Podcast: Stop wasting food!

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Rú ɡuǒ zhōnɡ ɡuó rén qǐnɡ nǐ chī ɡuò fàn , nǐ yí dìnɡ jiàn shí le zhōnɡ ɡuó rén zài cān zhuō shànɡ de rè qínɡ : " xǐ huɑn chī shén me suí biàn diǎn ! " 、 " duō chī diǎn , bié kè qi ! " 

如果中国人请你吃过饭,你一定见识了中国人在餐桌上的热情:"喜欢吃什么随便点!"、"多吃点,别客气!"

If you were ever present at a Chinese dinner, you must have sensed hospitality of the Chinese, "Oder whatever you like!", "Just help yourself to some more!" 

Yīn wèi zhōnɡ ɡuó rén rèn wéi , qǐnɡ kè chī fàn shí , zhuō shànɡ de cài yuè duō , yuè nénɡ biǎo xiàn tā men duì kè rén de rè qínɡ hé chénɡ yì 。

因为中国人认为,请客吃饭时,桌上的菜越多,越能表现他们对客人的热情和诚意。

In their eyes, the number of dishes on the table is in direct proportion to their hospitality and sincerity. 

Dàn shì , zhè dài kè rè qínɡ , yǐ jīnɡ biàn chénɡ le yì zhǒnɡ bù huán bǎo de huài xí ɡuàn , měi nián zhōnɡ ɡuó cān zhuō shànɡ lànɡ fèi de shí wù duō dé nán yǐ xiǎnɡ xiànɡ 。 

但是,这待客热情,已经变成了一种不环保的坏习惯,每年中国餐桌上浪费的食物多得难以想象。

However, such hospitality is indeed an environment-unfriendly bad habit, as immeasurable food is wasted on Chinese tables every year.  

Yuè lái yuè duō de zhōnɡ ɡuó rén yì shí dào le zhè ɡe wèn tí , dàn yǒu shí què rénɡ rán shòu dào " xí ɡuàn " de kònɡ zhì 。 Rú ɡuǒ nǐ yǒu jī huì ɡēn zhōnɡ ɡuó rén chī shànɡ yí dùn fàn , jì dé yònɡ xià miɑn zhè xiē huà tí xǐnɡ tā men : 

越来越多的中国人意识到了这个问题,但有时却仍然受到"习惯"的控制。如果你有机会跟中国人吃上一顿饭,记得用下面这些话提醒他们:

Increasingly, the Chinese have become aware of the problem. However, they just cannot break away from the "habit" sometimes. So, when you have a dinner with your Chinese friends, remember to remind them using the following expressions.

Bié zài làng fèi shí wù le!

别再浪费食物了! 

"We had better not waste food."  

Dānɡ zhōnɡ ɡuó rén kāi shǐ liǎo wú xiū zhǐ de diǎn cài xínɡ wéi , jì dé ɡào su tā : 

当中国人开始了无休止的点菜行为,记得告诉他:

When they are starting the reckless ordering, remember to tell them that 

Zhè xiē cài kě néng tài duō le。

这些菜可能太多了!

"These dishes have been more than enough!"

Dānɡ rán , zhè yǒu kě nénɡ zāo dào tā men de fǎn duì : duō diǎn xiē , bié kè qi ! 

当然,这有可能遭到他们的反对:多点些,别客气!

Of course, you may be interrupted by them, "Just order more. Don’t be courteous!"

Zhè shí hou , nǐ ké yǐ tí chū shàn yì de tí xǐnɡ :

这时候,你可以提出善意的提醒:

In this case, you can give your kind reminding, 

Cài gòu duō le,bié làng fèi shí wù 。

菜够多了,别浪费食物。 

"They are enough. Otherwise, it will be a waste." 

Suī rán diǎn cài shí yǐ jīnɡ duō cì tí xǐnɡ , dàn cài liànɡ hái shì fēi chánɡ dà , zhè shí hou zhōnɡ ɡuó pénɡ you kāi shǐ quàn nǐ : duō chī diǎn , duō chī diǎn ! 

虽然点菜时已经多次提醒,但菜量还是非常大,这时候中国朋友开始劝你:多吃点,多吃点!

Despite of your reminding, a large number of dishes may still be ordered finally. Then your Chinese friends will say to you, "Have some more!" 

shì shí hou ɡào su nǐ de zhōnɡ ɡuó pénɡ you le : 

是时候告诉你的中国朋友了:

You can answer this way, 

Cài tài duō le,wǒ chī bù wán。

菜太多了,我吃不完。

"The dishes are too much for me." 

Dānɡ rán , zuì hòu kě nénɡ hái shì huì yǒu yì xiē shènɡ xià de fàn cài , zhōnɡ ɡuó rén kě nénɡ huì bǎ tā men shènɡ xià , dàn zhè ɡe shí hou nǐ ké yǐ shuō : 

当然,最后可能还是会有一些剩下的饭菜,中国人可能会把它们剩下,但这个时候你可以说:

As a result, some food will be unfinished. Your Chinese friends may pay no attention to them, but you can suggest, 

Shèng xià de cài,wǒ men dǎ bāo ba。

剩下的菜,我们打包吧。

"Let’s get these leftovers wrapped up".

Rú ɡuǒ nǐ de zhōnɡ ɡuó pénɡ you bù xiǎo xīn fàn le lànɡ fèi shí wù de cuò , jì dé yònɡ zhè xiē huà tí xǐnɡ tí xǐnɡ tā men bɑ ! 

如果你的中国朋友不小心犯了浪费食物的错,记得用这些话提醒提醒他们吧!

If your Chinese friends waste food unintentionally, remember to remind them with the above expressions. 

Key words

多-duō
more; much; many

食物-shí wù

food

浪费-lànɡ fèi

waste

打包-dǎ bāo 

pack up

吃不完-chī bù wán

Cannot finish (food)

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The article is translated and editted by Chinlingo. Please indicate the source for any use, reproduction or transfer. 

本文由Chinlingo编译后发布,如需转载,请标明来源。