Travel in Chinese Lesson 23 Peking Duck

（在黄人豪家，人豪和表姐通话）

表姐：人豪啊，最近还好吗？

人豪：是表姐啊，我们挺好的。你好吗？

表姐：还行！你们这个星期有空吗？我想请你们全家去全聚德吃烤鸭。

人豪：行啊，太好了，我一直想带雪梅和小杰去，她们俩都还没去过呢。

表姐：那正好，星期六晚上怎么样？

人豪：好的，星期六晚上“全聚德”见，不见不散。

（在烤鸭店）

表姐：你们好！哎，小杰呢？怎么没来？

雪梅：她很想来，但是学校有活动，来不了了。

表姐：真不巧，这次把小杰落下了。

人豪：没事儿，以后我们再带她来吧。

雪梅：这些菜都是什么呀？

人豪：不知道了吧，这是鸭肝、鸭心、鸭舌。

表姐：来，咱们边吃边说。

雪梅：这里的烤鸭都是等客人点完了以后现烤的吗？

表姐：对。这里都是挂炉烤鸭

雪梅：挂炉烤鸭？

人豪：就是把鸭子挂在炉子上，底下用火来烤。

表姐：来，别光顾着说话，吃点儿菜。

雪梅：谢谢，我自己来。我听说北京烤鸭都是用特别的鸭子做的。

表姐：对，这样的鸭子叫北京鸭，和别的鸭子不一样

人豪：鸭子不一样不说，而且喂养的方式也很特别。看，烤鸭来了。

雪梅：都已经切好了，哎，这鸭子的皮怎么那么多，好像每块肉上都有。

表姐：北京烤鸭特别讲究片法。

雪梅：“骗法”，原来不是真的，是骗人的。

表姐：不，不，你理解错了。我说的“片”啊，是一片、两片的“片”，就是切的意思。

雪梅：明白了，刚才吓我一跳。

人豪：如果烤鸭切得好的，每一块都应该是连皮带肉的。

雪梅：让我来看看，还真是这样。你们先吃，我看看你们怎么吃。

人豪：好，我来做个示范。先拿一张烤鸭饼，放上葱、抹点儿甜面酱，再放上几片烤鸭，然后卷起来。

雪梅：我来试试。

雪梅：真好吃！我要再来一块儿。

表姐：喜欢吃就多吃点儿！
 

Translation:

Having roast duck

Cousin: Renhao，how have you been recently?

Renhao: Cousin，I’m doing well. What about you?

Cousin: Fine. Are you free this week? I’d like to take you and your family to Quanjude for roast duck.

Renhao: Sure. That’s great! I ’ve always wanted to take Xue Mei and Xiao Jie. They haven’t been there before.

Cousin: That’s great! How about Saturday night?

Renhao: Sure! See you on Saturday night at “Quanjude”. Be there or be square.

Cousin: Hello！Hey, wher’s Xiao Jie? Why isn’t she here?

Xue Mei: She really wanted to come, but there’s something on at school. She couldn’t make it.

Cousin: It’s a shame to leave Xiao Jie out.

Renhao: It’s all right，we’ll bring her here next time.

Xue Mei: What are all these dishes?

Renhao: Got you, eh? This is duck liver, duck heart and duck tongue.

Cousin: Come on! Let’s talk as we eat.

Xue Mei: Are all the roast ducks here cooked freshly to order?

Cousin: Yes. All the ducks here are roasted in a hanging oven.

Xue Mei: Hanging oven roast duck?

Renhao: It’s wher the ducks are hung and roasted over a fire beneath.

Cousin: Come on! Don’t just talk，have some food.

Xue Mei: Thanks，I’ll do it myself. I hear that Beijing roast duck is made from special ducks.

Cousin: Yes，these ducks are called Beijing ducks. They’re different from other ducks.

Renhao: It’s not only the ducks that are different，but also the way they ’re fed is quite special, too. Look! The roast duck is coming.

Xue Mei: It’s already sliced. Hey! How come there’s so much skin on the duck. There seems to be some on every piece.

Cousin: Beijing roast duck is very particular about the “pian” technique.

Xue Mei: “Pian” technique? So it’s not real. It’s “pian ren”, or a fraud.

Cousin: No，no，you’ve got it wrong. The “pian” I meant is “pian” as in one slice, two slices. It means to slice.

Xue Mei: I get it! You had me worried for a second.

Renhao: If the roast duck is sliced properly，every piece should have some skin and meat.

Xue Mei: Let me see! Hey, that’s really true. You eat first，I’ll watch how you eat it.

Renhao: OK， I’ll demonstrate. First you take a roast duck pancake，put some scallions on it, spread some sweet bean sauce，then put on a few slices of roast duck and roll it.

Xue Mei: Let me try.

Xue Mei: This is delicious！I’m going to have another one.

Cousin: Have as much as you want！
 

Bookmarks

1）光顾着only pay attention to one thing

（例）他光顾着看电视了，忘了出发的时间。

He was only paying attention to watching TV and forgot the departure time.

（例）他在机场光顾着买东西了,没赶上飞机.

He was only paying attention to buying things when he was at the airport and he missed his plane.

Sign Posts

Peking Duck

Peking duck has a history of well over 1000 years, and is known all over the world. One reason Peking duck is so different from any other kind of roast duck is the duck itself. Ducks headed for Peking duck restaurants are force-fed a rich diet to make them fatter than most ordinary ducks. Then, before cooking, air is pumped under the skin to more or less separate it from the meat. Finally, the duck is glazed with oil, sauce and molasses, which gives it the bright red colour when it is cooked. Before being put in the oven, the duck is half filled with hot water to keep it from drying out, then roasted for about 40 minutes. Even the type of wood used to heat the oven is special. Jujube, peach or pear tree wood is best, giving off little smoke and emitting a pleasant, sweet smell.

The duck is usually brought to your table whole, then sliced in front of you. The carcass is then taken away to prepare the duck soup that will finish off the meal.

To eat Peking duck, you take a thin pancake, spread some of the thick sauce on it, followed by thin slices of onion and cucumber. Finally, the meat goes on and the whole package is rolled up to make it easier to hold in your hand. Like hotpot, eating Peking duck is a very hands-on experience.

Substitution and Extension

1）边…边…（边吃边说） both actions are happening at the same time

（例）他经常边开车边听音乐。

He often listens to music while he's driving.

2）……不说，也/还……apart from one characteristic, there are other characteristics

（例）豆腐好吃不说，对身体也有好处。

Not only beancurd is tasty; it's also good for your health.

（例）那儿的风景优美不说，交通还十分便利。

The scenery there is beautiful, but, in addition, the transportation is also convenient.

3）连…带…（连皮带肉）two things or actions together

（例）请问，连吃饭带住宿，一天得多少钱？

May I ask including food and accommodation together, how much money will it be per day?