留学生在中国 第45期:收礼还是不收礼 Refusing and Accepting Gifts
时间：2018-12-25 作者：英语课 分类：留学生在中国
英语课
Chapter 49 Refusing and Accepting Gifts第49章 收礼还是不收礼You: My mother always taught me that when somebody offers you a gift you should first refuse it before you accept it.
小时候，我妈妈常跟我说如果别人给你礼物你应该先拒绝然后再收下。
David: I think in the American culture, you usually directly 1 say whether you want or don't want something.
美国人通常直接说想要或不想要。
You: In China during Spring Festival, it's customary 2 for relative to give younger children money. After celebrating at home, my parents used to take me to visit some of our relatives. When they offered me money, I always refused it until they shoved 3 it into my pocket. That was the only way I could accept it. But now we can accept gifts directly and just say "thank you".
中国春节有个习俗，亲戚要给小孩子压岁钱。在家里过完年以后，我父母会带我去走亲戚。他们给我钱的时候，我要尽力拒绝，直到他们把钱塞进我的口袋。我必须这样做，但现在我们可以大方地拿着，说“谢谢”。
David: So the traditions and customs 4 are changing?
由此可见，人们的传统习俗是在不断变化的。
You: Yes, I think these Chinese people are accepting the western culture.
是的。我认为中国人在逐渐地接受西方文化。
David: How about you? Do you think it is important to learn some western customs?
你觉得了解西方的传统文化是很重要的吗？
You: Yes. We should learn western customs and cultures so we can establish friendships with people from different countries.
是的。我们要同世界各个民族建立友谊，我们就必须了解他们的文化。
David: You're right. I think it's a good thing. It's meaningless and silly to try to understand people whose culture you do not understand.
我也觉得是这样的。这样很好。毕竟跟一个你根本就不懂他的文化的人谈话，是很没意思的。
1 directly
adv.直接地，径直地；马上，立即
- I will telephone you directly I hear the news.我一听到消息，马上打电话给你。
- She answered me very directly and openly.她非常坦率地、开门见山地答复了我。
2 customary
adj.习惯上的，惯常的，合乎习俗的
- He makes his customary visit every week.他每星期都按照惯例造访一次。
- It is customary with me to do so.这样做是我的习惯。