英语畅谈中国文化50主题English Version【完整版】

unbans and Mao’s badges, etc., and was therefore called a red sea.

A: Ironically, although there was worship of red, no one dared to wear red clothes. Everyone was in either green or blue

uniforms. That’s why westerners refer to the Chinese as blue

ants at that time.

B: I guess red clothes were somehow associated with the meaning of beauty in the red color. During those special years,

beauty was considered bourgeois. So anyone who dared to wear red would be drowned in the red sea.

13. The Importance of Chopsticks

筷子的重要性

A: In the 17th century when the British businessman heard that there were one hundred million people in China, he was

determined to go there and sell spoons. He thought even if a spoon would only sell for one penny, he would still make one

hundred million pennies. But he didn’t succeed. The Chinese people use chopsticks not spoons.

B: Some people did some research on the origin of China’s chopsticks compared to the knife and fork in the west. One

theory is that China was an agricultural society and relied on vegetables for food. Chopsticks were very convenient to those

for eating. The westerners, on the other hand, were nomads and lived on meat. The knife and fork were more practical.

Others believe that China didn’t have much industr

y and therefore people use chopsticks. The west was an industrial society,

so their eating utensils were made of metal.

A: Sounds interesting. When I first learned that the Chinese use a pair of sticks to eat with, I was curious how they would

drink soup. Just like the Indians who use their fingers to eat, do they also use their fingers to drink soup?

B: Whatever the reasons why the Chinese use chopsticks and westerners use knife and fork, it is a result of their respective

cultures. Chinese culture is developed around collectivism, which stresses communion and harmony. The western culture

emphasizes individualism. In terms of eating customs, chopsticks and knives and forks are two desperate expressions of this

cultural difference. The Chinese like to have communal meals where everybody eats out of the same bowl of food.

Chopsticks were used in order to discourage people from eating more than others. This was not only a good way to preserve

collectiveness, but also to limit individualism. It is more straightforward in the west. People eat their meals on their own,

and there’s no restriction on how to eat.

A: That sounds quite reasonable.

B: In addition, table manners are very strict during the Chinese meal. Respect has to be given to the elderly. Each time a

dish is served, everyone has to wait until the elder person starts or to cut the ribbon as it is now called. The westerners will

simply say “Help yourself” to start. The food is brought to the table all of the same time, so everybody is on the same

starting line. This lacks the warm atmosphere which prevails at the Chinese dinner.

A: This may be the reason why it is always very noisy at the Chinese dinner, but quiet in the western restaurant.

14. The Elegance of Tea- Drinking

茶的格调

A: In classical novels, if someone drinks tea out of a big cup to quench his thirst, the word used to illustrate this action is

B: Tea drinking is a very sophisticated pastime. It starts with the environment. In the past, tea drinking should take place in

a setting where

Nowadays, in order to recreate such an ambience, tea houses are always decorated with traditional paintings, calligraphy

and furniture, with a girl in traditional costume playing the gu zheng, a traditional Chinese musical instrument.

A: How about the tea sets?

B: In the old days, people used iron kettles to boil water. Tea was placed in a paper bag. Porcelain cups were used for

drinking The water came from melted snow which was collected from plum blossom trees the previous winter and stored

underground in a jar. Today people use different tea sets but the most popular ones are the pots made in Yixing. No one

collects snow any more because of pollution so people use bottled water instead.

A: Is there any difference in the tea?

B: Tea has categories: red tea, green tea, Wulong tea and Pu'er tea. The first three types of tea area processed using similar

methods but Pu'er tea uses a totaly different method. It contains a kink of fungus which is believed to be healthy. The fungus

will ferment on its own after the tea is processed. This is why expensive Pu'er tea is always quite old.

A: Is tea drinking very expensive?

B: Yes, it is a commercialized hobby now. This is different from the way ancient scholars enjoys themselves, by savouring

tea among bamboos or in the moonlight. People nowadays talk business in expensively-decorated tea houses. Ordinary

people go to the inexpensive tea houses where they can play games or simply chat with friends. It's more personal. Although

such tea houses may not look elegant, the certainly have a relaxed atmosphere and are good fun.

A: Different tea houses can meet different needs and, you are right, people's taste preferences are not always swayed by

money.

15. Beijing’s Identity

北京人的身份

A: Are you a Beijinger?

B: Not really. I was born in Shandong, but was raised in Hubei. I came to Beijing when I was ten and have lived here ever

since. So, you tell me if I qualify as a Beijinger?

A: No, you are not a real Beijinger.

B: It’s no hard to find a family that has lived in Beijing for more than three generations.

A: Some people say that Beijing is very generous and open-minded. Do you agree?

B: Generous, maybe. A friend of mine had a small accident once. Her car got stuck in a ditch. Four young men, all

non-Beijingers, happened to pass by. They refused to help. Then an old man came over. He was a Beijinger. Without any

hesitation, he helped my friend pull the car out. He also told her to drive carefully.

A: That’s a typical Beijinger. Such a person is always ready to help when someone is in need.

B: I guess this has something to do with the fact that Beijing has been a capital city for several dynasties. People living here

always feel obligated by a sense of honor. Also, face is very important for a Beijinger. When doing business, especially with

a friend, a Beijinger doesn’t want t

o appear too fussy about the contract or making concessions. He cares more about

friendship and esteem.

A: Tolerant may not be the right word to describe a Beijinger. About twenty years ago, Beijing residence usually looked

down upon non-Beijingers, believing them to be rustic and ignorant.

B: That’s true. Beijing has used to look down upon outsiders. In the past, due to strict residential permit requirement, it w

as

extremely difficult to become a Beijing resident. There’s more mobility now, and anyone ca

n find a job in Beijing. Pick

someone in the street a most likely that person isn’t a real Beijinger. True Beijingers do not have a feeling of superiority,

and

that may be why they appear to be more tolerant nowadays.

A: This is quite similar to New York. There are fewer and fewer real Americans there. Some say New York is no longer a

city of Americans. I think the same is true with Beijing.

16. Trendy Shanghai

时尚的上海

A: Some MNC employees in Shanghai prefer speaking English than Chinese. Many people disapprove of this phenomenon

as a blind worship of western culture.

B: I’m not surprised that this could happen in Shanghai. As a poor city, Shanghai was heavily influenced by western culture,

beginning in the 1920s and was called “a paradise of the adventurers”. A lot of western companies opened offices

there as trade in commons began to develop. New ideas were brought in, together with the arrival of businessmen and

foreigners. Shanghai residence were overwound with important merchandise, foreign languages and jobs in foreign

companies. As result, Shanghai people are very open-minded and receptive to new things.

A: I know many westerners like Shanghai because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere. Shanghai people are smart and

pragmatic. They are business-minded and have a high standard of ethics. For example, you seldom hear people accuse

Shanghai taxi drivers of cheating. If you ask Shanghai person for directions, he (she) will show you the most efficient route

to your destination.

B: Many new things were initially introduced to China through Shanghai. In the 1920s, some Shanghai art schools were the

first in the country to use human models. Shanghai was also the first city to have movies. In the late 1970s, Shanghai was

again among the first cities to send students to study abroad. Shanghai made products such as watches

、

bicycles and sewing

machines and enjoyed a very favorable reputation throughout the country even during the years of central economic

planning. This reputation still benefits Shanghai today.

A: People from other cities always feel the Shanghai people are biased against them.

B: This is indeed very perplexing. A city as open and developed as Shanghai doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate

others. In the past, an outsider who didn’t spea

k the Shanghai dialect was always ignored by the shop assistants. Now, there

are more and more MNC employees prefer speaking English. Non-English speakers feel disadvantaged.

A: Some people say Shanghai doesn’t look like a Chinese city. It is more like New York. People used to make that comment

in the 1930s. In many ways, Shanghai does look like New York. It is not New York. It is a Chinese city no matter what.

17. Happy-go-lucky Chengdu

幸福的成都

A: People like to call Beijing a political city because it’s the capital and there are lots of bureaucrats. Even taxi drivers

talk

politics. Shanghai, on the other hand, is viewed as a city of fashions. Ever since the 1930s, when Shanghai was under

western rule, it has always been in full front of fashion. Guangdong is the center of the economy where business has the

priority as the saying goes,“whether a cat is black or white, it is a good cat as long as it catches mice.”Chengdu is a

happy-go- lucky city. Do you know anything about Chengdu?

B: Chengdu is a major city in Sichuan Province. The temperature is mild and the land is very productive, in fact, so fertile

that even a stick will grow. The favorable environment has given rise to a very easy and relaxed life style. According to a

2005 survey, people’s expectation or monthly salary is 3000 Y

uan. They believe that amount of money is enough to lead a

happy life in Chengdu. Many Chengdu people drive a small fuel-efficient car called auto.

The car didn’t sell well in Beijing

because Beijing thought it was too shabby. In fact, autos were even not allowed on Beijing’s Chang’an Avenue for some

time.

A: Chengdu is also known for its tea houses.

B: Yes, there are tea houses everywhere. Unlike some other big cities, where tea houses are graded to serve different

customers, tea houses in Chengdu offer a whole range of products. Everyone, yet a businessman, a migrant worker or a

student can find something they want. People can spend a day in the tea house, either to talk business or simply relax.

A: Are there any other interesting games there?

B: Mahjong is a popular game among tea house goers in Chengdu. There was a joke on the internet that says as soon as the

plane enters the Chengdu airspace, passengers can hear the sound of mahjong shuffling. Chengdu is also known for its

snacks. There are plenty of columbaries(?) and entertainment outlets. You don’t always find a kind of restlessness in

Chengdu as in other cities. But this doesn’t mean Chengd

u people have closed minds. On the contrary, they are very

open-minded.

A: It’s good for a person to be happy and forget about fame and wealth. But we still have to worry about social progress,

right?

B: In fact, Chengdu has made great progress. It ranked the fourth in terms of economic growth in 2005 after Beijing

、

Shanghai and Guangzhou. During the National Day golden week holidays, Chengdu ranked the eighth of the top ten most

popular tourist destinations.

A: This reminds me of a Chinese saying, “A lucky

person doesn’t have to chase luck.”

18. Chinese Beauty

中国美女

A: I heard there were four beautiful women in Chinese history

—

Xi Shi

、

Wang Zhaojun

、

Diao Chan and Yang Yuhuan.

Were they really so beautiful?

B: None of the one thousandth to two thousandth your old portrays of these four women are reliable because there are no

photographs to verify the accuracy. These four women are known not just for their pretty looks, but also because each of

them played a critical role during the life times.

A: That’s amazi

ng. What did these beautiful women do?

B: Both Diao Chan and Xi Shi gave their lives for the removal of some tyrants in imperial court. Wang Zhaojun offered to

marry a man from a far away tribe for the sake of peace and harmony amongst people of different ethnic backgrounds. Yang

Yuhuan was a concubine who hung herself during the mutiny for the benefit of the overall situation. So these women are

remembered not just for their good looks, also for the intelligence, bravery and dedication.

A: Is there any ch

ange in people’s perception of the beautiful woman today?

B: I heard that the Chinese Film Academy likes to recruit female students in Qingdao and Harbin. Girls from these places

are handsome with round and sexy body curves. Gong Li is a typical example. She is regarded as beautiful both in China

and in the West. Traditionally, Hangzhou is known for its pretty women. Hangzhou is situated in the picturesque southern

China. Women there are cute and elegant. Film actress Zhou Xun is an example. She is good at acting as a traditional girl

who is restricted by established values, but who is ready to die for love.

A: Which of the above category does the international star Zhang Ziyi fit in?

B: Zhang Ziyi is from Beijing. So she is unrelated to any of the above. She rose to stardom through hard work rather than

God’s blessing. Initially, American thought she was sexy and beautiful. But many Chinese did not agree because she did not

meet any of the traditional criteria. Subsequently, some patriots accuse these people of being jealous. They said China does

not have many people who have earned international recognition. Zhang Ziyi is one of the few that has, and therefore it is

unpatriotic not to accept her.

A: This is quite like the beautiful women in Chinese history. As soon as their looks were linked to national interest, they

were accepted by all as beautiful.

ai Men

上海男人

A: You don't act like a typical man from shanghai. For a man from shanghai, such a comment is both a complement and an

offence. Usually he doesn't know how to respond.

B: Why?

A: Because in northern china, men from Shanghai usually persevered as womanly. They are extremely detail-oriented and

spend too much time doing housework, which in the eyes of a northerner should only be done by women. In other words,

shanghai men have too much respect for women. In comparison, men from northern china are the hands of type. They don't

like house chores, and they feel embarrassed to be subservient to their wives. The worst nickname for a northern man is Qi

Gauanyang meaning henpecked

B: What kind of a man does a Chinese girl like to marry?

A: It depends, currently more women like to marry shanghai men. Because they are more understanding, considerate and

helpful. Have you ever seen the film what women want? The main character of the movie is Nick Martial. He was struck by

lightening and as a result he acquired the extra ability of reading a woman's mind. He got tremendous benefit from this

ability both in his career of advertising women's products and in his private life. Understanding women has become a new

criterion for an ideal man. There is suddenly no need for a shanghai man to be hit by lightening to become an ideal husband

B: is this part of local culture in shanghai

？

A: Shanghai has been very open a commercial city for many years as a result of its long standing western influence. People

tend to be more practical and chivalrous. You don't find a lot of men are chauvinism there. Before the 1980's Shanghai men

used to be laughed at for their lack of manly character. But now they have become examples of an ideal husband. For many

the north, especially in Beijing the reason for the men of chauvinism is the bureaucratic environment associated with the

imperial court. They want to look important even

in front of their wives. Of course I’m only making a general comment.

Men in the north can also be very tender and considerate. If you run into a man carrying a lady's handbag next to a woman

in a super market. Most likely, he is a northerner.

B: It’s good for men to be chivalrous, but I’m not to keen on carrying a woman's handbag. A man is a man after all. No

matter where he is from.

Relations

家庭关系

I heard one of the criteria some girls use when looking for a boy friend is the boy doesn't have any parents. Is this correct?

It’s an over statement. But it certainly reflects the sensitive relationships in the Chinese family. In the traditional house

hold,

a man is both a son and an elder brother. The certain obligation that he can never . Even his marriage is the duty to produce

the next generation. The obligations of the wife are less important. As the old saying goes, brothers are as indispensable as

handsome and fit, but the wife is like a coat. Under this influence, a man would have to treat his parents and brothers or

sisters with priority even if he was married. If the man have to be an honest son, his obligations will be even more important.

such an unique role the man makes relationships with his family very complicated. this is why some well-educated young

woman would rather marry a husband whose parents have passed away.

An American woman she was teaching in china once asked her students to put him selves in a situation where man fell into

a river to get with his mother, wife and son. If the man was only able to save one person, who would that person be? Some

students reply that he should save the mother out of for her mother hold. Other said that he should save the son, because the

child represents the future. The American teacher was very unhappy with the answers. None of you even thought of saving

the wife, why? She asked. The students fell silent. She explained I think you should save the wife first. The mother was old

and has already spent most of her life. the child is too small to feel much pain. the wife has come through a knot with him.

After this incident, the couple will be bound even closer together and they can produce another child.

Between the Chinese and westerners, there are some obvious differences in dealing with family relations. In china, a family

is headed by the most person as the grandparents or parents. Children come next, followed by brothers. Husband and wife

relations comes the bottom. in the west, the order is husband and wife, children, parents and brothers, sisters. The husband

and wife relationship is the foundation of a family. Under criticality, a man is required to leave his parents and stay together

with his wife. On the Confucianism, a man is required to stay with his parents.

The one child family has free the man from obligations to his brothers and sisters. But he cannot escape from duties to his

parents. Although it is not the best solution for the girl to choose a husband without any parents, sometimes she doesn't have

a better alternative.

21 Neighborhood Relationship

邻里关系

A: Neighbors seem to be an important part of community relationship in China.

B: I can give you example to illustrate this importance. For instance, if a couple had a noisy fight and the neighbors heard it,

they would come over to calm them down. Or, if both the husband and the wife are working, they will give their house key

to the old woman next door so she can help look after the children after school. The “bound feet security guards” was a very

popular expression in the last century. It refers to the retired people, usually old woman, who would walk around their

neighborhood to ensure its security.

A: I wonder how these special community relations are developed.

B: In a traditional, agricultural society there was almost no population mobility. People lived in one place for generations

with no interaction with the outside world. Everyone knew everyone else, and this led to a lot of mutual understanding and

interdependence. Whenever someone needed any help, the first solution was to ask the neighbors. This is where the

expression, “a neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative” came from.

A: I see. I know that such an intimate community relationship was still very popular as recently as the 1990s.

B: There is an old joke that goes like this: A newly-wed couple lived together with four other families in a big courtyard.

One morning, they slept in until midday. Their neighbors thought something might have gone wrong and knocked on the

door to check it out. You can imagine how embarrassed the young couple was.

A: Exactly! Now that people live in high-rise apartment buildings, will this relationship be affected?

B: Yes. The closeness that was typical in a traditional courtyard is gone. People live behind closed doors and often do not

even know the next-door neighbor. The older people, in particular, have problems adapting to this change. This is why you

always see groups of old people socializing in public green areas. They miss the intimate community of their private life,

they also appreciate a friendly neighborhood.

A: What can they do to address this issue?

B: Some neighborhoods a LAN network, as in the case with a neighborhood in suburban Beijng, they share information

with each other. In another place, residents produced at TV drama of their everyday life.

This may be one reason why Chinese people are happier and feel more secure.

22. Personal Privacy vs. Hospitality

隐私与亲密

A: I don’t like my Chinese friends calling me ‘Lao Wai’. It makes me feel that I am not one of the

m.

B: Actually, Chinese people want to treat you as one of us. The word ‘lao’ always implies respect and closeness when used

to address someone. For example, senior people are often addressed as ‘lao Wang’ or ‘lao Li’.

A: I see. Many people are learning E

nglish nowadays because of the Olympics. But it’s a bit weird to hear people say hello

to me in the street. That’s the word you use to answer phone. So it feels like everybody in the street is on the phone.

A: Chinese people are friendly. We are also curi

ous about people from afar. What you’ve just said is an example of such a

feeling.

B: But occasionally, some people tend to be over- enthusiastic. I was reading in a subway one hot summer day when a young

man looked at my arm and asked, “Don’t you feel hot with so much hair on your arm?”I have a five

-year- old son. And

sometimes people lik

e to touch his face or even hold him up in the arms. He doesn’t like that. So I have to explain to him

that is the Chinese way of showing affection. Another time, I was reading a newspaper in a subway, and a person suddenly

put his head on my shoulder and helped himself to my paper.

A: That’s just like what we read in “A neighbor is more dependable than a distant relative.”Today’s China has evolved from

its agricultural origins, where there was limited mobility. Those old traditions have given rise to a unique level of human

relationship, which doesn’t accommodate personal privacy. People treat each other like one big family. The level of

closeness is easily visible in everyday greetings such as “Have you eaten?”and “Where are you going?”Even during first

encounters, Chinese people may still ask such questions as “Are you married?”

、

“How old are you?”or other questions

which may be very personal to westerner.

B: Or you should learn to appreciate it rather than feeling offended.

A: You’ve got it. This is Ch

inese hospitality just like the person who shared your newspaper. I remember some of my

western friends telling me that sometimes they will either charge less or offer more when doing the grocery shopping. Again

this is all about Chinese hospitality.

B: We

ll, it seems I am an unlucky person because I’ve never been in a situation where people are willing to charge me less.

23. Exchange of Gifts

礼尚往来

A: When offered a gift, a Chinese person will usually say “No, no, I can’t take it.” Even after he takes it,

he does not always

open it. On the contrary, a westerner will take the gift with appreciation and open it immediately.

B: You know why? We Chinese believe that only a valuable gift is presentable and can best convey feelings. This is why

Chinese people often use precious or expensive items as gifts. During the Mid-autumn Festival or the Moon Festival, people

will buy well-packaged high-quality moon cakes for gifts and keep the ordinary ones for their own consumption. Because

gifts are usually valuable items, people are reluctant to receive them out of consideration for the person who offers them.

A: Really? I never thought of that.

B: Westerners are different. For them, gifts are an expression of appreciation and don’t have to be very expensive. So, in

receiving a souvenir, it is very appropriate to say thank you in return. It will certainly make the person even happier if you

open it in front of him or her.

A: Chinese people paid great attention to gifts. Some people spend a lot of time and effort buying gifts before going abroad.

B: This is very different from the west. Before each public holiday, you can find a very large variety of gifts on display at

supermarkets. They are very well wrapped and are inexpensive to buy. Most of the gifts are items for daily use. This saves

people a lot of time looking for appropriate holiday gifts. On the other hand, a Chinese person seeks a gift which is decently

priced, well-wrapped and has some unique meaning. It is always a challenge to buy a gift for a Chinese person. When

people buy gifts for the overseas trips, they usually choose items with Chinese features, such as Beijing opera masks, fans

and lots.

A: As more and more Chinese people go abroad and over-supply of Chinese gifts has occurred in many countries, Chinese

gift items are not that unique anymore. A friend of mine is a university professor in U.S. She told me that at the end of the

semester, she received three Beijing opera masks from her Chinese students. I also heard the Chinese fans are all over the

place in Mexico.

B: What is an appropriate gift for a westerner?

A: Flowers

、

wine and chocolate are the three universal gifts that is suitable for all purposes. I sometimes wonder whether

the Chinese saying “A gift may be insignificant, but it carries tremendous friendship” originated in the west.

e Hospitality

中国人的待客之道

A

：

I was invited to a traditional Beijing household for dinner once. It was an eye-opening experience. The girl who

invited me was my colleague. Her father was over 60 years old. He didn’t eat much but was constantly proposing a toast.

His wife was busy c

ooking in the kitchen all the time. I asked her to join us but her husband said “No, she doesn’t.” After

dinner, I asked my colleague why her father didn’t eat much and why her mother didn’t join us. She said that was an old

tradition. Her father was there to keep me company because I was a guest of honor and usually women did not eat with the

guests.

B

：

I had a similar experience too. I always feel spoiled to be a guest in a Chinese household. The host usually prepares

a sumptuous meal. The kids are sent to the neighbors so the guests can have a peaceful meal. Usually, they would start

preparing for our visit days ahead. Even though there would be a lot of food on the table, the host would still say “We don’t

have much, so please bear with us.” They keep

putting food on my plate despite the fact I may not like certain food. I

usually feel very embarrassed. Some hosts even force their children to perform a song or recite a poem for me.

A

：

That is Chinese hospitality. People want to bring out their best food to welcome the guests. Westerners are different.

They don’t stay in the kitchen when the guests have arrived. They want to socialize with the guests rather than simply

showing hospitality.

B

：

Chinese people are very friendly and always ready to treat their guests with the best things they have. But this

hospitality may cause inconvenience to both the guests and the hosts themselves. An American said in a book over 100

years ago that Chinese hospitality is meant to show the politeness of the host rather than keeping the guest happy. The host

may insist on starting a fire so he can make tea for the guest, despite the fact that the guest may be irritated by the smoke. At

least the host gives the impression that he is very hospitable.

A

：

That was over 100 years ago. Things are different now. More and more people prefer a relaxed atmosphere rather

than showing hospitality just for the sake of it. But there are exceptions. I went to visit a fairly affluent village in southern

China last year. The host was asked to make a special tea for us. She was very friendly, but when she finished making the

tea she charged each of us 10 yuan for the treat. As a result of the economic growth people have become money conscious.

Although you may not feel comfortable with the traditional hospitality, it could disappear any time.

B

：

Shall I feel lucky or sorry then?

：我曾到一个老北京家里做客，可真是开了眼了。请客的是这家的女儿， 她是我的同事。她的父亲六十多岁，

作为主人，他在饭桌上几乎没吃什么，只是隔一会儿 就端起酒杯劝酒。他的太太一直在厨房里忙着。我们招呼她一

起吃，同事的父亲说

“

她不上桌

”

。告辞 出来，我问同事为什么她父亲几乎不吃东西，而她母亲一直不加入我们。她

说这是老礼数 。她父亲把我们当作贵客所以要陪酒，而女人一般是不和客人同桌的。

B

：我也有过同样的经历。到中国人家里做客总感觉他们招待得很隆重：上一大桌菜，小孩子被 赶到邻居家，

以便客人吃得尽兴。请一次客得提前几天做准备。既便做了一大桌菜，他们 还是说：

“

没什么东西，凑合吃吧。

”

还

不停地为你布菜，不管你是不是爱吃。这让我觉得很尴尬。有 些人家还逼着孩子给客人表演唱歌，或者背诗。

A

：这就 是中国人的待客之道：把最好的东西拿出来招待客人。西方人并不如此。他们不会在客人到来后还在

厨房中忙碌，他们的目的是交流而不是表现待客的热情。

B

：中国人非常友好，所以才会用最好的东西招待客人。但这样一来，家人跟着受累，客人也不 自在。一百多

年前，一位美国人在他的书中写道：中国人待人热情的目的通常是为了表现 自己懂礼节，而并非想使客人满意。主

人执意生火为客人沏茶，而不在乎客人是否被烟呛 着，因为他至少树立了待客有礼的形象。

A

：这是 一百年前的情形，现在有所不同。更多的人已经懂得，自在随意比过分礼貌要好得多。也有例外：去

年，我到一个富裕的南方村庄去采访，请主人给我们一杯当地特有的茶。她热情地为我们上了茶，然后 向我们每位

收了

10

元钱作为服务的报 偿。经济发展了，中国人也有了金钱意识。你不适应传统的待客之道，它也许很快就不

复 存在了。

B

：我该为此庆幸还是遗憾呢？

25 Table Manners

餐桌礼仪

A: A westerner said to his Chinese friend. Chinese people slurp when drinking soup. It’s disgusting . the Chinese friend

replied , westerners make a lot of noise lickin

g their fingers when eating. It’s even worse.

B: everyone has his own habits, but these habits are not very good. The noise often spoils other people’s appetite.

A: I attended a course on table manners while I was in the United states. Some of the things we learnt included how to place

the napkin and utensils and how to pass the bread. Before each course, the teacher would ask if we wanted to learn the

continental European way or the American way. We always said “American way.” it’s amazing that everyone i

s so used to

their own table manners. What is the Chinese way?

B: the westerners use knives and forks to eat so it is complicated. The Chinese use a pair of chopsticks and eat out of the

same plate. I assume it is less complicated,right?

A: not really. I did some research about Chinese table manners. The important rule is to remain silent while eating. Of couse,

this refers to family meals only. Not talking over meals is supposed to be good for the health. It is impolite if people do not

talk to each other during a social party. The table arrangements and serving order for a social party are equally complicated.

Each dish should be placed in the correct position. When fish is served, the tail should be pointing at the guest because tail

meat is supposed to be tasty. If it is in winter, the stomach should face the right-hand side of the guest because that portion

of the fish is very rich in winter. Each dish should be commenced by the eldest person who is seated at the head of the table.

The diners should si

t close to the table so food won’t drop on their cloths. Not noise should be made when chewing. No one

should move food back to the communal plate even if he doesn’t like it. One should drink soup slowly and is not supposed

to make a lot of noise. All these table manners are very similar to western habits.

B: it seems that people share the same basic sense of etiquette regardless of their background. Apart from the different tools

used for eating we seem to follow the same principles. We do not let inappro

priate manners spoil other people’s appetite.

Westerners like to say, bon appetite before meals which is one way to suggest mind your table manners. Is there such an

expression in Chinese?

A

：

yes. We say eat well and drink well.

26 The Fashion of tea- drinking

喝茶的时尚

A: there are a lot of Chinese expressions that link tea with food. For example, “firewood, rice, oil, soy sauce, vinegar and

tea are the seven daily necessities.”

B: the purpose of tea and food is totally different though. People eat to fill their stomach. But, tea-drinking can help a person

achieve an elevated state of mind. Tea- drinking is said to have originated with the advent of Buddhism. Monks drank tea to

keep themselves awake and help their concentration. Ordinary people were tempted by the tranquility of the monasteries

and began to imitate the monks. So tea-drinking is considered an elegant pastime.

A: has tea-drinking become fashionable?

B: a few years ago It was fashionable to drink lipton tea whit milk and sugar to emulate a western lifestyle. Later it was

green tea. Fruit tea was also popular for a while.

A: I heard that pu’er tea is very popular in japan and Taiwan. People think it can help them lose weight and control their

blood pressure.

B: it is also popular in china’s mainland. Pu’er tea looks and smells more like French red wine than tea. Plus, its rumored

function is to reduce weight. Pu’er tea

-drinking has been very fashionable. Green tea is good for longevity and combating

cancer. Red tea is good for keeping the stomach warm.

A: many tea houses have been opened. Usually tea houses are where ordinary people like to hang around. But, some tea

houses are destinations for high-brow cocial life.

B: tea houses have even changed the way people do business. It used to be ove

r meals. The saying now is “at a table of

spirits, the more you talk, the more muddled things become. But at a tea table of tea, the more you talk, the clearer things

become.”

A: tea parties also seem to have become popular.

B: the represents thriftiness and cleanliness. Government agencies like to host tea parties to celebrate public holidays. It

serves the purposes of both socializing and saving money.