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【往期回顧】 世界各國(guó)的新年傳統(tǒng)8：中國(guó)人過(guò)年為什么要給壓歲錢？
【本期內(nèi)容】 Chinese New Year Dishes 中國(guó)新年必吃的八個(gè)菜肴 Written by Amanda Xi Translated and edited by Spark Liao Family is the basis of the Chinese society, which is seen through the significance placed on the New Year’s Eve dinner (年夜飯) or Reunion dinner (團(tuán)年飯). 家庭是中國(guó)社會(huì)的基礎(chǔ)，這一點(diǎn)從除夕晚宴（年夜飯或團(tuán)年飯）被賦予的意義可以看出。 This feast is extremely important to the Chinese. All family members must come back. Even if they truly can’t, the rest of the family will leave their spot empty and place a spare set of utensils for them. 這場(chǎng)盛宴對(duì)中國(guó)人來(lái)說(shuō)極其重要。所有家庭成員都必須回家團(tuán)聚。即使他們真的無(wú)法回家，家里人也會(huì)給他們留著座位，為他們準(zhǔn)備一套餐具。
In the legend of the Spring Festival’s origin, this was when the monster Nian would come and terrorize the villages. The people would hide in their homes, prepare a feast with offerings to the ancestors and gods, and hope for the best. 在關(guān)于春節(jié)起源的傳說(shuō)中，有說(shuō)一個(gè)叫做“年”的怪物會(huì)來(lái)到村里嚇唬村民。村民會(huì)躲在自己的家里，準(zhǔn)備好一場(chǎng)盛宴，獻(xiàn)祭祖先和神靈，祈愿來(lái)年好運(yùn)。 Food is one of the things that the Chinese take the most pride in. And of course, lots of care and thought is put into the menu for the most important holiday of the year. 食物是中國(guó)人最引以為豪的東西之一。當(dāng)然，在一年中最重要的節(jié)日里，人們也會(huì)在菜單上極盡心思。 As with Chinese New Year activities and decorations, the dishes are created to give blessings for the next year. Both the names and looks are symbols of wishes for prosperity, happiness and auspiciousness. 與中國(guó)的新年活動(dòng)和裝飾一樣，菜肴的制作也是為了給來(lái)年帶來(lái)祝福。菜肴的名稱和外形，都象征著對(duì)興旺、幸福和吉祥的祝愿。 Though every region (even household) have different customs, there are some common dishes seen on every table. 盡管每個(gè)地區(qū)（甚至是每個(gè)家庭）都有不同的習(xí)俗，但是每戶家庭的餐桌上都會(huì)有一些常見(jiàn)的菜肴。
1. Spring Rolls（春卷）Eggrolls are probably the most well-known of Chinese cuisine. However, they’re actually “spring rolls.” They are eaten during the Spring Festival in Southern China to celebrate the coming of spring. More specifically, they are eaten on the first day of spring (立春). They can appear on the table as a dinner dish, appetizer or snack. 蛋卷可能是最有名的中國(guó)菜。然而，它們實(shí)際上是“春卷”。它們?cè)谥袊?guó)南方的春節(jié)期間被食用，以慶祝春天的到來(lái)。更具體地說(shuō)，它們是在春天的第一天（立春）吃的。它們可以作為主食、開(kāi)胃菜或小吃出現(xiàn)在餐桌上。 Most are familiar with the deep fried version of spring rolls. Throughout China, they can also be steamed or baked. Size and shape vary from small rectangles to large flat circles. 大多數(shù)人都熟悉油炸版春卷。在中國(guó)各地，它們也可以蒸或烤。大小和形狀都不同，有小長(zhǎng)方形的，也有大扁圓形的。 During the Jin Dynasty (circa 265–420), people would arrange spring rolls and vegetables together on a plate. This was known as the Spring Platter (春盤). During the Spring Festival, emperors would award officials with Spring Platters. Each platter is said to have been worth thousands. 在金朝（約265-420年），人們會(huì)把春卷和蔬菜放在盤子里。這就是所謂的春盤。在春節(jié)期間，皇帝會(huì)給官員們恩賜春盤。據(jù)說(shuō)每份春盤都價(jià)值數(shù)千。
Spring roll skins are made of flour, water and some salt. The filling depends on your personal taste. Traditionally, the filling is made of pork, Chinese cabbage, shiitake, carrots and seasoning. 春卷皮是由面粉、水和一些鹽制成的。餡料取決于你的個(gè)人口味。傳統(tǒng)上，餡料由豬肉、大白菜、香菇、胡蘿卜和調(diào)味料制成。 For those with a sweet tooth, there are Shangainese style red bean paste spring rolls. Now, there are even ice cream fillings! 對(duì)于愛(ài)吃甜食的人來(lái)說(shuō)，有上海風(fēng)格的紅豆沙餡春卷?，F(xiàn)在，甚至還有冰淇淋餡春卷！ To make, create the filling of your choice. Place around 2 spoons onto the center of the spring roll skin. Tuck in the sides and roll it up, sealing the edges with egg whites. Finish by throwing them into the deep fryer until the skin is golden and crispy. 要做春卷的話，可以根據(jù)自己的選擇來(lái)做餡料。在春卷皮中間放入大約兩勺餡料。將兩側(cè)卷起，用蛋清封住邊緣。最后把它們?nèi)舆M(jìn)油鍋炸，直到外皮金黃酥脆。
2. Dumplings（餃子）Another well-known dish, dumplings are the northern equivalent of spring rolls. They are eaten during every special occasion, but are the most significant during Chinese New Year. That’s a lot of dumplings! But there’s good reason. 另一道著名的菜肴是餃子，相當(dāng)于北方的春卷。它們?cè)诿恳粋€(gè)特殊的場(chǎng)合都會(huì)吃，但在中國(guó)新年期間最重要。人們會(huì)吃很多餃子！背后是有充分的理由。 In Chinese, dumplings（餃子） sounds like 交子. 交 means “exchange” and 子 is the midnight hour. Put together, 交子 is the exchange between the old and new year. All dumplings should be wrapped at this time. By eating dumplings, you are sending away the old and welcoming the new. 在漢語(yǔ)里，“餃子”聽(tīng)起來(lái)像“交子”。交 指“交換”，“子”是指“午夜”。放在一起，“交子”表示新舊一年的交替。所有的餃子都應(yīng)該在這個(gè)時(shí)候包好。通過(guò)吃餃子，寓意“辭舊迎新”。
There are too many different types of filling to count. You can have whatever type of meat, vegetable and flavor you’d like. Typically, they include Chinese cabbage, green onion, pork and shrimp (similar to spring rolls). 餃子的餡料數(shù)不勝數(shù)，你可以選擇任何你喜歡的肉類、蔬菜和風(fēng)味。通常，餡料包括大白菜、小蔥、豬肉和蝦（類似于春卷）。 In Suzhou, egg fillings are a must. The dumpling symbolizes the silver ingot, while the egg is gold. Meat and bamboo strip filling is called 絲絲齊齊, which means that everything needed will be available. Some people will also put a coin in a random dumpling. Whoever eats it will have great luck that year. 在蘇州，雞蛋餡是必須的。餃子象征銀錠，而蛋黃則象征黃金。肉餡和竹筍餡叫做絲絲齊齊，這意味著所需的一切都有了。有些人還會(huì)隨機(jī)在一個(gè)餃子里放一枚硬幣。無(wú)論誰(shuí)吃了它，來(lái)年都會(huì)好運(yùn)連連。 In addition to the joy of eating delicious food, the making process is a family bonding activity too. During New Year preparations, every member of the family participates and wraps dumplings. In certain regions, the daughter-in-law must make a dumpling to be considered part of the family. 除了吃美食的樂(lè)趣，美食的制作過(guò)程也是一項(xiàng)維系家庭紐帶的活動(dòng)。在準(zhǔn)備新年的過(guò)程中，每個(gè)家庭成員都會(huì)參與包餃子。在某些地區(qū)，兒媳必須包餃子才能被視為家庭的一員。
3. Noodles（長(zhǎng)面）In some places, it’s custom to cook dumplings and noodles together. This is called gold silk and gold ingots. It’s yet another dish to express people’s wishes for prosperity. 在一些地方，人們習(xí)慣把餃子和面條一起煮，這叫做金絲和金錠。但面條是表達(dá)人們祈愿興旺的另一道菜。 Though the origin of noodles is heavily disputed, there’s no doubt that noodles are a staple in Chinese cuisine. In the beginning, they were called “soup pancakes” (湯餅). People would tear the dough into little pieces and throw them into the pot. It wasn’t until the Tang Dynasty when people began rolling them into the noodle shape we know today. 盡管面條的起源有很大爭(zhēng)議，但毫無(wú)疑問(wèn)，面條是中國(guó)菜的主食。一開(kāi)始，它們被稱為“湯餅”。人們會(huì)把面團(tuán)撕成小塊，然后扔進(jìn)鍋里。直到唐朝，人們才開(kāi)始把它們搟成我們今天所知道的面條的形狀。 For Chinese New Year, people like to eat long noodles. They are also called cháng shòu miàn, which means “l(fā)ongevity noodles.” You aren’t allowed to cut them and should try not to chew either. The longer the noodle, the longer your life will be. This calls for a lot of slurping. 在中國(guó)新年，人們喜歡吃長(zhǎng)面條。它們也被稱為cháng shòu miàn，意思是“長(zhǎng)壽面”。你不能切，也不要嚼。面條越長(zhǎng)，你的壽命就越長(zhǎng)。吃面條時(shí)就需要吸溜好一會(huì)兒了。
With noodles, there is great flexibility for sides and ingredients. Many vegetables and meats have symbolic meanings as well. For example: 有了面條，配料和輔料的選擇都有很大的靈活性。許多蔬菜和肉類也有象征意義。比如：
4. Steamed Fish（蒸魚(yú)）Fish is a must for the Chinese New Year. Why does fish symbolize surplus and wealth? In Chinese, fish 魚(yú) (yú) has the same pronunciation as 余, which means “surplus” or “extra.” The typical blessing is 年年有余 (Nián nián yǒuyú), wishing you to have a surplus (or fish) of food and money every year. 魚(yú)是中國(guó)新年必備的食物。為什么魚(yú)象征著盈余和財(cái)富？在漢語(yǔ)中，“魚(yú)”（yú）的發(fā)音與“余”相同, 而“余”意思是“多余”或“額外”。典型的祝福語(yǔ)是年年有余 （Nián Nián yúuyú），用來(lái)表達(dá)希望每年都有多余的食物和金錢。 Half of the fish is eaten for dinner, and the second half the next day. This is to prolong the surplus and make the future prosperous as well. A whole fish also represents a harmonious and whole family. 一半的魚(yú)是晚餐吃的，另一半是留到第二天吃的。這是為了延長(zhǎng)盈余的時(shí)間，使來(lái)年更興旺。整條魚(yú)也代表一個(gè)和諧完整的家庭。
Some would cook a bigheaded carp. But only the middle would be eaten, while the head and tail are left intact. The Chinese phrase is 有頭有尾 (yǒu tóu yǒu wěi) - to have both a head and tail. This is a reminder to finish everything you start and wish for positive results. During dinner, the fish head should be placed facing the guests. 有些人會(huì)煮一條鳙魚(yú)。但只有中間部分會(huì)被吃掉，而頭部和尾部則完好無(wú)損。漢語(yǔ)里有個(gè)習(xí)語(yǔ)叫做“有頭有尾”——既有頭又有尾。這是在提醒你完成你開(kāi)始的一切，并祈愿取得積極的結(jié)果。晚餐時(shí)，魚(yú)頭應(yīng)面向客人。 In Hunan, red peppers are added after broiling the fish. Red is a festive and lucky color and the spicy hotness expresses wishes for fiery (thriving) business in the new year. 在湖南，紅辣椒是在烤魚(yú)后加入的。紅色是喜慶和幸運(yùn)的顏色，辛辣的辣味表達(dá)了對(duì)新一年生意火爆（興旺）的祝愿。
5. Steamed Chicken（蒸雞）A whole chicken is another symbol of family. Rich in protein, one chicken is enough to feed an entire family. It represents reunion and rebirth. To express this auspicious meaning, people keep the head and claws. 整只雞是家庭的另一個(gè)象征。因?yàn)楦缓鞍踪|(zhì)，一只雞足夠一家人享用。它代表著團(tuán)圓和重生。為了表達(dá)這個(gè)吉祥的意思，人們保留了雞頭和雞爪。 After cooking, people will first offer the chicken to the ancestors. Though only a superstition now, praying to the ancestors for blessings and protection is still a significant part of the Spring Festival and Chinese culture. 烹飪后，人們會(huì)先用雞來(lái)獻(xiàn)祭祖先。雖然現(xiàn)在只是一種迷信，但向祖先祈求幸福和保佑仍然是春節(jié)和中國(guó)文化的重要組成部分。
In Hubei, chicken soup is the first meal of the new year. It is a wish for peace. The main workers of the family should eat chicken feet, also called “phoenix claws” (鳳爪). This is supposed to help them grasp onto wealth. Chicken wings help you fly higher, while the bones represent outstanding achievement. 在湖北，雞湯是新年的第一頓飯。這是對(duì)和平的祈愿。家里的主要?jiǎng)诹?yīng)該吃雞腳，也叫“鳳爪”。據(jù)說(shuō)這有助于他們賺大錢。雞翅幫助你事業(yè)高飛，而雞骨代表杰出的成就。 For the first meal, some also cook eggs. The egg white and yolk represent gold and silver and are simple gifts for friends and neighbors. 新年的第一頓飯，有些人還會(huì)煮雞蛋。蛋白和蛋黃代表金和銀，是送給朋友和鄰居的小禮物。
6. Nian Gao（年糕）Nian gao, also known as “rice cake” or “New Year cake” in English, are a must for Chinese New Year. 年糕，在英語(yǔ)中也被稱為“米糕”或“新年蛋糕”，是中國(guó)新年的必備品。 In ancient times, nian gao were used only as offerings to the ancestors and gods. Gradually, they became a traditional dish during the Spring Festival. Now they are available every day of the year, but are still a special treat for the festival. 在古代，年糕只作為祭祀祖先和神靈的祭品。漸漸地，它們成為春節(jié)期間的一道傳統(tǒng)菜肴?，F(xiàn)在，一年中每天都有年糕，但它們?nèi)匀皇枪?jié)日里的一種特殊菜肴。 Nian gao also has the same pronunciation as 高 (gāo, meaning tall or high). It’s a wish to be successful and “higher” each year. Every year will be better than the last. Some humorous parents like to tell their children that eating this will help them grow taller too. 年糕中“糕”的發(fā)音與“高(gāo)”相同。這是祈愿每一年都能成功，事業(yè)“高升”。每年都會(huì)比去年好。一些幽默的父母喜歡告訴他們孩子，說(shuō)吃這個(gè)也會(huì)幫助他們長(zhǎng)高。 They are either made of sticky glutinous rice or yellow rice, giving nian gao two major colors and textures. 它們要么由糯米制成，要么由黃米制成，賦予年糕兩種主要的顏色和質(zhì)地。
Nian gao was already popular during the Wei and Jin dynasties (220-420). But after more than two thousand years of development, there are a crazy amount of variations. Nian gao from northern regions and the south almost seem like entirely different things. 年糕在魏晉時(shí)期（220-420年）就已經(jīng)很流行了。但是，經(jīng)過(guò)兩千多年的發(fā)展，出現(xiàn)了大量的變化。北方地區(qū)和南方地區(qū)的年糕似乎完全不同。 They are typically savory in the South. Store-bought nian gao are hard and must be boiled first. They are then steamed or cooked with vegetables and meat. 它們?cè)谀戏酵ǔ：苊牢?。商店買的年糕很硬，必須先煮。然后將它們與蔬菜或肉一起蒸或燒。 Rather than the usual batter, sugar can be added to the glutinous rice powder to make the sweet nian gao favored by the North. The batter can also include lard, rose petals, osthmanthus, hibiscus and mint for extra flavoring. For the ones with a true sweet tooth, it’s also acceptable to directly dip nian gao in white sugar. 與通常的面糊不同，可以在糯米粉中加入糖來(lái)制作北方人喜歡的甜年糕。面糊還可以包括豬油、玫瑰花瓣、蛇床草、木槿和薄荷，以增加風(fēng)味。對(duì)于那些真正愛(ài)吃甜食的人來(lái)說(shuō)，也可以直接將年糕蘸白糖吃。 In Beijing, the types seen are jujube nian gao (紅棗年糕), hundred fruit nian gao (百果年糕) and white nian gao (白年糕). Jujube (棗) has the same pronunciation as early (早), while hundred fruit nian gao represent a cornucopia of precious gems. 在北京，常見(jiàn)的年糕種類有紅棗年糕、百果年糕和白年糕?！皸棥钡陌l(fā)音和“早”相同，而百果年糕則象征聚寶盆。 It’s common to steam nian gao with jujube and red beans in Hebei. On the other hand, people of Shanxi and Inner Mongoliao like to deep fry the batter and add fillings of red bean paste and mashed jujube. 在河北，用紅棗和紅豆蒸年糕很常見(jiàn)。另一方面，山西人和內(nèi)蒙古人喜歡把面糊炸透，并加入紅豆沙和棗泥餡。
7. Vegetable Dishes （田園素炒）Spring is the season to plant new seeds. Traditionally, the Spring Festival is the best time to finish all the vegetables stored and preserved from the winter. 春天是播種新種子的季節(jié)。傳統(tǒng)上，春節(jié)是吃完冬季儲(chǔ)存的所有蔬菜的最佳時(shí)間。 This dish can be called 田園素小炒 (tián yuán sù xiǎo chǎo), or countryside vegetarian stir-fry. Mushrooms, jujube and Chinese cabbage are often included, in addition to your typical greens. Some symbolic vegetables to consider are: 這道菜可以叫做田園素小炒 ，或鄉(xiāng)村素食炒菜。蘑菇、大棗和大白菜通常都包括在內(nèi)，除了你熟悉的那些蔬菜?？梢钥紤]品味的一些具有象征意義的蔬菜有：
8. Hot Pot（火鍋）For many, hot pot is the centerpiece of Spring Festival dinners. 對(duì)許多人來(lái)說(shuō)，火鍋是春節(jié)晚餐的重中之重。 Hot pot is another food that has a long history. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing dynasty is the most avid fan. When he held feasts for old and retired officials, hot pot with meat were always on the menu. During his New Year’s Eve dinner, there were 120 dishes for lunch and even more for hot pot. 火鍋是另一種歷史悠久的食物。清朝乾隆皇帝是最狂熱的粉絲。當(dāng)他為老官員和退休官員舉辦宴會(huì)時(shí)，菜單上總是有帶肉的火鍋。在他的年夜飯中，午餐有120道菜，火鍋的菜式還要更多。 Despite being loved by commoners and royalty alike, hot pots are actually quite basic. It’s simply a bubbling pot and plates of uncooked meat and vegetables. You can choose whatever you like to throw into the pot. Wait until it’s cooked, take it out and eat. 盡管受到平民和皇室的喜愛(ài)，但火鍋實(shí)際上是相當(dāng)簡(jiǎn)單的菜肴。一個(gè)沸騰的鍋，再加上一盤盤生肉和蔬菜。你可以選擇你想扔到鍋里的任何東西。等到它熟了，夾出來(lái)吃即可。
Part of the flavor comes from the broth you choose in the pot. The other part is your own dipping sauce. There are special hot pot sauces. You can also make your own using one raw egg, sesame paste, salt, sugar, cilantro and peppers. Hot pot is an extremely customizable dish. Everything mentioned in this article can be included, even the noodles! 部分味道來(lái)自你在鍋里選擇的肉湯。另一部分味道來(lái)自你自己的蘸醬?；疱佊刑貏e的醬汁。你也可以用一個(gè)生雞蛋、芝麻醬、鹽、糖、香菜和辣椒自制蘸醬?；疱伿且坏婪浅＿m于顧客自選的菜肴。本文中提到的所有菜肴都可以放進(jìn)火鍋，甚至包括面條！ Some of the foods in this article, such as spring rolls and dumplings, can also be eaten outside of the main meal. Of course, there are many more snacks and desserts throughout the duration of the Spring Festival. As the TV Show “A Bite of China” (舌尖上的中國(guó)) said, even if the other ancient traditions of the Spring Festival are modernized, the food culture will never disappear. 本文中的一些食物，如春卷和餃子，也可以在正餐之外食用。當(dāng)然，在整個(gè)春節(jié)期間還有很多小吃和甜點(diǎn)可選。正如電視節(jié)目《舌尖上的中國(guó)》所說(shuō)的，即使春節(jié)的其他古老傳統(tǒng)都在現(xiàn)代化進(jìn)程中逝去，飲食文化也永遠(yuǎn)不會(huì)消失。
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來(lái)自： 新概念英語(yǔ)教學(xué) > 《待分類》
