DIALOGUE

A: Have you heard about the Dragon Boat Races to be held this afternoon?

A: 你知道今天下午有龍舟比賽嗎?

B: Yes, it is part of a holiday, right?

B: 知道啊，是為了慶祝什么節(jié)日對吧?

A: Yup, Duan Wu Festival, but it’s also just simply called the Dragon Boat Festival. It’s among the three major traditional holidays celebrated by Chinese.

A: 是的，是端午節(jié)，不過(英文中)通常叫做龍舟節(jié)。它是中國三大傳統節(jié)日之一。

B: Other than the Dragon Boat Races, what’s special about this day?

B: 除了龍舟賽，這一天還有什么特別的活動嗎?

A: Traditionally, it was thought to be a time for warding off evil spirits, but now it’s just thought of a time to remind family members to take care of their health.

A: 在傳統上，這一天一直被視為是驅兇避邪的日子，不過現在它的意義已經只是提醒家人注意身體健康了。

B: Sounds great! I think I’ll join in on the boat competitions.

B: 聽起來不賴!我想我會去參加龍舟比賽。

A: After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can eat Zongzi. Everyone eats them during the Dragon Boat Festival.

A: 等你劃船累到肚子餓的時候，就可以吃粽子。端午節(jié)的時候大家都會吃粽子。

B: Eating is a really important part of Chinese culture, huh?

B: 吃真是中國文化中很重要的一部分，對吧?

A: Yes, perhaps one of the most important aspect. Don’t worry though; there are no surprises in Zongzi. They are just rice with either meat or sweet red bean paste wrapped inside. They are quite yummy!

A: 沒錯，或許是最重要的之一。不過別擔心，粽子里面沒什么特別的東西，只是米飯包著肉或豆沙而已。好吃極了!

NOTES

1. join in on 通常指加入某個已經計劃要進行的活動，成為其中的一員。例：

You should join in on our family’s New Year’s celebration.

你應該來跟我們家人一起慶祝新年。

Come join in (on) the fun!

一起來同樂吧!

2. work up an appetite 引起食欲，胃口大增。例：

He worked up an appetite after a long day of chopping wood.

在砍了一天柴后，他食欲大增。

You need to work up an appetite first, then we’ll go to the buffet.

你得先讓自己餓得饑腸轆轆，然后我們再去吃自助餐。