高中英语 畅谈中国文化 第24章 中国人的待客之道素材.doc

英语畅谈中国文化50主题第24章ChineseHospitality中国人的待客之道
A：IwasinvitedtoatraditionalBeijinghouseholdfordinneronce.Itwasaneye-openingexperience.Thegirlwhoinvitedmewasmycolleague.Herfatherwasover60yearsold.Hedidn’teatmuchbutwasconstantlyproposingatoast.Hiswifewasbusycookinginthekitchenallthetime.Iaskedhertojoinusbutherhusbandsaid“No,shedoesn’t.”Afterdinner,Iaskedmycolleaguewhyherfatherdidn’teatmuchandwhyhermotherdidn’tjoinus.Shesaidthatwasanoldtradition.HerfatherwastheretokeepmecompanybecauseIwasaguestofhonorandusuallywomendidnoteatwiththeguests.
A：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：Ihadasimilarexperiencetoo.IalwaysfeelspoiledtobeaguestinaChinesehousehold.Thehostusuallypreparesasumptuousmeal.Thekidsaresenttotheneighborssotheguestscanhaveapeacefulmeal.Usually,theywouldstartpreparingforourvisitdaysahead.Eventhoughtherewouldbealotoffoodonthetable,thehostwouldstillsay“Wedon’thavemuch,sopleasebearwithus.”TheykeepputtingfoodonmyplatedespitethefactImaynotlikecertainfood.Iusuallyfeelveryembarrassed.Somehostsevenforcetheirchildrentoperformasongorreciteapoemforme.
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：ThatisChinesehospitality.Peoplewanttobringouttheirbestfoodtowelcometheguests.Westernersaredifferent.Theydon’tstayinthekitchenwhentheguestshavearrived.Theywanttosocializewiththeguestsratherthansimplyshowinghospitality.
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：Chinesepeopleareveryfriendlyandalwaysreadytotreattheirguestswiththebestthingstheyhave.Butthishospitalitymaycauseinconveniencetoboththeguestsandthehoststhemselves.AnAmericansaidinabookover100yearsagothatChinesehospitalityismeanttoshowthepolitenessofthehostratherthankeepingtheguesthappy.Thehostmayinsistonstartingafiresohecanmaketeafortheguest,despi