DIALOGUE
A: Have you heard about the Dragon Boat Races to be held this afternoon?
A: 你知道今天下午有龍舟比賽嗎?
B: Yes, it is part of a holiday, right?
B: 知道啊,是為了慶祝什么節(jié)日對吧?
A: Yup, Duan Wu Festival, but it’s also just simply called the Dragon Boat Festival. It’s among the three major traditional holidays celebrated by Chinese.
A: 是的,是端午節(jié),不過(英文中)通常叫做龍舟節(jié)。它是中國三大傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日之一。
B: Other than the Dragon Boat Races, what’s special about this day?
B: 除了龍舟賽,這一天還有什么特別的活動嗎?
A: Traditionally, it was thought to be a time for warding off evil spirits, but now it’s just thought of a time to remind family members to take care of their health.
A: 在傳統(tǒng)上,這一天一直被視為是驅(qū)兇避邪的日子,不過現(xiàn)在它的意義已經(jīng)只是提醒家人注意身體健康了。
B: Sounds great! I think I’ll join in on the boat competitions.
B: 聽起來不賴!我想我會去參加龍舟比賽。
A: After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can eat Zongzi. Everyone eats them during the Dragon Boat Festival.
A: 等你劃船累到肚子餓的時(shí)候,就可以吃粽子。端午節(jié)的時(shí)候大家都會吃粽子。
B: Eating is a really important part of Chinese culture, huh?
B: 吃真是中國文化中很重要的一部分,對吧?
A: Yes, perhaps one of the most important aspect. Don’t worry though; there are no surprises in Zongzi. They are just rice with either meat or sweet red bean paste wrapped inside. They are quite yummy!
A: 沒錯(cuò),或許是最重要的之一。不過別擔(dān)心,粽子里面沒什么特別的東西,只是米飯包著肉或豆沙而已。好吃極了!
NOTES
1. join in on 通常指加入某個(gè)已經(jīng)計(jì)劃要進(jìn)行的活動,成為其中的一員。例:
You should join in on our family’s New Year’s celebration.
你應(yīng)該來跟我們家人一起慶祝新年。
Come join in (on) the fun!
一起來同樂吧!
2. work up an appetite 引起食欲,胃口大增。例:
He worked up an appetite after a long day of chopping wood.
在砍了一天柴后,他食欲大增。
You need to work up an appetite first, then we’ll go to the buffet.
你得先讓自己餓得饑腸轆轆,然后我們再去吃自助餐。