The small pot is barely enough to hold four demi-tasses and is filled one-third with leaves.

 

小泥壶中只可容水四小杯，茶叶占去其三分之一的容隙。

As the quantity of leaves is large, the tea is immediately poured into the cups and immediately drunk.

因为茶叶加得很多，所以一泡之后即可倒出来喝了。

This finishes the pot, and the kettle, filled with fresh water, is put on the fire again, getting ready for the second pot.

这一道茶已将壶水用尽，于是再灌入凉水，放到炉上去煮，以供第二泡之用。

 

Strictly speaking, the second pot is regarded as the best; the first pot being compared to a girl of thirteen, the second compared to a girl of sweet sixteen, and the third regarded as a woman. Theoretically, the third infusion from the same leaves is disallowed by connoisseurs, but actually one does try to live on with the "woman. "

 

严格的说起来，茶在第二泡时最妙。第一泡譬如一个十二三岁的幼女，第二泡为年龄恰当的十六女郎，而第三泡则已是少妇了。照理论上说起来，鉴赏家认第三泡的茶为不可复饮，但实际上，则享受这个"少妇"的人仍很多。

The above is a strict description of preparing a special kind of tea as I have seen it in my native province, an art generally unknown in North China.

以上所述是我本乡中一种泡茶方法的实际素描。这个艺术是中国的北方人所不晓的。

In China generally, tea pots used are much larger, and the ideal color of tea is a clear, pale, golden yellow, never dark red like English tea.

在中国一般的人家中，所用的茶壶大都较大。至于一杯茶，最好的颜色是清中带微黄，而不是英国茶那样的深红色。