DIALOGUE

A: Have you heard about the Dragon Boat Races to be held this afternoon?

A: 你知道今天下午有龙舟比赛吗?

B: Yes, it is part of a holiday, right?

B: 知道啊，是为了庆祝什么节日对吧?

A: Yup, Duan Wu Festival, but it’s also just simply called the Dragon Boat Festival. It’s among the three major traditional holidays celebrated by Chinese.

A: 是的，是端午节，不过(英文中)通常叫做龙舟节。它是中国三大传统节日之一。

B: Other than the Dragon Boat Races, what’s special about this day?

B: 除了龙舟赛，这一天还有什么特别的活动吗?

A: Traditionally, it was thought to be a time for warding off evil spirits, but now it’s just thought of a time to remind family members to take care of their health.

A: 在传统上，这一天一直被视为是驱凶避邪的日子，不过现在它的意义已经只是提醒家人注意身体健康了。

B: Sounds great! I think I’ll join in on the boat competitions.

B: 听起来不赖!我想我会去参加龙舟比赛。

A: After you’ve worked up an appetite, you can eat Zongzi. Everyone eats them during the Dragon Boat Festival.

A: 等你划船累到肚子饿的时候，就可以吃粽子。端午节的时候大家都会吃粽子。

B: Eating is a really important part of Chinese culture, huh?

B: 吃真是中国文化中很重要的一部分，对吧?

A: Yes, perhaps one of the most important aspect. Don’t worry though; there are no surprises in Zongzi. They are just rice with either meat or sweet red bean paste wrapped inside. They are quite yummy!

A: 没错，或许是最重要的之一。不过别担心，粽子里面没什么特别的东西，只是米饭包着肉或豆沙而已。好吃极了!

NOTES

1. join in on 通常指加入某个已经计划要进行的活动，成为其中的一员。例：

You should join in on our family’s New Year’s celebration.

你应该来跟我们家人一起庆祝新年。

Come join in (on) the fun!

一起来同乐吧!

2. work up an appetite 引起食欲，胃口大增。例：

He worked up an appetite after a long day of chopping wood.

在砍了一天柴后，他食欲大增。

You need to work up an appetite first, then we’ll go to the buffet.

你得先让自己饿得饥肠辘辘，然后我们再去吃自助餐。