您好，想請教一下「大概的日期」怎麼說？我知道英文裡有ballpark figure，那可以代換成ballpark date嗎？另外也有看過approximate date或rough date等，不知道道地的英文該怎麼說？

(對話假設)

A: 我明年初要回美國，但還沒訂到機票，所以不知道何時回去。

B: 可以給我一個大概的日期嗎？這樣我可以事先幫你排班。

感謝！

Ballpark figure is a fixed eastern american slang, i assume you are talking to a american, if not, please don't use it, i'm from Los Angeles, but i've been living in Boston for a long time, so i know this, but back in LA, i believe it is not very common. BTW i suggest you to use approximate date, which sounds better and more native when you actually knows how to use the word correctly, rough date is just some word that more been used in like marking around with people, but not to be used in some serious place, you can still use it, i mean, but just might need to watch the conditions that you were in. So yeah, that is all i have to say, hopefully this will help.

用 approximate date 就好了，例如:Please give me an approximate date you'll be back.但還不如用 when，例如:Please tell me when you'll be back.

卢锦骅 Thanks for the insightful comment.

中英物語 / 中翻英 / Chinese to English Classroom 謝謝。因為用when感覺像是要給個明確的時間。A: Please tell me when you'll be back. B: I'm not sure yet! A: OK. Could you give me an approximate date? :P

卢锦骅 Thanks for your information. :)