中英雙語話中國民風民俗 第8期:中國菜餚的特點

Chinese cuisine is noted for the following characteristics:

中國菜餚具有以下有名的特點:

Vegetables are the main ingredients.

蔬菜是主要配料。

This explains why most Chinese women are slim and men free of cardiovascular diseases. This is because in China an there is a traditional respell for land. As the old saying goes agricultural country,Live on the mountain if you live in one and live on water if you live by water.”The Chinese are meticulous about food preparation. Whether the ingredients they use are pastries or vegetables，they always try to make the dishes tasty. For example，beans，a tommon vegetable，are exquisitely prepared into such delicious dishes as bean sprouts and bean curd.

這就是中國婦女十分苗條而男子不用擔心得心血管疾病的原因。中國作爲一個農業國家，對土地有着傳統的敬仰。正如一句老話所說的:“靠山吃山，靠水吃水。”中國人對於食物的烹製十分講究。無論是糕點還是蔬菜，他們總是力圖將其做得美味可口。例如，豆子這種普通的蔬菜就精緻地做成了諸如豆芽和豆腐等美味的菜餚。

The Chinese people like well prepared food.

中國人喜歡精心烹製的食物。

To facilitate food absorption and digestion，they are scrupulous about the temperature while cooking. Undercooked food is unacceptable to them. To the Chinese，the sight of Westerners eating undercooked steaks still oozing blood inside is horrible. In addition，warm soup is very important. Wonton，or dumpling soup，and noodles are popular nationwide. Other hot soups include jellied bean curd，rice porridge and corn porridge.

爲了便於食物的消化和吸收，中國人注重烹飪時的溫度。對於他們來說，沒有燒熟的食物是難以下嚥的。當中國人看到外國人吃着滲着血的半熟牛排時會覺得十分噁心。此外，熱湯也是極爲重要的。餛飩湯或餃子湯以及麪條都在全國深受歡迎。其他熱湯包括豆腐腦、米粥以及玉米粥。

Chinese also like to eat together，a tradition that can be traced back a long time ago.

中國人還喜歡在一起吃飯，這個傳統可以追溯到很久之前。

It reflects the Chinese notion of union versus division round tables，round dishes，and round bowls all syriibolize union and perfection. Dishes are usually placed at the center of the table so that everyone around the table can share them. A hot pot, in particular, adds to the atmosphere of harmony and union. Friends eat and live together. A recent book by an American Sinologist held that the Chinese collective tradition developed out of the practice of eating together.

這反映出中國人喜歡團圓不願分離的觀念—圓桌、圓盤、還有圓碗都象徵着團圓和美滿。盤子通常放在桌子的中央，這樣坐在桌子面前的所有人都可以吃得到。一鍋熱湯尤其可以增加和諧、團圓的氣氛。朋友們在一起吃飯、生活。最近一位美國漢學家的著作認爲，中國人的集體觀念就是從一同吃飯發展而來的。