【英语趣味课堂】中国新年-Chinese New Year

 Todd: So what exactly is Chinese New Year?

 

Santi: We celebrate once a year and it's just like the same as a New Year in Western countries, but we celebrate in ... like special ... different dates every year.

 

Todd: So it's a flexible¹ calendar?

 

Santi: Yes. My grandmother knows it but I don't. And especially for dinner we have a special arrangement in the table, like seven ... well, seven is a lucky number so seven types of dishes and then we got like money from our elders.

 

Todd: You get money?

 

Santi: Yes, we get money but we don't get presents. We get money.

 

Todd: So when you get this money, what do you normally² do with it? Like do they give you money and are you supposed to, like buy gifts, or are you supposed to put it away for savings³?

 

Santi: I think they want us to just save the money in case like for rainy days and then ... but most of my cousins just spend it for buying things like clothes, bags, shoes, but in my family it's kind of different, so whenever I get money I just give it to my mother.

 

Todd: For your mom to keep for herself or for your mom to save for you?

 

Santi: I don't know. I'm not very good at money so it's better for me to just give it to my mother and she will allocate⁴ it.

 

Todd: Well, actually, I think that's also a Chinese tradional also in the United⁵ States where I think that Chinese families, isn't it custom for children actually to give their parents a portion⁶ of their money?

 

Santi: Yes

 

Todd: Which is actually, I think makes a lot of sense.

 

Santi: Well, because we trust our mother. We trust our parents beyond reason sometimes and I think it's good.

 

Todd: So always give a little money up?

 

Santi: Yes.

 

Todd: I agree. I agree. Although I hope my mom's not listening. She's gonna expect some money from me.

 

Santi: And I feel better whenever my mom just gives me money to spend it ... not my ... just my entire money and then I spend it. I feel awful.

 

Todd: Oh, cause you feel like you've contributed⁷ some as well.

 

Santi: Yes.

 

Todd: Good point.

1 flexible   

adj.易曲的，灵活的，柔软的，能变形的，可通融的

参考例句：

• We need a foreign policy that is more flexible.我们需要一种更灵活的外交政策。
• We should stick to the principles and be flexible as well.我们既要有原则性，也要有灵活性。

2 normally   

adv.正常地，通常地

参考例句：

• I normally do all my shopping on Saturdays.我通常在星期六买东西。
• My pulse beats normally.我脉搏正常。

3 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

4 allocate   

vt.分配，分派；把…拨给；把…划归

参考例句：

• You must allocate the money carefully.你们必须谨慎地分配钱。
• They will allocate fund for housing.他们将拨出经费建房。

5 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

6 portion   

n.部分，份，命运；v.将...分配，分配

参考例句：

• You are paid your portion not later than a week. 不会晚于一周你就可以得到你那一部分报酬。
• Three thousand dollars is no more than a portion.3000美元只不过是一部分。

7 contributed   

捐献( contribute的过去式和过去分词 )； 捐助； 撰稿； 投稿

参考例句：

• Before closing I want to mention all those who contributed so generously. 在我结束讲话的时候，我想提一下所有慷慨捐赠的人。
• His research has contributed enormously to our understanding of this disease. 他的研究对我们认识这一疾病贡献很大。