交际汉语 Lesson 23 Being a Guest

会话 A

兰兰：（布置桌子，放花和水果。）

李红：兰兰，你买的鲜花？真漂亮！

兰兰：妈妈，今天我要请个朋友来咱家做客。

李红：呦，我们的小主人要邀请客人啦！是你们班同学？

兰兰：回答错误！是一位美国来的朋友。

Translation:

Lan Lan: (Arranging table, placing flowers and fruits.)

Li Hong: Lan Lan, you bought fresh flowers? Very pretty!

Lan Lan: Mom, today I'm inviting a friend to visit our home.

Li Hong: Oh, our little host is inviting guests! Is it your classmate?

Lan Lan: Wrong answer! It's a friend from the U.S.A. .

Cultural Background

在中国，如果你被邀请到某人家做客，这时候你知道你应该怎样做吗？做客也是很有学问的。中国人很热情，也非常好客。如果你到中国学习或工作，周围的中国同学或同事有可能会邀请你在节假日到他们家里做客。对你来说，如约前去做客并带上一件礼物是很重要的。

如果你赴约的同事家里有小孩的话，你可以带上一件小玩具；如果你去女同事家里做客，可以买上一束鲜花；如果到年长的同事家里做客，你可以买些食品或水果带去；如果你是学生到老师家做客，可以不用带任何东西。

到朋友或同事家做客时间可长可短。有时只是单纯地聊天，有时到家中做客与主人共进午餐或晚餐。而现在为了节省做饭的时间，往往到饭馆去吃饭，边说边 聊。一般情况下，在中国请客吃饭都是围绕圆桌而坐，表示团结或相聚的意思。通常，主人会对门而坐。被邀请的客人坐在主人的左右两边。主人坐下后客人才坐 下。

在主人那里做客吃饭时，如遇有的饭菜你不爱吃或不能吃，应在吃饭前或吃饭时礼貌地告诉主人。由于中国人很好客，往往在吃饭时主人常常为客人夹菜并放入客人的盘内。如果你吃饱了应告诉主人，否则，主人会不停地为你夹菜并客气地催促你“再吃点儿”，直到他们确信你的确吃饱了。

离开主人家时，主人会说：“有空再来玩儿。”你可以回答：“好，一定。谢谢您的款待，再见。”

Translation:

Do you know the etiquette for guests in China? It is an art and even a science. The Chinese are friendly and hospitable. So if you work or study in China, it'll only be a matter of time before your Chinese friends invite you for a visit to their home. For the visitor, taking a gift is an important starting point.

If the friend you're visiting has children at home, you may consider bringing a small toy. Flowers are a good idea for female friends, wheras fruit or even food would be suitable for elder acquaintances or friends. Bringing a gift is not so important if you're a student visiting your teacher.

Visits to friends' or acquaintances' homes can be short or long. Sometimes you may just chat and sometimes you are invited for a meal, either lunch or dinner. To save time and effort these days, eating out is common. Usually, the dinner table in China is round, to symbolize unity and togetherness. The host usually sits opposite the door, the guests will sit to either side of the host. Guests should wait until the host sits down, before they choose their seats.

When staying for a meal, if you have certain preferences or dietary restrictions, do tell your host before or during the meal. To show hospitality and friendliness, Chinese hosts will often pick out food for the guest and place it on his/her plate. It is good to advise the host when you're full, otherwise your host will keep ordering and politely request that you "eat some more," until they're convinced that you have eaten enough.

Upon leaving, the host is likely to say "come by again when you have time," to which you can reply "I certainly will. Thanks for your hospitality, goodbye."
 

Language Points

1、“你买的鲜花？”语气表示疑问。

如：你走着来的？

你送给我的花？

2、“真漂亮！”语气词。

如：真冷！

真热！

真好！

3、“唱什么都行。”“都”在这里是副词，用于概括前面的成分，强调无疑例外。

如：吃什么都行。

喝什么都行。

干什么都行。

住哪儿都行。

4、“有……还有……” — 品种较多，可供选择。

如：有可乐，还有橙汁。

5、“唱……也唱……” — 表示动作的随意性。

如：去饭馆吃饭，也去公园散步。

6、“我可以……” — 表示一种客气的请求。

如：我可以去洗手吗？

我可以去抽烟吗？

我可以出去一下儿吗？

7、“那我就来点儿橙汁儿好了。” —“好了” 表示同意、赞许或者结束等语气。

Substitutional Drills

1、唱中国歌(儿)，也唱外国歌(儿)。

吃西餐，也吃中餐。

穿衬衣，也穿毛衣。

读中国文学，也读外国文学。

2、吃什么都行。

喝什么都行。

带什么都行。

听什么都行。

3、这是教我们汉语的老师。

这是我在国外时的一个朋友。

这是给我们放录像的一位技术员。

4、我可以去听报告吗？

我可以晚到一会(儿)吗？

他可以明天再来吗？