Key Learning Points (Preview):
筷子 (kuàizi): n. chopsticks
简单 (jiǎndān): adj. easy/simple
Can you use “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks?” With the continued growing popularity of Chinese food and culture, more and more people around the world are trying to learn how to use chopsticks. Some even refuse knives and forks in Chinese restaurants for fear of missing the true experience of Chinese food. However, some people can not figure out how Chinese “喝汤 (hē tāng) eat soup.” Someone has even imagined that there are straw like chopsticks, with which Chinese people eat soup.
In Fact, Chinese people will, when having soup, put the chopsticks aside and use “勺子 (sháozi) spoons” or hold the “碗 (wǎn) bowl” to drink directly. You may find this surprising – is it so “简单 (jiǎndān) easy?” It is that simple. Although Chinese people customarily use chopsticks, they will choose other dinnerware when it is impractical to use chopsticks.
Chinese are very particular about using “筷子 (kuàizi) chopsticks” when having their meals. Starting in the Shang Dynasty, Chinese people began to use chopsticks made of “象牙 (xiàngyá) ivory.” Overtime, the materials used to make chopsticks have varied from things such as “金 (jīn) gold,” and “银 (yín) silver” to ivory. Typically, chopsticks made of such materials were used to symbolize wealth. Chopsticks made for common use can and have been made from bones, “竹子 (zhúzi) bamboo” and plastic. At present, bamboo chopsticks are most common, because they are natural and “健康 (jiànkāng) healthy.” So you should give it a try with the bamboo chopsticks.
Key Learning Points:
筷子 (kuàizi): n. chopsticks
Example:
Nǚ’ér huì yòng kuàizi chīfàn le.
Wife: 女儿会 用 筷子 吃饭 了！
Our young daughter is able to use chopsticks.
Zhēnde? Tài hǎo le.
Husband: 真 的？ 太 好 了。
Really? That’s great.
简单 (jiǎndān): adj. easy/simple
Example:
Tā cóng xiǎo zài hǎibiān zhǎngdà, suǒyǐ yóuyǒng duì tā lái shuō tài jiǎndān le.
他 从 小 在 海边 长大， 所以 游泳 对他 来 说 太 简单 了。
Having grown up on the seaside, it is quite easy for him to swim.
General Chinese (Beginner Level)
General Chinese (Intermediate Level)