英闻天下——576 No Lavish Banquets for the Chinese New Year

 　　It's a tradition that as the Chinese New Year approaches, companies all over the country hold year-end parties. Most of them feature a banquet, various programs performed by staff members and a raffle¹ with precious prizes.

 

　　But in response to the central government's call to reject extravagance and reduce bureaucratic² visits and meetings, many government departments and state-owned enterprises have canceled or cut the budgets of their year-end parties.

 

　　Many restaurants and PR companies say they have less business now than in previous years, because most companies are spending less on their annual parties or have cancelled their bookings.

 

　　Do you know how much a company usually spends on its year-end party?

 

　　Zhang Haiyong, general manager of Red Cursor Culture Media Beijing Company, which organizes year-end parties, said small and medium-sized companies often spend 100,000 yuan, about 16,000 U.S. dollars on year-end parties, while big companies can spend about 1 million yuan, or 160,000 US dollars.

 

　　Bloggers left many posts about the cancellation³ of year-end parties.

 

　　Let's take a listen.

 

　　"I oppose canceling the year-end party. We've been working so hard during the entire year. Can't we have a party, watch our boss dancing wearing skirts and draw for a big prize?"

 

　　"Enhancing frugality⁴ codes for government departments is a good move, but we don't want to see it finally turn out to be a short campaign, and after the campaign all the lavish⁵ banquets just come back. So the government should enhance inspections⁶ and further reform the system."

 

　　"If the banquets are cancelled, then where is the budget going? Is it given to employees as bonus or used to buy them shopping cards? Who knows?"

1 raffle   

n.废物，垃圾，抽奖售卖；v.以抽彩出售

参考例句：

• The money was raised by the sale of raffle tickets.这笔款子是通过出售购物彩券筹集的。
• He won a car in the raffle.他在兑奖售物活动中赢得了一辆汽车。

2 bureaucratic   

adj.官僚的，繁文缛节的

参考例句：

• The sweat of labour washed away his bureaucratic airs.劳动的汗水冲掉了他身上的官气。
• In this company you have to go through complex bureaucratic procedures just to get a new pencil.在这个公司里即使是领一支新铅笔，也必须通过繁琐的手续。

3 cancellation   

n.删除，取消

参考例句：

• Heavy seas can cause cancellation of ferry services.海上风浪太大，可能须要取消渡轮服务。
• Her cancellation of her trip to Paris upset our plan.她取消了巴黎之行打乱了我们的计划。

4 frugality   

n.节约，节俭

参考例句：

• We must build up our country with industry and frugality.我们必须勤俭建国。
• By frugality she managed to get along on her small salary.凭着节俭，她设法以自己微薄的薪水生活。

5 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

6 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》