陳豪在北京的ABC美國公司工作,他在公司餐廳里遇到了美國同事Amy。
(Office ambience)
C:Hi, Amy. 我有幾個問題想請教你。
A:Of course, what about?
C: Table manners. 具體說,我想知道用刀叉有哪些講究。
A: So you are having trouble figuring out the correct way to eat Western style?
C:沒錯。每次出去吃飯,我都會犯怵,總要等別人先動手,然后跟著學(xué),可總是不得要領(lǐng)。
A:Well, for one thing, there are only two correct styles of eating that the Americans use, but some people eat however it suits them.
C:既然美國人都那么隨便,那我怎么用刀叉,是不是也就無所謂了呢?
A: 你要是想成功,還是應(yīng)該注意飯桌上的規(guī)矩,because how you handle getting food to your mouth is a big part of your professional image.
C: 你說得也對,那到底該怎么使用刀叉呢?
A:The two correct styles of eating are the American and the Continental style.
C:一種是美國式,一種是大陸式。你就地給我演示一下行嗎。等我去借幾把刀叉來。
A:Better yet, let's go to the New York Grill after work and practice in an authentic American restaurant.
C:好主意,那咱們下班見。
******
C:Amy,先教我美式吧。
A:With the American style, you hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand to cut your meat or vegetables.
C:左手拿叉...右手拿刀切...
A:Then you place the knife on the top of your plate with the blade facing in. Next you transfer the fork to your right hand.
C:等等,切完了把刀放在盤子上,刀刃兒沖里,然后再把叉子從左手換到右手上。
A:Now with the fork in your right hand, you take the food to your mouth with the fork tines up.
C:Tines是什么?
A:Times是叉子的尖。
C:噢,就是吃的時候叉子的尖兒要沖上。那大陸式的用法呢?
A:切食物的方法是一樣的。The difference is that you keep the fork in your left hand to take the food to your mouth but with the tines down.
C:所以說唯一的區(qū)別是,叉子不換到右手上,一直是左手拿叉,吃的時候叉子的尖兒沖下。What do I do with my knife?
A:You can continue to hold it in your right hand since you aren't switching the fork over. Just keep it close to your plate.
C:如果想放下,是不是也要刀刃沖內(nèi),放在盤子上呢?
A:沒錯。Food is cut the same way for both American and Continental styles, fork in the left hand and knife in the right hand.
C:我記住了,謝謝你Amy.