David：I understand that in Chinese culture peoplenormally eat rice or, as an alternative, dumplings atthe end of a meal.

我感觉中国人吃饭时喜欢最后吃米饭或饺子。

You：We usually eat rice, but we don't usually eatdumplings every day.

我们经常吃米饭，但饺子可不是每天都吃。

David：Sometimes I have had meals with Chinesefriends and at the end of the meal, they choosewhether to eat rice or dumplings. Why?

我跟中国朋友一起去吃饭时，他们经常会在快吃完时才点米饭或饺子。这是为什么?

You：Well, maybe this is true in restaurants when people eat starch to fill up at the end of ameal. But eating at home is different. At home, dumplingsaren't intended for every dayconsumption. If you eat rice at every meal, although it's convenient, it can get boring. It's aChinese custom, especially in the north, to eat dumplings the night before Spring Festival.

哦。在餐馆里，人们可能喜欢在正餐后吃点面食来填肚子;而在家里人们并不是每天都吃饺子。如果每顿都吃米饭，虽然很方便，但也会觉得烦的。中国人有除夕夜吃饺子的习俗，而且这一习俗在北方更为盛行。

David：Why? What's the history?

为什么?有什么说法吗?

You：There is a story but I don't know it. I am from south China and we don't share thatcustom.

是有一个故事但我不大清楚。我是南方人，我们那儿没有这个习俗。

David：It's not a part of the custom in southern China. It is only a custom in Beijing?

中国南方没有这个习俗。那仅仅是北京有吗?

You：Not only Beijing, but all northern China.

不仅是北京，而且整个北方都有这样的习俗。

David：Someone told me before that, because the dumpling is round, it symbolizes thebeginning of a new cycle. I am not sure, but sometimes I understand they put a coin insidewhen they make dumplings, whoever eats the dumpling with the coin will have good luck. Maybethis is more northeastern culture.

以前有人告诉我，饺子是圆的，象征着新的一轮的开始;我不知道这是不是真的。可是，我知道有时候人们包饺子时也会把一个饺子里面包上一枚硬币。吃到这个饺子的人就会有好运。也许这更具有东北特色一些。

You：Yeah, Ithink so.

我也这样认为。