美国文化口语-中国城

CONRAD: I'm glad we came here. This is really delicious!
LORI: I was worried you would think it was too far to drive.
CONRAD: Well, it's true I've never driven two hours just to get lunch.But really, I think it's worth it.
LORI: I think if you try some more authentic¹ Chinese food,you might understand how we students from Taiwan suffer.
CONRAD: How do you mean "suffer"?
LORI: I mean, in Milwaukee there is no good Chinese food.So we miss the food in Taiwan too much.Sometimes we just have to drive down here to Chicago to find something better.
CONRAD: Even in the winter?
LORI: Yes, even in the winter.
CONRAD: And even if it takes two hours, huh?
LORI: Why not? I've been craving² good food for three weeks now.I'm too sick of hamburgers and pizza!
CONRAD: Well, this really is delicious, I have to admit.I can understand better now why you and your friends are always whining³.
LORI: Don't tease⁴ me! Good food is really important to Chinese!
CONRAD: I know. I can see that. This is what is called "dim⁵ sum," right?
LORI: Yes, all these dishes are different "dim sum" dishes.You can't find this kind of thing except for in a few cities in America.
CONRAD: So when you Chinese think of Chinatown,you mostly think of food. Is that right?
LORI: Of course.I will try to buy some things at the Asian grocery⁶ down the block too.Then I can do a little cooking in my apartment.
CONRAD: And maybe we can go to a good Italian restaurant for dinner, after the museum.Chicago has some great Italian restaurants.
LORI: No way!
CONRAD: What do you mean?
LORI: We're going up to the "new" Chinatown for dinner.I already know where we're going to go.
CONRAD: Alright, alright. I am happy to try more Chinese food.Will it be dim sum again?
LORI: No, dim sum is usually eaten around lunch time,or sometimes closer to breakfast.We'll try more Taiwanese style up at the "new" Chinatown.
CONRAD: Taiwanese style? Isn't dim sum Taiwanese style?
LORI: No, dim sum is more Cantonese style.But of course you can buy it in Taiwan.
CONRAD: I wonder if you can cook things this good.
LORI: I'm a great cook actually. You will see.
康瑞德：很高兴来到这里。这真的很美味。
萝莉：我担心你会觉得开车太远。
康瑞德：这倒是真的，我从未开过两个小时的车子，只是为了吃顿午餐。但是不错，我觉得很值得。
萝莉：如果你再吃些地道的中国菜，你就会了解我们台湾学生所遭受的了。
康瑞德：你说“遭受”是什么意思？
萝莉：在密尔瓦基市都没有好吃的中国菜，所我们很怀念台湾的食物。有时候我们只好开车下来芝加哥找些好吃的东西。
康瑞德：连冬天都这样吗？
萝莉：是的，甚至在冬天也是这样。
康瑞德：而且甚至要花两个小时,是吗?
萝莉：有何不可呢？我已经渴望美食三个星期了。我受够了汉堡包和比萨。
康瑞德：这真的很好吃，我必须承认。现在我比较能够了解为什么你和你的朋友总是在抱怨。
萝莉：别取笑我了！美食对中国人来说是很重要的。
康瑞德：我知道，看得出来。这就是“点心”对不对？
萝莉：是的，这些菜肴都是不同的点心。在美国除了少数几个城市，你找不到这类食物的。
康瑞德：所以当你们中国人想到中国城，几乎都想到吃的，对不对？
萝莉：当然。我还要在下一条街的亚洲杂货店买些东西。那么我就可以在自己的公寓煮些东西。
康瑞德：也许参观完博物馆，我们可以去意大利餐厅吃晚餐。
芝加哥有一些很棒的意大利餐厅。
萝莉：绝不！
康瑞德：你是什么意思？
萝莉：我们要去新中国城吃晚餐。我已经知道我们要去哪里了。
康瑞德：好吧，好吧，我很乐意多吃些中国菜。又是吃点心吗？
萝莉：不是。点心通常是午餐吃的，有时候更接近早餐的时间。我们要在新中国城多吃些台湾菜。
康瑞德：台湾菜？点心不是台湾菜吗？
萝莉：不是，点心比较像是广东菜。当然在台湾也买得到。
康瑞德：我在想，你能煮得这么好吃吗？
萝莉：事实上我很会做菜，你等着看好了。

1 authentic   

a.真的，真正的；可靠的，可信的，有根据的

参考例句：

• This is an authentic news report. We can depend on it. 这是篇可靠的新闻报道, 我们相信它。
• Autumn is also the authentic season of renewal. 秋天才是真正的除旧布新的季节。

2 craving   

n.渴望,热望

参考例句：

• a craving for chocolate 非常想吃巧克力
• She skipped normal meals to satisfy her craving for chocolate and crisps. 她不吃正餐，以便满足自己吃巧克力和炸薯片的渴望。

3 whining   

n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚

参考例句：

• That's the way with you whining, puny, pitiful players. 你们这种又爱哭、又软弱、又可怜的赌棍就是这样。
• The dog sat outside the door whining (to be let in). 那条狗坐在门外狺狺叫着（要进来）。

4 tease   

vt.戏弄，取笑，挑逗，撩拨；n.戏弄人者

参考例句：

• The other boys tease him because he is fat.因为他很胖，所以其他男生都取笑他。
• His friends used to tease him about his tatty clothes.他的朋友过去常常笑话他破旧的衣服。

5 dim   

adj.昏暗的；朦胧的；v.(使)暗淡，(使)模糊

参考例句：

• The light is too dim for me to read easily.光线太暗，我很难阅读。
• I was so tired that my eyesight grew dim.我太累了，眼睛有点发花。

6 grocery   

n.食品，杂货；食品杂货店

参考例句：

• There used to be a grocery store on the corner.以前在这个街角有家杂货店。
• Her mother began operation of a small grocery.她母亲开始经营一家小杂货店。