Learn Chinese -- Dialogue -- Lesson 5 Being A Guest at A Friend's Home

TEXT

 

Wánglì: fàn zuò hăo le, kuài lái chī ba.
王丽： 饭做好了，快来吃吧。 
Wang: Now everything is already prepared. Come on, let's eat. 
   
mài kè: zhè me duō cài, kàn zhe yăn dōu chán le.
麦克： 这么多菜，看着眼都馋了。 
Mike:  So many delicious dishes! It makes my mouth water just to look at them. 
   
Wánglì: lái, jiā cài, duō chī diănr.
王丽： 来，夹菜，多吃点儿。 
Wang:  Here, take some more. 
   
mài kè: zhè xiē cài dōu shì nín zì jĭ zuò de ma?
麦克： 这些菜都有是您自己做的吗？ 
Mike: Did you cook all these dishes?
   
Wánglì: shì a, zĕn me yàng?
王丽： 是啊，怎么样？ 
Wang: Yes. How do you like it?
   
mài kè: Zhōng guó rén zuò cài de shŏu yì zhēn bú cuò.
麦克： 中国人做菜的手艺真不错。 
Mike: The Chinese are very good at cooks.
   
Wánglì: lái, gĕi nĭ diănr zhè gè cài. 
王丽： 来给你点儿这个菜。 
Wang:  Now, let me help you with the dish.
   
mài kè:  bié kè qì, wŏ zì jĭ lái.
麦克： 别客气，我自己来。 
Mike:  Don't stand on ceremony. I'll help myself.
   
Wánglì: chī băo le ma?
王丽： 吃饱了吗？ 
Wang:  Are you full?
   
mài kè: xiè xiè, chī băo le.
麦克： 谢谢，吃饱了。 
Mike:  Thanks, I'm quite full.

 

Background

 

应邀到中国朋友家作客，要求准时到达，提前几分钟也是适宜的，迟到是失礼的。中国人请客吃饭，一般情况是重吃不重谈。中国人认为酒菜不丰盛是不尊重客人。麦克应邀到他的中国同事王丽家作客。

If invited, a guest must arrive at a Chinese friend's home on time. It is proper to be there a couple of minutes earlier, as being late is rude. Generally speaking, eating is more important than talking at a dining table for Chinese people think scant wine and dishes are impolite to guests. Mike is invited to her colleague Wang Li's home.

New Words

1.       朋友 péng yǒu: friend

2.       做客：zuò kè: be invited

3.       饭fàn: dinner

4         菜 cài: dish

5.       馋 chán: greedy

6.       自己 zì jĭ: oneself

7.       做菜 zuò cài: cook

8.       手艺不错 shŏu yì bú cuò: be good at

9.       夹菜 jiā cài: eat

10.　  饱 băo: be full