美語情景對話 第1086期:His Life in Japan 他在日本的生活

Antoinette: Well, Warren, you know, we've been talking about the fact that we both live in Japan and that we're both from Western countries. Tell me, how do you feel about Western eating utensils compared to Japanese eating utensils?

安託萬內特：沃倫，我們兩個人現在都生活在日本，而且我們都來自西方國家。和我說說，你怎麼看西方的餐具和日本的餐具？

Warren: Well, you know, even in Japan, they use Western utensils sometimes. But overall, I do like chopsticks. I think it's very handy. It's just easier to pick up certain things. When I first came to Japan and saw people eating salad with chopsticks, I thought it was very strange. But if I tried to eat it with a fork now, it's actually very difficult to pick up things like lettuce. And I prefer using chopsticks for things like that.

沃倫：你知道，日本有時也會用西方餐具。總體來說，我很喜歡筷子。我認爲筷子非常方便。有些食物用筷子夾更容易。我剛來日本的時候，看到人們用筷子吃沙拉，當時我認爲那真是太奇怪了。不過我在嘗試用叉子吃沙拉的時候，我發現很難吃到萵苣。所以像這種食物我更喜歡用筷子吃。

Antoinette: When you first started using chopsticks, did you get hand cramps?

安託萬內特：你剛開始用筷子時，手有沒有抽筋？

Warren: Not so much because – I can't recall when I started using them, but I actually, I became comfortable with them before coming to Japan.

沃倫：我的情況並不嚴重，我記不清我從什麼時候開始用筷子了，不過我在來日本之前已經習慣用筷子了。

Antoinette: That's good to know.

安託萬內特：這很好。

Warren: Uh-hmm.

沃倫：嗯。

Antoinette: Well, what about sleeping? How do you sleep? Do you prefer a bed or do you prefer the Japanese style futon?

安託萬內特：那睡覺呢？你怎麼睡覺？你是喜歡睡在牀上還是喜歡睡在日式牀墊上？

Warren: Well, it's funny you say that. At first, I hated the idea of this thin little mattress but I did find that it's actually quite nice for my back. I actually prefer it to Western beds because it's better for my back. But I don't like sleeping on the floor. I like being higher up.

沃倫：你這麼問真有趣。一開始，我討厭那個又薄又小的墊子，不過後來我發現它對我的後背有好處。其實相比於西方的牀，我更喜歡日式牀墊，因爲睡在上面我感覺後背更舒服。不過我不喜歡睡在地板上。我喜歡睡在高一點的地方。

Antoinette: So a high futon.

安託萬內特：睡在高的日式牀墊上。

Warren: If I could get like, you know, a tatami mat that's raised with a futon mattress on top, that would be best for me.

沃倫：如果可以在榻榻米上放日式牀墊，那應該是最適合我的。

Antoinette: You know, I think I've seen things like that in the stores, platform bed with tatami.

安託萬內特：我想我在商店裏看到過類似的，榻榻米硬板牀。

Warren: Oh, that sounds nice. I should look for that.

沃倫：哦，聽起來不錯。我應該去找找。

Antoinette: Yeah. I should find one for you and point you in that direction. Well, what about bathing? The Japanese are famous for their incense and the way they bathe. So do you prefer a Japanese style bathing situation or a Western style shower?

安託萬內特：對。我可以幫你找找，然後告訴你在哪裏。那洗澡呢？日本以香薰和沐浴方式而聞名。你是喜歡日本的沐浴還是西方的淋浴？

Warren: Well, I actually much prefer the Japanese style now. When I go back home, I find it quite difficult. I like to be able to clean myself before going into the bathtub.

沃倫：其實現在我非常喜歡日式沐浴。我回家的時候，感覺很難。我喜歡先洗一下然後再進浴缸。

Antoinette: That's a good thing. I do enjoy that as well. What about the custom of taking your shoes off before going into a house?

安託萬內特：這很好。我也很喜歡那樣。那進屋前脫鞋的習慣呢？

Warren: Well, that doesn't bother me too much. Growing up in Canada, I always took my shoes off coming inside anyways. I don't think it's as much of a ritual in Canada but many people do it just to keep a clean house. But sometimes, if I run out and I forget something like my car keys and I want to just run back inside, I'll tend to want to keep my shoes on rather than taking them on and off every single time.

沃倫：嗯，這的確令我非常困擾。我在加拿大長大，我在進屋之前都會先脫鞋。我認爲那並不是加拿大的習俗，許多人這樣做只是爲了保持房子的潔淨。不過有時，如果我趕時間，而我又忘了拿車鑰匙，那我會穿着鞋跑進去拿鑰匙，而不是脫鞋進屋，然後出來再把鞋穿好。

Antoinette: Okay, tell me. Confess now. Do you sometimes keep your shoes on and go into the house?

安託萬內特：好。告訴我，現在承認吧。你是不是經常穿着鞋進房子？

Warren: Yeah, sometimes I have. But I've caught my wife doing it a couple of times too, and she's Japanese. So I guess I'm not that bad.

沃倫：對，有時。不過我發現我妻子也這樣做過幾次，而她是日本人。我想這可能並不是那麼糟的事情。

Antoinette: Hey, I don't think so. I do it, too. What about sitting on the floor versus sitting in chairs? Which do you prefer?

安託萬內特：嗯，我想那並不糟糕。我也會穿鞋進屋。那坐在地板上和坐在椅子上，你更喜歡哪種？

Warren: Oh again, I really dislike sitting on the floor. It isn't very comfortable for me. I'm a little bit tall. I have long legs and I don't seem to have a place to put my legs when I'm on the floor. Usually, my legs will fall asleep quickly and my back will start to bother me. So I prefer to sit up in a chair.

沃倫：哦，我要再說一次，我真的非常不喜歡坐在地板上。對我來說那非常不舒服。我個子有點高。我的腿很長，坐在地上的時候，我的腿沒地方放。通常，我的腿很快就會開始放鬆，可是我的後背又開始讓我感到很痛苦。所以我喜歡坐在椅子上。

Antoinette: Oh that's too bad. I guess my last question refers to eating habits – well, meals and how they're served. Do you prefer to eat meals that are served to you individually or do you prefer to eat and share your food?

安託萬內特：哦，那太糟糕了。我最後一個問題與飲食習慣有關，與進餐和食物供應方式有關。你是喜歡食物以單人份供應還是喜歡分享食物？

Warren: Well, that's a good question but I don't know if I have a preference. I like the idea of eating all sorts of different things, so it can be fun eating in a Japanese style sometimes. But there are times where do I like to just have my own meal in front of me as well.

沃倫：嗯，這是個好問題，不過我也不清楚自己喜歡什麼。我喜歡可以吃到各種食物的飲食習慣，所以日式飲食習慣有時很有趣。不過有時我只想吃我面前的單人份食物。

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重點講解：
1. at first 最初；起初；開始時；
例句：She was nervous at first but soon composed herself.
她一開始有些緊張,但很快就鎮定下來了。
2. be famous for 以……聞名；
例句：The city is famous for its silk.
該市以出產絲綢而聞名於世。
3. take off 脫下，脫掉(衣物)；
例句：The doctor gestured me to take off my coat.
醫生做手勢要我脫去外套。
4. run out 用完；耗盡；
例句：Our time is running out.
我們剩下的時間不多了。