Chopsticks were developed about 5,000 years ago in China. Chopsticks, or kuài-zi, are usually nine to ten inches long, rectangular with blunt ends, and made from a variety of materials. Bamboo chopsticks are the most common because bamboo is inexpensive, readily available, easy to split, resistant to heat, and has no perceptible odor or taste.
lì li:
wǒ yòng dāo chā hái bù xí guàn, n? bié jiàn xiào.
麗麗：
我用刀叉還不習慣，你別見笑。
Lili:
I'm still not used to using a knife and fork. So, don't laugh at me.
mài kè:
jiù xiàng wǒ kāi sh? yòng kuài zi yí yàng.
麥克：
就像我開始用筷子一樣。
Mike:
It's just like when I first started using chopsticks.
lì li:
n? xiàn zài yòng de bú cuò le.
麗麗：
你現在用得不錯了。
Lili:
You use them quite well now.
mài kè:
hái bù z?n me shú liàn, bú guò, zhì sh?o k? y? yòng tā jiā cài chī fàn le.
麥克：
還不怎么熟練，不過，至少可以用它夾菜吃飯了!
Mike:
I'm still not really skillful, but I can at least pick up my food during a meal!
lì li:
b? wǒ yòng dāo chā qiē ròu pái h?o duō le.
麗麗：
比我用刀叉切肉排強多了。
Lili:
You're still a lot better than I am at using a knife and fork to slice steak.
mài kè:
zhī dào ma, wǒ liáo ji? zhōng guó jiù shì cóng kuài zi kāi sh? de.
麥克：
知道嗎，我了解中國就是從筷子開始的。
Mike:
You know, my first lesson in understanding China began with chopsticks.
lì li:
shì ma? shuō shuō kàn.
麗麗：
是嗎？說說看。
Lili:
Really? Tell me about it.
mài kè:
wǒ rèn wéi kuài zi dài bi?o zhōng guó rén de yì zhǒng wén huà. wǒ xué huì yòng tā g?n dào hěn zì háo.
麥克：
我認為筷子代表中國人的一種文化。我學會用它感到很自豪。
Mike:
I think chopsticks are a part of Chinese culture. I am proud of myself that I have learnt how to use them.
lì li:
guài bù de nà me duō wài guó rén dōu yào xué xí yòng kuài zi ne.
麗麗：
怪不得那么多外國人都要學習用筷子呢。
Lili:
No wonder so many foreigners want to learn how to use chopsticks.
mài kè:
zài yòng kuài zi de guò chéng zhōng, bú dàn duì kuài zi ér qiě duì zhōng guó rén yě ch?n shēng le yì zhǒng tè shū de g?n qíng.
麥克：
在用筷子的過程中，不但對筷子而且對中國人也產生了一種特殊的感情。
Mike:
While learning how to use chopsticks, one not only develops a special feeling for chopsticks, but also for the Chinese people.
筷子 kuài zi: chopsticks
刀 dāo: knife
叉 chā: fork
見笑 jiàn xiào: to laugh at
熟練 shú liàn: skillful
夾菜 jiā cài: to pick up food (usually with chopsticks)
