A:Have you ever been invited to a Chinese feast?

你被邀請過吃中國式的午餐嗎？

B:Sure. Beijingers are distinguished for their warmth and hospitality.

當然了。北京人的熱情好客是出了名的。

A:As far as you could see, is dining at a Chinese table a distinct experience? To what extent does it differ from that in your homeland?

你覺得跟一桌中國人吃飯是不是很不一樣？跟你在你自己的國家吃飯有哪些不同呢？

B:To begin with, I have to use chopsticks.

首先，我得改用筷子。

A:But you look quite proficient in using them now.

可是，你看起來用筷子用的很熟練嘛。

B:Certainly. After all, I've been here for two years. It's not much uphill work for a foreigner to get used to Chinese dinner utensils. Though, I do feel hazy about how to behave appropriately at a Chinese dinner table.

當然了。怎么著我也在這里呆了2年了。我們老外用慣中式餐具倒也不是什么難事，但是在中國人的餐桌上，我經(jīng)常感覺到無所適從。

A:Yes, table etiquette. There are a multitude of rules that foreigners might never know until they were told. Some practices even appear somewhat awkward or rude to Westerners, while they are the norm in China. Hey, your chopsticks, old silly! You should not stab them vertically into the rice bow!

不錯，餐桌上的禮儀。吃飯時，有很多規(guī)矩，我們不說，老外們就不知道。其中有一點，在中國早已司空見慣，可是對于老外來說，有點讓人不舒服，甚至有點粗暴無禮。喂喂喂，老兄，注意你的筷子！直插在米飯里可不好！

B:Anything strange about that?

這個有什么不對嗎？

A:Maybe you should have placed them horizontally over your bowl or plate. They resemble two incense sticks used at sacrifices. It's very inauspicious, and might enrage all present.

也許你應該把它們平放在碗或者盤子上。要不然它們看上去就像兩根香燭，不吉利，在座的所有人都會不高興的。

B:Oh, sorry! There's a long story even with a mere pair of sticks.

對不起，對不起！沒想到連一雙筷子都有這么多奧秘。