老外想聊的100個英語口語話題 53 餐桌文化

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　　dialogue 1

　　Liu: (having lunch with Joseph) have you ever been invited to a Chinese feast?

　　你吃過午餐嗎?

　　Joesph:sure. Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality.

　　當然了,北京人的熱情好客是出了名的.

　　L: as far as you could see, is dining at a Chinese table a distinct experience? To what extent does it differ from that in your homeland?

　　你覺得跟一桌中國人吃飯是不是很不一樣?跟你在你自己的國家吃飯有哪些不同呢?

　　J: to begin with, I have to use chopsticks.

　　首先,我得改用筷子.

　　L: but you look quite proficient in using them now.

　　可是,你看起來用筷子用的很熟練嘛.

　　J: certainly. After all, I've been here for two years. It's not much uphill work for a foreigner to get used to Chinese dinner utensils. Though, I do feel hazy about how to behave appropriately at a Chinese dinner table.

　　當然了,怎么著我也在這里呆了2年了.我們老外庸官中式餐具倒也不是什么難事,但是在中國人的餐桌上,我經(jīng)常感覺到無所適從.

　　L: yes, table etiquette. There are a multitude of rules that foreigners might never know until they were told. Some practices even appear somewhat awkward or rude to Westerners, while they are the norm in China. Hey, your chopsticks, old silly! You should not stab them vertically into the rice bow!

　　不錯,餐桌上的禮儀.吃飯時,有很多規(guī)矩,我們不說,老外們就不知道.其中有一點,在中國早已司空見慣,可是對于老外來說,有點讓人不舒服,甚至有點粗暴無禮.喂喂喂,老兄,注意你的筷子!直插在米飯里可不好!

　　J: anything strang about that?

　　這個有什么不對嗎?

　　L: maybe you should have palced them horizontally over your bowl or plate. They resemble two incense sticks used at sacrifices. It's very inauspicious, and might enrage all present.

　　也許你應(yīng)該把它們平放在碗或者盤子上.要不然它們看上去就像2根香燭,不吉利,在座的所有人都會不高興的.

　　J: oh, sorry! There's a long story even with a mere pair of sticks.

　　對不起,對不起!沒想到連一雙筷子都有這么多奧秘.

　　dialogue 2

　　L: the last thing to be ignored at a Chinese dinner table is to keep modest.

　　在中國吃飯,千萬不要忘記保持謙虛禮讓.

　　J: does that suggest diners avoid speaking much? The same is true in the West.

　　你是說,吃飯時最好別說太多的話?在西方也是如此嘛.

　　L: no, alsolutely not! On the contrary, you'll be considered a well-connected, sociable man, if you keep involved in the conversation all the time. But always pay attention to what you say. If the table has a senior guest, say something as upbeat and cheerful as possible. Or maybe, you may give the floor to him and keep listening as if very interested.

　　不,絕非如此.相反,如果飯桌上你積極參與談話,別人會覺得你是一個善于交際,人緣很好的人.但是千萬要注意你說話的內(nèi)容,如果有老人在,最好多說些吉祥,開心的話,或者,干脆讓他說,你在一旁裝出一副很聆聽的樣子.

　　J: you mean, keeping a low profile in the presence of the old? That goes in like with Confucius' preachings, right?

　　哦,也就是說,在老人面前要恭敬低調(diào).這與孔夫子的教導(dǎo)一致,對吧?

　　L: correct. Show respect for the older people. Conventionally, before the meal starts, the younger members are supposed to address each one of the elderly members of the table one by one. Others are kept in waiting until the most venerable guest peoclaim the beginning of the meal and takes the first bite. Toasts also go to these men first before people can toast to each other.

　　沒錯.對老人要表示尊敬.通常,宴會開始時,年輕的人要向在座的老人一一打招呼.其他人必須等最德高望重的客人宣布宴會開始并夾了一筷子,才可以開始吃.敬酒的時候,同時也要先敬這些人.

　　J: any other rules to observe in order to keep modest?

　　保持恭謙,還有沒有其它要注意的地方?

　　L: yes, plenty of them. Don't eat fast! People usually keep their dining pace accorded with others. And all the dishes should not be eaten up completely.

　　多著呢.別吃得太快了.人們往往要跟其他人吃飯的進度保持一致.各個盤子都應(yīng)該留下一點別吃完.

　　J: is it because that would give the host the impression that the food was insufficient?

　　這是不是因為,這樣會讓主人覺得菜給的不夠吃啊?

　　L: haha, I'm afraid it's simply because no one wishes to be too noticeable by finishing off the plate.

　　哈哈,我倒是覺得是因為不管是誰掃光一盤菜,都會顯得太顯眼了.