实战口语情景对话 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?
安托万内特：沃伦，我们两个人现在都生活在日本，而且我们都来自西方国家。和我说说，你怎么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.
沃伦：你知道，日本有时也会用西方餐具。总体来说，我很喜欢筷子。我认为筷子非常方便。有些食物用筷子夹更容易。我刚来日本的时候，看到人们用筷子吃沙拉，当时我认为那真是太奇怪了。不过我在尝试用叉子吃沙拉的时候，我发现很难吃到莴苣。所以像这种食物我更喜欢用筷子吃。

Antoinette: When you first started using chopsticks, did you get hand cramps?
安托万内特：你刚开始用筷子时，手有没有抽筋？

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.
沃伦：我的情况并不严重，我记不清我从什么时候开始用筷子了，不过我在来日本之前已经习惯用筷子了。

Antoinette: That's good to know.
安托万内特：这很好。

Warren: Uh-hmm.
沃伦：嗯。

Antoinette: Well, what about sleeping? How do you sleep? Do you prefer a bed or do you prefer the Japanese style futon?
安托万内特：那睡觉呢？你怎么睡觉？你是喜欢睡在床上还是喜欢睡在日式床垫上？

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.
沃伦：你这么问真有趣。一开始，我讨厌那个又薄又小的垫子，不过后来我发现它对我的后背有好处。其实相比于西方的床，我更喜欢日式床垫，因为睡在上面我感觉后背更舒服。不过我不喜欢睡在地板上。我喜欢睡在高一点的地方。

Antoinette: So a high futon.
安托万内特：睡在高的日式床垫上。

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.
沃伦：如果可以在榻榻米上放日式床垫，那应该是最适合我的。

Antoinette: You know, I think I've seen things like that in the stores, platform bed with tatami.
安托万内特：我想我在商店里看到过类似的，榻榻米硬板床。

Warren: Oh, that sounds nice. I should look for that.
沃伦：哦，听起来不错。我应该去找找。

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?
安托万内特：对。我可以帮你找找，然后告诉你在哪里。那洗澡呢？日本以香薰和沐浴方式而闻名。你是喜欢日本的沐浴还是西方的淋浴？

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.
沃伦：其实现在我非常喜欢日式沐浴。我回家的时候，感觉很难。我喜欢先洗一下然后再进浴缸。

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?
安托万内特：这很好。我也很喜欢那样。那进屋前脱鞋的习惯呢？

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.
沃伦：嗯，这的确令我非常困扰。我在加拿大长大，我在进屋之前都会先脱鞋。我认为那并不是加拿大的习俗，许多人这样做只是为了保持房子的洁净。不过有时，如果我赶时间，而我又忘了拿车钥匙，那我会穿着鞋跑进去拿钥匙，而不是脱鞋进屋，然后出来再把鞋穿好。

Antoinette: Okay, tell me. Confess now. Do you sometimes keep your shoes on and go into the house?
安托万内特：好。告诉我，现在承认吧。你是不是经常穿着鞋进房子？

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.
沃伦：对，有时。不过我发现我妻子也这样做过几次，而她是日本人。我想这可能并不是那么糟的事情。

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?
安托万内特：嗯，我想那并不糟糕。我也会穿鞋进屋。那坐在地板上和坐在椅子上，你更喜欢哪种？

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.
沃伦：哦，我要再说一次，我真的非常不喜欢坐在地板上。对我来说那非常不舒服。我个子有点高。我的腿很长，坐在地上的时候，我的腿没地方放。通常，我的腿很快就会开始放松，可是我的后背又开始让我感到很痛苦。所以我喜欢坐在椅子上。

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?
安托万内特：哦，那太糟糕了。我最后一个问题与饮食习惯有关，与进餐和食物供应方式有关。你是喜欢食物以单人份供应还是喜欢分享食物？

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.
沃伦：嗯，这是个好问题，不过我也不清楚自己喜欢什么。我喜欢可以吃到各种食物的饮食习惯，所以日式饮食习惯有时很有趣。不过有时我只想吃我面前的单人份食物。