Chinese Chopsticks

In ancient China, chopsticks were called 'Zhu'. Having learned to steam and boil food our ancestors found it difficult to get food out of hot soup. So they cleverly invented 'Zhu' to nip food, thus it has become the most convenient tableware in their lives. The development of chopstick has experienced a long history. Early in Xia Dynasty, the shape was still in development. Chopsticks only became two sticks of the same length in the Shang Dynasty. The appearance of chopsticks said goodbye to those days when our Chinese ancestors had to use their hands to eat, so they featured the coming of civilization to food culture.

中國(guó)古代，筷子被稱為“箸”。我們的祖先學(xué)會(huì)蒸煮食物后，發(fā)現(xiàn)很難從熱湯中取出食物。于是他們巧妙地發(fā)明了“箸”來(lái)夾食物，因此它成了他們生活中最方便的餐具?？曜拥难葑冇兄凭玫臍v史，在夏朝，還沒(méi)有定型。直到商代，筷子才變成了兩根同樣長(zhǎng)度的棍子?？曜拥某霈F(xiàn)，我們的祖先告別了用手吃飯的時(shí)代，標(biāo)志著飲食文化文明的到來(lái)。

Simply composed of two sticks, a pair of chopsticks can deal with a variety of food. This embodies a Chinese philosophy of coping with shifting events by sticking to a fundamental principle. Using chopsticks regularly not only get joints and muscles exercised but also benefits children’s intelligence. Besides, chopsticks can do something you can never expect, like hair dressing.

簡(jiǎn)簡(jiǎn)單單的兩根筷子，卻可以應(yīng)對(duì)多種食物。這體現(xiàn)了中國(guó)人基本得處世哲學(xué)：以不變應(yīng)萬(wàn)變。經(jīng)常使用筷子不僅可以鍛煉關(guān)節(jié)和肌肉，而且對(duì)孩子的智力也有好處。此外，筷子還可以有意想不到的作用，比盤頭。

Then, how to use chopsticks correctly. First, put the first chopstick on the ring finger and hold it tight on the part of the hand between thumb and the index finger. Next, the second chopstick is put on the middle finger and it's fixed between the thumb and the index finger. Then, use the thumb as the fulcrum and use the index finger and the middle one to move the upper chopstick. The lower one is fixed.

那么，如何正確使用筷子。首先，把一根筷子置于無(wú)名指上，用虎口緊緊夾住握住。然后，把另一根筷子置于中指上，用拇指和食指固定。最后，以拇指為支點(diǎn)，用食指和中指移動(dòng)上方的筷子，下面的筷子不動(dòng)。

The use of chopsticks has been a part of Chinese food culture. There are some taboos that you must pay great attention to, or you may make mistakes and be laughed at. First, don't insert it vertically into the bowls or dishes. Chinese people do this only when they burn incense to sacrifice the dead. Second, don't use it to hit the side of your bowl or plate to make a lot of noise, because Chinese people think only beggars would do this to beg for meals. Third, don't use it to poke at every dish without knowing what you want. And last, don't stretch out your index finger, which would be regarded as a kind of accusation to others.

筷子是中國(guó)飲食文化的一部分。使用時(shí)，有一些禁忌務(wù)必注意，否則會(huì)被視為無(wú)禮并被嘲笑。首先，不要將筷子垂直插在食物上。中國(guó)人只有在燒香祭拜逝者時(shí)才會(huì)這樣做。第二，不要用筷子敲打碗碟，發(fā)出聲音，因?yàn)橹袊?guó)人認(rèn)為，只有乞丐才會(huì)這樣做來(lái)，乞討食物。第三，不確定自己是否要吃這道菜，就不要用筷子去動(dòng)它。最后，不要伸出食指，這會(huì)被認(rèn)為是對(duì)他人的一種指責(zé)。

Nowadays, chopsticks serve many new functions besides tableware. For example, you can buy a pair as a gift to your friends and relatives. In Chinese, They read 'Kuaizi', which means to have kids soon, so a newly-married couple will be very happy to accept then as their wedding gift. Skillful craftsmen painted beautiful sceneries on chopsticks to make them like fine artworks. Many people love to collect them as their treasure.

如今，除了作為餐具外，筷子還有許多新功能。例如，你可以買一雙作為禮物送給親朋好友。漢語(yǔ)中，“筷子”與“快子”諧音，意思是“早生貴子”，所以作為新婚禮物，也是也不失為一種好的選擇。工匠們也會(huì)在筷子上雕刻美麗的風(fēng)景，使之成為精美的藝術(shù)品。許多人喜歡將其作為藝術(shù)品來(lái)收集。

Small as they are chopsticks can pass on Chinese civilization, carrying forward different forms of unique Chinese culture. The world becomes colorful thanks to diversified civilizations and cultural tensions created by differences possess a unique form of charm. Chinese culture has always been there, showing its unique charm and openness. With 1.8 billion users, chopsticks are by no means just a kind of stick-shaped cutlery.

小小的筷子，傳遞著中華文明，弘揚(yáng)著中華文化。世界因文明多樣而更加燦爛，文化因各具特色而更具張力。中國(guó)文化源遠(yuǎn)流長(zhǎng)，魅力獨(dú)特和開(kāi)放包容。18億使用的筷子，它絕不僅僅是一種簡(jiǎn)單的餐具那么簡(jiǎn)單。