Languages / Mandarin / Level 2 · Unit 3

吃在中国 — Food Culture

Lesson 50 of 170 · Level 2 of 6All lessons
In this lesson

You are learning food culture: you will read the scene it happens in, learn 10 words and phrases, take apart the pattern behind them (是...的 — emphasizing context (when, where, how)), hear them in a conversation, rehearse them, and finish by saying one thing out loud to be graded.

The scene

A reflective conversation about Chinese food philosophy over a family-style meal

Food Is Heaven

中国有一句老话:「民以食为天。」意思是,吃饭是最重要的事。在中国,吃不只是吃,还是文化、是感情、是团圆。

中国人吃饭是一起吃的。一大桌菜,大家分享。这跟西方不一样。西方是每个人点自己的,中国是大家一起吃。这是分享的文化。

上海菜的特点是「浓油赤酱」——味道浓,颜色深,但是很好吃。上海人也很重视食材的新鲜。去菜市场买最新鲜的菜,是上海人的传统。

我在上海学到了一件事:中国的饮食文化不只是味道,还有平衡和健康。热的配冷的,辣的配甜的。这是中国人的智慧。