Travel in Chinese Lesson 55 Dumpling

表姐、小杰和朋友在四合院门口碰面）

表姐/朋友：好久不见，你还好吧？（寒暄词）

表姐：这是我表哥的孩子，小杰。小杰，这是王阿姨。

小杰：王阿姨好！朋友：这孩子真漂亮，来，快，里边请。

小杰：姑姑，王阿姨家的小院真有意思，和我们家完全不一样。

表姐：王姐，你看现在的孩子，根本就搞不清楚住四合院是一种什么样的感觉。

朋友：是啊，我们小的时候，多有意思啊。夏天捉捉蛐蛐，冬天堆堆雪人，哪家做了好吃的菜，都是大家一起吃，一起分享。

表姐：是啊，那个时候我就老喜欢到你们家吃饺子，我可记得你们家的饺子特别好吃。

朋友：哈哈，还惦记着呢，好，今天我就给你们包饺子吃。

小杰：好啊，我最喜欢吃饺子了。过春节的时候，爸爸就包饺子给我和妈妈吃。

（进入家里，沙发上）

朋友：你们等着，我给你们拿好吃的去。

小杰：姑姑，她是你的老朋友吗？

表姐：是啊，我们小时候时候还是邻居呢。后来她去了国外，所以姑姑有很长时间都没见过她了。

朋友：来，来，这是糖、瓜子和花生，你们先吃着，我去给你们包饺子去。

小杰：阿姨，我和你一起去包吧。

朋友：哦？你会包吗？

小杰：我不会，不过我想学。

表姐：那就一起去包吧，自己包的吃着更香。

（包饺子）

朋友：你看，小杰，少放点儿馅儿，这样，这样（做示范），你看，好了。（托在手心里）——小杰自己来做，捏了一个，饺子没站起来

表姐：没关系，小杰，慢慢来，再试一个。

小杰：（边包边说）我觉得这个饺子的形状很像耳朵，你们看（把饺子拿到耳朵边比划）

朋友：你还别说，以前老人就常说，吃了饺子，冬天耳朵就不会被冻伤。

小杰：所以它才长得象耳朵啊。（两个大人乐）

（饺子出锅了）

朋友：来，小杰，多吃点。当心烫！

小杰：真好吃。看，这个是我包的。（吃饺子的空镜）

小杰：咦，这个饺子里有一颗糖。

表姐：这是王阿姨特意包的，希望你以后的生活，甜甜蜜蜜。

小杰：真有意思，原来糖也能做馅儿。

表姐：不只是糖，过春节的时候，有人还在饺子里包硬币呢。

小杰：硬币？那怎么吃啊？多脏啊！

朋友：并不是真的吃。不过春节的时候你要是吃到了这样的饺子，就会一年都有福气，会挣到很多钱哦。

小杰：是真的吗？阿姨，你今天也包了这样的饺子吗？我来找找看。（几人边笑边吃饺子）
 

Translation:

（opening scene: cousin, Xiaojie and friend meet at the entrance to the square courtyard）

cousin/friend: Haven’t seen you for a long time. How have you been? （small talk）

cousin: This is my cousin’s daughter, Xiaojie. Xiaojie, this is Aunt Wang.

Xiaojie: Hello Aunt Wang！

friend: Such a pretty girl! Come on. Please come inside.

Xiaojie: Aunt, aunt Wang’s courtyard is really interesting; it’s totally different to my house.

cousin: Ms Wang, the kids today have no idea what it’s like to live in a square courtyard.

friend: Yes, what fun we had when we were little. We’d catch crickets in summer, make snowmen in winter, and if anyone had made something nice to eat, we’d all share it.

cousin: Yes, even back then I loved coming to your house for dumplings. I remember your dumplings were especially tasty.

friend: Haha, you still remember. Great! Well today I’ll make dumplings for you.

Xiaojie: Great! I love dumplings. At Chinese New Year, dad makes dumplings for my mum and me.

（at home, on the sofa）

friend: Wait, I’ll go and get something for you.

Xiaojie: Aunt, is she an old friend of yours?

cousin: Yes, we used to be neighbors when we were kids. Later she went overseas, so your aunt hasn’t seen her for a long time.

friend: Here’s some candy, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Help yourselves. I’ll go and make dumplings for you.

Xiaojie: Auntie, let me help you make them.

friend: Oh? Do you know how?

Xiaojie: No, but I want to learn.

cousin: Then let’s make them together. They taste better when you make them yourselves.

（they make dumplings）

cousin: That’s alright, Xiaojie. Just do it slowly. Try another one.

Xiaojie: （says while making dumplings）I think dumplings are shaped like ears. Look! （puts dumpling next to ear）

friend: You don’t say? The older folks used to say, if you eat dumplings, your ears won’t get frostbite in winter.

Xiaojie: That’s why they look like ears. （the two adults laugh）

（dumplings are served）

friend: Come on, Xiaojie, eat up. But be careful. They’re hot！

Xiaojie: They’re so delicious. Look, I made this one. （shots of eating dumplings）

Xiaojie: Hey, this dumpling has a sweet inside.

cousin: Aunt Wang put it in specially, hope your future will be sweet as candy.

Xiaojie: That’s interesting Sweets can make filling too.

cousin: Not just sweets. During Chinese New Year, some people put coins in dumplings.

Xiaojie: Coins? How do you eat them? How dirty！

friend: You don’t really eat them. But if you get one of these dumplings during Chinese New Year, it means you’ll have a lucky year and make lots of money.

Xiaojie: Is that for real? Auntie, did you make one of these dumplings today? Let me try to find one. （they laugh and eat dumplings）
 

Bookmarks

1）V+不清楚the result of the verb is not clear

（例）他一直搞不清楚出发时间。

He could never quite figure out the departure time.

（例）你写的字太小了，我看不清楚。

Your writing is too small. I can't see it clearly.

2）惦记 remember fondly, miss, worry

（例）妈妈一直很惦记去国外留学的女儿。

The mother always missed her daughter who has gone to study abroad.

（例）我会把孩子照顾好的，你不用惦记。

Don't worry. I'll take care of the child.

Sign Posts

Dumpling

A wide variety of different Chinese foods fall under the English term “dumpling”. Of these, 饺子 are most popular in northern China, wher they are seen as a symbol of festivity and served as the main dish during Spring Festival celebrations. In vast areas of north China and especially in the countryside, jiaozi are served throughout the year and especially when there are guests for dinner. As we will discuss in future lesson, some places even offer what is called a 饺子宴, literally a jiaozi banquet, wher you are treated to a sampling of dozens of different types of jiaozi, boiled, steamed, fried and roasted, and containing an unlimited variety of fillings.

Jiaozi are made with a thin pastry wrapper, usually with seasoned mincemeat as the filling. They are usually in the shape of a crescent moon, or, as some say, in the shape of ears. This led to the tradition that jiaozi should be eaten in winter to help avoid frostbite on the ears. Jiaozi are normally boiled, but can also be steamed under cover. Steamed jiaozi are called 蒸饺子.

A great variety of food may be used for the filling. Minced pork, mutton and beef as well as prawn or shrimp are common meats. These are then combined with various vegetables and dried mushrooms.

After cooking, the jiaozi are commonly dipped in a sauce of vinegar and soya sauce. Again, there are many variations to the dipping sauce depending on local custom..

In southern China, another style of dumplings called 馄饨 are common. In English we refer to these as won tons, from the Cantonese pronounciation. Wontons are similar to jiaozi, but have a thinner wrapping and contain less filling. Wontons are also folded in a different way that leaves a loose flap, and are always boiled and served in broth.

In 1969, a Tang Dynasty tomb was excavated in Xinjiang, wher a wooden bowl was unearthed containing a number of dumplings looking just like the jiaozi of today. This indicates that jiaozi have been enjoyed in China for at least 1000 years.

Substitution and Extension

1）你还别说…… show agreement

（例）你还别说，他说的还挺有道理的。

You know, he actually said something quite reasonable.