٌ: أَعْتَذِرُ عَنْ عَدَمِ إِخْبَارِكَ مُسْبَقًا. أَعْرِفُ أَنَّ عَدَدَ الضُّيُوفِ مُهِمٌّ عِنْدَ تَحْضِيرِ الْعَشَاءِ.
هَانِئٌ: لَا بَأْسَ. فِي الْمَرَّةِ الْقَادِمَةِ، أَخْبِرْنِي بِوَقْتِ مُغَادَرَتِكَ حَتَّى أُرَتِّبَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى هَذَا الْأَسَاسِ.
بَاسِمٌ: بِالتَّأْكِيدِ، سَأَذْكُرُ أَيَّ مَوْعِدٍ آخَرَ قَبْلَ قَبُولِ الدَّعْوَةِ، حَتَّى تَعْرِفَ مُدَّةَ بَقَائِي.
هَانِئٌ: وَأَنَا سَأَسْأَلُكَ مُبَاشَرَةً إِذَا لَمْ أَفْهَمْ شَيْئًا. الْحَدِيثُ الْقَصِيرُ أَزَالَ قَلَقِي الْيَوْمَ.
بَاسِمٌ: شُكْرًا لِسُؤَالِكَ. لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ يُفْهَمَ اِسْتِعْجَالِي خَطَأً، وَسَأُوَضِّحُ سَبَبَهُ.
Show English translationHide English translation
Hani: You left the gathering yesterday before dinner, and I was a little worried. Were you upset about something or in a hurry?
Basim: I was simply in a hurry. I enjoyed the gathering, but I had a prior arrangement I had not told you about.
Hani: I did not know that. I saw you checking your phone and thought you did not like the gathering.
Basim: I was waiting for my brother’s messages because his train arrived at eight. I had promised to meet him at the station.
Hani: So that is why you left at half past seven? The station is a little far from my house.
Basim: Yes, I wanted to arrive before the train. My brother was asking where we would meet at the station.
Hani: I understand why you were checking your phone. But why did you not mention the arrangement when you arrived?
Basim: I meant to, then became busy with greetings and conversation and forgot. It would have been better to explain.
Hani: At the door, you only said you were leaving. So I wondered whether I had upset you.
Basim: Sorry for the quick goodbye. My departure had nothing to do with you or the guests; I was watching the time.
Hani: I am relieved to hear that. I wanted every guest to feel comfortable.
Basim: That is how I felt. I liked our discussion of the new book and enjoyed your story about the library.
Hani: I remember your laughter when I told it. Perhaps I focused on your departure and forgot the other details.
Basim: We drank tea and talked happily. My time was short, but that does not mean I disliked the gathering.
Hani: True. I expected you to stay for dinner and prepared food, so your departure surprised me.
Basim: I apologise for not telling you in advance. I know the number of guests matters when preparing dinner.
Hani: No problem. Next time, tell me when you will leave so I can plan the food accordingly.
Basim: Of course. I will mention any other commitment before accepting the invitation, so you know how long I can stay.
Hani: And I will ask you directly if I do not understand something. This short conversation has eased my worry today.
Basim: Thank you for asking. I do not want my hurry to be misunderstood, and I will explain the reason.
02Useful words and expressions
| Arabic in the conversation | Meaning here |
|---|---|
| مُسْتَعْجِلًا | in a hurry |
| مَوْعِدٌ سَابِقٌ | a prior arrangement |
| أَنْ أَلْقَاهُ | to meet him |
| كُنْتُ أَنْوِي | I intended |
| الْوَدَاعِ السَّرِيعِ | the quick goodbye |
| أُرَاقِبُ الْوَقْتَ | I was watching the time |
| بِسُرُورٍ | happily |
| مُسْبَقًا | in advance |
| قَبُولِ الدَّعْوَةِ | accepting the invitation |
| أَزَالَ قَلَقِي | eased my worry |
03Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Look back at the Arabic conversation for evidence. Open the English question support or a hint when you need help.
What to remember
- Explain the reason for a misunderstood action and acknowledge missing information.
- Reassure the listener with specific positive details and agree to communicate earlier next time.
Explore the Arabic in this conversation
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