If you suspect someone isn't being totally honest, listen carefully to what they're saying and how - you might spot one of these four signs.

如果你怀疑某人并没有完全在说实话，请小心留意其说话内容和方式——你可能会发现以下四种迹象之一。

What was the last lie you told? If your answer is along the lines of 'so long ago, I can't remember', that's most likely a big fib - because we lie up to 200 times a day!

你上一次说了什么谎？如果你的回答是类似“太久啦，我不记得了”，这可能就是个谎言——因为我们每天说谎最多可达200次！

This isn't to say you're a shady Machiavellian¹ character. Often the lies we tell are along the lines of "I'm fine" when someone asks how you are.

这并不是说你是个阴暗的不择手段的人物。很多时候我们说的谎是类似有人问你过得怎么样，你回答“挺好的”这种。

Our motivation isn't necessarily to deceive or cover up our tracks. According to Lifehacker , we lie predominantly because "we want to connect ourselves to who we think we should be."

我们的动机并不一定是欺骗或掩盖自己的行为。根据生活类科技博客“生活骇客”（Lifehacker）的说法，我们说谎主要因为“想把真实的自己和我们认为应当成为的自己联系起来”。

But if we're churning out the lies, it means others are too. And while some are innocuous and will have no impact on our life, there's a chance some will.

但如果我们自己大量撒谎，就表示别人也在这么做。且尽管有些谎言无伤大雅，对生活也毫无影响，有些却不然。

Short of forcing someone to take a polygraph test, there are four indicators³.

虽然不能强制别人做测谎测试，但有四种说谎迹象。

So, how to spot a liar⁴?

那么，怎样辨别说谎者呢？

1. Third person

1. 第三人称

Someone who's lying will try to keep the self-references to a bare minimum.

说谎者会试图将自我指涉减到最低。

They use the third-person as a means of distancing themselves from the deception⁵.

他们运用第三人称，使自己看起来没有在欺骗别人。

So, for example, instead of saying "I didn't do it" they might say "that didn't happen".

比如他们可能说“那并没有发生”，而不是“我没有做那件事”。

2. Being negative

2. 消极表述

Listen out for the sort of language someone you suspect is lying is using.

仔细听你怀疑在说谎的人使用的语言类型。

If they're using negative language, that's a good indicator² as liars⁶ express a lot of negativity because they subconsciously⁷ feel bad about lying.

如果他们在使用消极的语言，就是很好的暗示。说谎者常用许多消极表达，因为潜意识里他们对撒谎行为感到惭愧。

3. Keeping it simple

3. 简单化表述

Because it's difficult for liars to come up with a complex story on the spot, they often offer simplified stories, with no nuance⁸.

因为对说谎者而言，现场编出复杂故事挺困难的，他们会经常讲些缺乏细节的简单化故事。

Watch out for generalised and over-simplified terms explanations.

请留意概括的、过分简单的解释说明。

4. Overly-complex phrasing

4. 过分复杂的措辞

But, somewhat confusingly, although their stories, excuses and explanations are simple, the phrases they use tend to waffle and go on a bit.

然而，有些令人不解的是，尽管说谎者的故事、借口或解释很简单，他们使用的措辞却往往含混又有些冗长。

Keep and ear out for complex and disjointed sentences with unnecessary detail - it's a good sign they're telling porkies.

请密切注意复杂、杂乱又带有不必要细节的句子——这是他们在说谎的迹象。