老外想聊的100个英语口语话题 53 餐桌文化
dialogue 1
Liu: (having lunch with Joseph) have you ever been invited to a Chinese feast?
你吃过午餐吗?
Joesph:sure. Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality.
当然了,北京人的热情好客是出了名的.
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?
你觉得跟一桌中国人吃饭是不是很不一样?跟你在你自己的国家吃饭有哪些不同呢?
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,你看起来用筷子用的很熟练嘛.
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.
当然了,怎么着我也在这里呆了2年了.我们老外庸官中式餐具倒也不是什么难事,但是在中国人的餐桌上,我经常感觉到无所适从.
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!
不错,餐桌上的礼仪.吃饭时,有很多规矩,我们不说,老外们就不知道.其中有一点,在中国早已司空见惯,可是对于老外来说,有点让人不舒服,甚至有点粗暴无礼.喂喂喂,老兄,注意你的筷子!直插在米饭里可不好!
J: anything strang about that?
这个有什么不对吗?
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.
也许你应该把它们平放在碗或者盘子上.要不然它们看上去就像2根香烛,不吉利,在座的所有人都会不高兴的.
J: oh, sorry! There's a long story even with a mere pair of sticks.
对不起,对不起!没想到连一双筷子都有这么多奥秘.
dialogue 2
L: the last thing to be ignored at a Chinese dinner table is to keep modest.
在中国吃饭,千万不要忘记保持谦虚礼让.
J: does that suggest diners avoid speaking much? The same is true in the West.
你是说,吃饭时最好别说太多的话?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,绝非如此.相反,如果饭桌上你积极参与谈话,别人会觉得你是一个善于交际,人缘很好的人.但是千万要注意你说话的内容,如果有老人在,最好多说些吉祥,开心的话,或者,干脆让他说,你在一旁装出一副很聆听的样子.
J: you mean, keeping a low profile in the presence of the old? That goes in like with Confucius' preachings, right?
哦,也就是说,在老人面前要恭敬低调.这与孔夫子的教导一致,对吧?
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.
没错.对老人要表示尊敬.通常,宴会开始时,年轻的人要向在座的老人一一打招呼.其他人必须等最德高望重的客人宣布宴会开始并夹了一筷子,才可以开始吃.敬酒的时候,同时也要先敬这些人.
J: any other rules to observe in order to keep modest?
保持恭谦,还有没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.
多着呢.别吃得太快了.人们往往要跟其他人吃饭的进度保持一致.各个盘子都应该留下一点别吃完.
J: is it because that would give the host the impression that the food was insufficient?
这是不是因为,这样会让主人觉得菜给的不够吃啊?
L: haha, I'm afraid it's simply because no one wishes to be too noticeable by finishing off the plate.
哈哈,我倒是觉得是因为不管是谁扫光一盘菜,都会显得太显眼了.
