如火的七月，我们的情绪疯狂燃烧。奥运会开幕在即，你想好了如何盛情款待外国友人了吗？做好东道主，先要了解中西文化差异。读完以下的内容，尽情show your hospitality 吧！

　　To much 我的热情过了火？

　　You kept finishing all the food on your plate and you found your plate refilled and many more dishes following. "They were really hospitable, if anything too hospitable …"

　　Lisa 的误解归因于中西方文化的碰撞与冲突。做客的时候，让我们看看西方人对中国人还有可能在哪些方面产生误解。

　　"I must say I don't think I'll ever get used to the eating habits out here. You know, the way people put things on your plate..." 外国人不习惯中国人热情地往自己碗里夹菜。

　　"And isn't it odd how people here can eat their dessert and then return to their main courses? How can they bear it?" 西餐有其特定的饮食次序。如果和外国人一起吃西餐，我们最好遵循他们的用餐习惯。千万不要吃完甜食再吃主菜哦。

　　"Chinese never seem hungry when they come round to my place. Whenever I ask callers if they'd like a bite to eat they always say no." 大多数外国人都是实在人。当他们问你要不要吃点什么的时候，如果你谢绝了，他们会尊重你的决定，真的不给你东西吃哦。所以说，饿了就喊出来吧。

　　"I'm often taken aback by the way visitors come round to my flat and seem to feel free to take the place over, putting on the telly, pulling down books from my shelves, even peering at letters I've left lying around on the desk." 虽说宾至如归，但外国人还是忌讳你在做客的时候东逛西逛，甚至偷窥他们的隐私的。

　　To little 如此待遇谁的错？

　　Can you imagine how many dishes I had? Only one--a stew with meat and vegetables. I was very much disappointed at British hospitality.

　　这个中国学生简直是怨气冲天哦。她去英国朋友家做客到底发生了什么？让我们看看下面的文章吧。

　　The time was autumn of 1987, after I had settled down at Warwick University for my MA course. I was invited to give a talk to a professional women's organisation about my first impressions of Britain. After the talk, quite a few participants gave me their addresses and invited me to visit their families. They were really very friendly and helpful. The first visit left a lasting memory because it was my first time to have dinner in an English home. my hostess picked me up at the university and showed me around the city till sunset. I was very excited about the visit, but at the same time I was wondering who would cook the meal. Her husband? In China, if I am going to have some visitors to dinner, it usually takes me at least three hours to prepare the eight courses. As soon as we arrived at the house, the lady asked me to sit at the table and said everything was in the oven and ready to serve. She told me she had put food in the oven before she went to the university and after two hours of touring the city, dinner was ready. Can you imagine how many dishes I had? Only one- a stew with meat and vegetables. The meat was overdone and too hard to eat; green vegetables were no longer green. Compared with Chinese food, they were tasteless. I was very much disappointed at their hospitality. However, after I had stayed in Britain for a year and visited many different families, I became more used to the British way of showing hospitality. In Britain, hospitality is not measured by how many dishes are provided as in China. It is shown by giving you freedom to choose whatever you really want. They never press you. They never put food on your plate but just ask you to help yourself. If you, as a guest, are shy or modest, waiting for the food to be put on your plate, you will remain half-starved. Maybe that is why I lost nearly 20 pounds after a year in Britain!

　　文中的“我”去英国人家做客，结果吃饭的时候只有一道菜。太少了吧，这也算待客之道？其实，不是外国人不热情，而是他们表达热情的方式和中国人有所不同。

　　外国人喜欢热情地表示 "The dishes are quite good here; these dishes are quite famous"，而不会谦虚地说食物不怎么好吃。

　　外国人乐于让客人们自主选择想吃的菜，而不是替客人夹菜。They think to help yourself is the best way. As long as the guests are happy with their meal, the host will be satisfied. Foreigners give guests the chance to choose what is their favourite.

　　一句话，外国人的表达及处世方式更为直接，而中国人则更显圆滑。Foreigners never pretend to be modest. They just tell others what they think. If a Chinese person is faced with the same situation, maybe he or she would say, "I'm sorry. The restaurant is a little bit small and the dishes are just so so, but I hope you'll enjoy yourself."Avoiding misunderstandings 消除误解好快活！

　　One sometimes finds the other person's behaviour odd, or even distasteful. If we try to find out why the two sides behave as they do, we can have a better understanding of each other and communicate more successfully.

　　如果我们避开误解的雷区，具有不同文化的两个人就能做到“沟通无极限” ！我们还是拿Lisa 和Wang Ming做例子。让我们重新设计一下双方的对话。怎么样，如此交流，是不是和谐了许多呢？

　　Wang: Hi! Lisa, welcome! Come in, please.

　　Lisa: Thanks for your invitation. It's a lovely room and very warm in here.

　　Wang: Thank you. Please sit and have a cup of tea. It's quite cold outside today. How long did it take you to come here? Was it difficult to find my place? Did you find the map I drew useful?

　　Lisa: It was very useful. It only took 20 minutes to get here. I enjoyed the walk. Winter in Beijing is very beautiful.

　　Wang: Lisa, dinner is ready. Please sit here facing the door. According to the Chinese custom, this is the seat for the most distinguished guest.

　　Lisa: Thank you. I feel most honoured. Wow! So many dishes - eight! They look delicious.

　　Wang: Thank you. I prepared the dishes myself. I hope you like them. Please help yourself.

　　Lisa: They're delicious. The Chinese food I tried in the States was not the same as this.

　　Wang: I'm glad you like them. But leave some room for the other eight hot dishes.

　　Lisa: Really? Another eight! It is not a dinner, it's a feast!

　　Wang: You know, the figure “eight” is a lucky number in Chinese. Two sets of eight dishes for distinguished guests.

　　Lisa: I feel honoured indeed. You're too kind.

　　Cultural shock 文化交际门道多！

　　you will have a better understanding of cross-cultural communication and be in a better position to avoid similar pitfalls. 避免文化冲撞，轻松跨文化交际。

　　Situation1:

　　You are eating--or have been offered--some food which you have never tried before. What would you say?

　　What's this?

　　Is this sweet or salty?

　　What are the materials?

　　What's this 听起来非常得生硬、不礼貌。最好先说出一些赞美之词，然后再提出你的问题。例如：This is delicious--what is it? (if you have just tasted it) 或者 That looks interesting--what is it ? (if you have not tasted it yet)。

　　说Is this sweet or salty?不算错，但不是很好，最好说Is this sweet or savoury? Savoury is a general word used to describe main course dishes like meat, and vegetables as well as others like cheese and crackers (salty biscuits). A cocktail party may offer savouries (small portions of slightly salty foods) as well as drinks and sweets. Note that the most common word for the sweet food at the end of a Western meal is dessert, but it may also be called sweet or pudding.

　　What are the materials? 中materials 的用词不太好，最好用ingredients替代。

　　Situation2:

　　You are offered some food you don't really like. What would you say?

　　No thanks, I don't like it.

　　No thanks, I don't want any.

　　有时候过度得坦率会引起交流的不快，所以你最好表示你已经吃饱了。

　　Situation3:

　　In a Western meal, you're offered a second helping but you have already had enough. What would you say ?

　　No, thanks. I'm full.

　　如果是和家人或者亲密的朋友用餐，你当然可以这么说。但如果是正式场合，你的表达最好更加委婉一些。例如：That was delicious but I've already had plenty, thanks.

讲英语难, 吵架更难. 虽说人在国外总是想尽办法以和为贵, 但要跟人家吵架怎么办?
很多人一生气, 所有的英文都忘光了, 平常英文就说不出口, 更何况是吵架, 所以满脑子浮现的不是 Fxxx 就是 Sxxx 这样是很不好的. 我还听过有一个人很绝, 英文骂不过人家就用中文骂, 反正对方听得懂听不懂都无关紧要, 重要的是让他知道你很凶, 而且你正在骂他就行了. 那么现在还是让我们来看看一些比较文雅的骂人以及吵架的方式.

1. I'm so fed up with your BS. Cut the crap.　　我受够了你的废话, 少说废话吧.
美女 (美国的女人) 是不喜欢说 shit 这个不雅的字的, 所以她们就说 shoot, 或是BS(=Bull shit) 来表示她们还是很有气质的. "Cut your crap." 是当你听到对方废话连篇, 讲个不停时, 你就可以说, "Cut the crap." 相当于中文里的废话少话。

2. Hey! wise up!　　放聪明点好吗?
当别人作了什么愚蠢的事时, 你可以说, "Don't be stupid" 或是 "Don't be silly."但是这是非常不礼貌的说法. 比较客气一点的说法就是, wise up! 它就相当于中文里的放聪明点. 你也可以用坚酸刻薄的语气说. Wise up, please. 然后故意把 please 的尾音拉得长长的.
也有人会说, Hey! grow up. 意思就是你长大一点好不好? 例如有人二十岁了却还不会自己补衣服, 你就可以说 Hey! grow up. 这根 wise up 是不是也差不多呢?

3. Put up or shut up.　　要嘛你就去做, 不然就给我闭嘴.
有些人就是出那张嘴, 只会出意见, 此时就可以说, Put up or shut up. 要注意的是,Put up 字典上是查不到"自己去做" 的意思, 但是见怪不怪, 很多笔记本上的用法都是字典上查不到的. 比方说今天你在写程序, 有人明明不懂却喜欢在一旁指挥你, 这时候你就可以说, Put up or shut up.
有时为了要加强 shut up 的语气, 老美会把它说成, shut the f**k up. 这句话常在二人火气很大时的对话中可以听到, 例如电影 The house on the haunted hill 女主角身陷鬼屋之中, 其它人又七嘴八舌时, 她就很生气地说了一句, shut the f**k up.
这句话也让我想到一句成语, walk the walk, talk the talk, 也就是说到就要作到,有点像是中文里知行要合一的意思, 或是只说, walk the talk 也可以.

4. You eat with that mouth?　　你是用这张嘴吃饭的吗?
别人对你说脏话, 你就回敬他这一句, 言下之意, 就是你的嘴那么脏, 你还用这张嘴吃饭.还有一种说法, "You kiss your Momma with that mouth?" 就是说你也是用这脏嘴亲你妈妈的吗? 所以下次记得如果有老美对你说脏话, 记得不要再 Fxxx 回去, 保持风度,说一句, "You eat with that mouth?" 就扯平了

5. You are dead meat.　　你死定了.
我们说你完蛋了, 可以说 "You are dead." 或是像这样说 "You are dead meat." 意思都是一样的, 比如说你跟别人说过不淮碰我的东西, 但有人他就是老爱用你的东西, 下次要是再被你抓到, 你就可以说, "You are dead meat."

6. Don't you dare!　　How dare you!　　你好大的胆子啊! 
这句话跟中文里 "你好大的胆子" 是一样, 可以在二种场合说, 第一种是很严肃的场合,比如说小孩子很调皮, 讲又讲不听, 父母就会说, "Don't you dare!" 那意思就是这个小孩要当心点, 不然等会就要挨打了. 另一种场合是开玩笑, 比如有人跟你说我跟某网友约会去了, 你说 "Don't you dare?" 就有点开玩笑的语气. (你不怕被恐龙给吃了吗?)Dare 在英文里还有许多有趣的用法, 例如, "You dare me." 或是 "I double dare you." 还有一种游戏叫 Truth or Dare, 限于篇幅, 容后再作介绍.

7. Don't push me around.　　不要摆布我.
这个词很有意思, 把你推来推去, 作摆布解释, 如果有人指挥你一下作这个一下作那个,你就可以用这一句 Hey! Don't push me around. 通常当我讲 "Don't push me around."时, 我还会想到一个字 bossy. Bossy 就是说像是老板一样, 喜欢指挥别人. 例如,"You are so bossy. I don't like that."
这句话也可以单讲, "Don't push me." 或是 "Don't push me any further." 还有一句根push 有关的成语, 叫 push the button, 意思就是, 指使, 操纵. 例如, "I know why you are doing this, someone is pushing your button!"

8. Are you raised in the barn?　　你是不是乡下长大的啊?
这句话是形容一个人没教养, 但是是比较开玩笑的语气. 比如说有人坐没坐像, 你就可以对他说这一句. Barn 原指谷仓. 我翻成乡下比较能跟中文的意思结合. 老美常用barn或是backyard 来形容一个人没有教养或是没有文化, 像是那天在电视上听到一句,"No backyard language in my house." 就是说, 在我的家里不准讲粗话.

9. You want to step outside?　　You want to take this outside?　　你想要外面解决吗?
老美跟我们一样, 要是二个人一言不合吵起来了, 可能就有人要说这一句了. 指的就是要不要出去打架啦. 还有一些我听过类似的用法, 例如, "Do you want to pick a fight?"
你要挑起争端吗? 或是 "This means war." 这就意谓着跟我宣战.

10. You and what army?　　You and who else?　　你和哪一路的人马啊?
要是有人跟你说 "Do you want to step outside?", 就回他这一句吧. 意思是说,是喔... 那你找了多少人马要来打架啊? 有时候电视里出现这句对白的时候, 还会打出一排军队的计算机动画, 非常地有意思.
还有一句话也很好玩, 叫 "Who's side are you on?" 这就是在快要打架时, 你问人家说,你到底是站在哪一边的? 

歌曲《青花瓷》的英文译文

　　素胚勾勒出青花，毛峰浓转淡

　　All the unglazed porcelain indigo shading into green

　　瓶身描绘的牡丹，如你初妆

　　A peony newly protrayed as you're fresh make-up

　　冉冉檀香透过窗，心事我了然

　　Slow-rising incense floats through the screen, taking along my thoughts to you

　　宣纸上走笔至此各一半

　　The roaming brush learns on my thinking,leavingbehind a half done painting

　　釉色渲漆仕女图，韵味被私藏

　　In the enamoled painting if maid figures, feminity is concealed to the purpose

　　而你嫣然的一笑如含苞待放

　　Your smile flecting and sweet, is like a bud ready to burst

　　你的美一缕飘散，去到了我去不了的地方

　　Your charm wafts away, to the place that I can not trace

　　色白花青的锦鲤跃然起碗底

　　White-bellied, blue carps are to leap out of the bowl bottoms

　　临摹宋体落款时却惦记着你

　　Copying the Song typeface, I inscribe my name but think about yours

　　你隐藏在窑烧里千年的秘密

　　Your secrt, deep inside the kiln for thousands

　　极细腻犹如绣花针落地

　　It's like a needle so delicate dropping on the ground through quietness.

　　窗外芭蕉惹骤雨，门环惹铜绿

　　The out door plantain trees allures a sudden rain, the copper knocker invited some green

　　而我路过那江南小镇惹了你

　　Never though I'd brush past you in such a pretty scene, amid splash-ink paints of Jiangnan

　　在泼墨山水画里,你从墨色深处被隐去

　　Hills and water, your receding figure blended well with the picture

　　天青色等烟雨而我去等你

　　The grayish blue sky and I'll wait for you

　　炊烟袅袅升起,隔江千万里

　　The curls of cooking smoke are seen from across the river

　　在瓶底书汉隶,仿前朝的飘逸

　　On the porcelain base the offical scrīpts of Han Dynasty borrowing the elegance of the ancient calligraphy

　　就当我为遇见你伏笔

　　I anticipate the chance back to our frist glance.

1、游戏时耍赖：

　　That doesn't count.

　　那不算！

　　We weren't playing for real.

　　我们不是玩真的。

　　2、欠钱时耍赖：

　　Money has been really tight lately...

　　最近手头有点紧……

　　I've had so many other expenses...

　　我有太多其他的费用要付……

　　3、犯错时耍赖：

　　It's not my fault.

　　那不是我的错。

　　He/She made me do it.

　　4、交通违规时耍赖：

　　I didn't see the sign.

　　我没有看到标记。

　　5、规避责任时耍赖：

　　It's not my turn to...

　　这次不是轮到我……

　　I didn't know anything about it...

　　我对此事一无所知……

欢迎你到... welcome you to ... welcome to ...

　　永远记住你 remember you forever always remember you(没有人能活到forever)

　　祝你有个... wish you have a ... I wish you a ...

　　给你 give you here you are

　　很喜欢... very like ... like ... very much

　　黄头发 yellow hair blond/blonde(西方人没有yellow hair的说法)

　　厕所 WC men's room/women's room/restroom

　　真遗憾 it's a pity that's too bad/it's a shame(it's a pity说法太老)

　　裤子 trousers pants/slacks/jeans

　　修理 mend fix/repair

　　入口 way in entrance

　　出口 way out exit(way out在口语中是crazy的意思)

　　勤奋 diligent hardworking/studious/conscientious

　　应该 should must/shall

　　火锅 chafing dish hot pot

　　大厦 mansion center/plaza

　　马马虎虎 so-so average/fair/all right/not too bad/OK(西方人很少使用so-so)

　　好吃 delicious good/nice/tasty/appetizing(delicious在中国被滥用)

　　尽我最大努力 try my best try/strive(try的本意就是try my best)

　　有名 famous well-known/renowned/legendary/popular(famous在中国被滥用)

　　滑稽 humorous funny/witty/amusing/entertaining

　　欺骗 to cheat to trick/to play a joke on/to con/to deceive/to rip off

　　车门 the door of the car the car's door

　　怎么拼? how to spell? how do you spell?

　　再见 bye-bye bye/see you/see you later/later(bye-bye有些孩子气)

　　玩 play go to/do(play在中国被滥用)

　　面条 noodles pasta(noodles有些孩子气)

　　据说 it is said I heard/I read/I was told

　　等等 and so on etc.

　　直到现在 till now recently/lately/thus far

　　农民 peasant farmer

　　宣传 propaganda information

一提到“吃”，我们就会想到“eat”。实际上，很多情况下并不需要用“eat”来表达。如《红楼梦》中有这样的句子：“你们坐着吃吧，我可去了。”译成英文是：“Sit down and go on with your meal, I’m leaving you. ”再有一句“你尝尝罢，好吃得很呢！你林妹妹弱，吃了不消化；不然，他也爱吃。”这句连用了三个“吃”，但英译本中没有一个“eat ”，而译成“Go and taste some. It’s really delicious. Cousin Dai yu’s so delicate, it would give her indigestion. If it were not for that, she’d like some too.”在《儒林外史》第十一回中有这样一句：“好男不吃分家饭”译做“Good sons don’t live on their inheritance.”

　　现在让我们看下面的例句：

　　爸爸，我想吃点点心，你也吃点儿吗？I’m ready for some dessert, Dad. You too?

　　直到吃完饭华伦才讲话。Warren didn’t speak until he finished his meal.

　　他们吃了一顿极好的咖喱饭。They enjoyed a superb curry lunch.

　　吃点煎蛋卷还是吃点别的？How about an omelette, or something?

　　帕格一口一口地吃饭。Pug picked at food.

　　和我们一起吃饭吧。Join us for lunch.

　　我一点不喜欢吃那个东西。I’ve never learned to like that stuff.

　　我不怎么爱吃生蒜。I’m not especially fond of raw garlic.

　　她已好多了，饭也吃得下了。She is much better, she’s got an appetite now.

　　他是吃素的。He takes only vegetarian food.

　　他请朋友们吃饭。He entertained friends at dinner.

　　这碗饭不容易吃。This is a hard way to earn a living.

　　他爱吃甜食。He has a sweet tooth.

　　你真是癞蛤蟆想吃天鹅肉！You are like a toad trying to swallow a swan!

　　他去吃喜酒了。He went to a wedding feast.

　　你喜欢吃什么风味的菜？What sort of food would you like?

　　请再吃点腊肉。Please help yourself to some more cured meat.

　　通过以上各个例句，可见“吃”并不一定要用"eat"来表达。在不同的情况下可以用不同的表达方式。