和老外聊天的地道口语第78期:好汉不醉无归

Yang: Bob! Your eyes look bloodshot. Did you not sleep well?

Bob: I had a drop too much last night. I attended a banquet given by a Chinese colleague of mine. And it was startling for me to find that people are forced to drink against their will on a Chinese table.

Y: you have it right. Alcohol is a medium for communicating emotion in China. Drinking with business partners or would-be friends is a way of solidifying¹ friendship, especially in Northern China.

B: I just felt embarrassed if I refused to drink when people toasted to me. But if I keep gulping² down one cup after another, I'm afraid I would feel unfit or sick.

Y: you lose face by refusing to drink, and the host might think you refuse to give him face. The right thing to do seems to be drinking yourself into incoherence until you throw up. This will endear you to your friends.

B: a few guys even threw a drunken fit last night, crying hoarsely³ and bawling⁴ whole heaps of nonsense that I never understood.

Y: then he must be opening his heart to the friends. In a word, as long as you demonstrate a rediness to drink more in spite of already suffering extreme discomfort⁵, no one will jeer⁶ at you.

B: I got you. Next time. I'll perface a toast with a statement like 'I can't drink any more' and then drink anyway.
鲍勃!你满眼血丝,没睡好?
昨晚参加一个中国同事的聚会,多喝了几倍.中国人喝起酒来真可怕,人们老是被逼着多喝几杯.
这你可说对啦.在中国,喝酒是感情交流的介质.尤其是在北方,和业务伙伴或者准朋友喝可以增进感情.
别人向我敬酒,我要是不喝吧,不好,但是我要是一杯一杯不停地喝,我会感到很不舒服,甚至恶心.
拒绝喝酒时很丢面子的,主人可能会觉得你是不给面子.看起来,唯一的做法是喝它个神魂颠倒,知道呕吐.这反倒会拉近你和朋友们之间的距离.
昨晚有几个人还发酒疯,嘶声竭力,不知道在吼什么.
他说的一定是推心置腹的话.总之,在酒席上,只要表明你不顾自己已经喝得浑身不舒服,还准备再喝,没人会笑话你的.
明白了.下次,我会在敬酒之前加上一句”其实我已经喝不下了”,然后不管三七二十一,一饮而尽.
 

1 solidifying   

（使）成为固体，（使）变硬，（使）变得坚固( solidify的现在分词 )； 使团结一致； 充实，巩固； 具体化

参考例句：

• The substances are formed from a mixture of liquids solidifying under pressure. 这些材料是由几种液体混合在一起并加压使之凝固而成的。
• Painting is an art solidifies time and space for solidifying. 绘画是凝固了的时间和空间的艺术。

2 gulping   

v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的现在分词 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住

参考例句：

• She crawled onto the river bank and lay there gulping in air. 她爬上河岸，躺在那里喘着粗气。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• And you'll even feel excited gulping down a glass. 你甚至可以感觉到激动下一杯。 来自互联网

3 hoarsely   

adv.嘶哑地

参考例句：

• "Excuse me," he said hoarsely. “对不起。”他用嘶哑的嗓子说。
• Jerry hoarsely professed himself at Miss Pross's service. 杰瑞嘶声嘶气地表示愿为普洛丝小姐效劳。 来自英汉文学 - 双城记

4 bawling   

v.大叫，大喊( bawl的现在分词 )；放声大哭；大声叫出；叫卖（货物）

参考例句：

• We heard the dulcet tones of the sergeant, bawling at us to get on parade. 我们听到中士用“悦耳”的声音向我们大喊，让我们跟上队伍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• "Why are you bawling at me? “你向我们吼啥子？ 来自汉英文学 - 中国现代小说

5 discomfort   

n.不舒服，不安，难过，困难，不方便

参考例句：

• One has to bear a little discomfort while travelling.旅行中总要忍受一点不便。
• She turned red with discomfort when the teacher spoke.老师讲话时她不好意思地红着脸。

6 jeer   

vi.嘲弄，揶揄；vt.奚落；n.嘲笑，讥评

参考例句：

• Do not jeer at the mistakes or misfortunes of others.不要嘲笑别人的错误或不幸。
• The children liked to jeer at the awkward students.孩子们喜欢嘲笑笨拙的学生。