Some British and American people like to invite friends and colleagues for a
meal at home. You should not be upset (心煩意亂) if your English friends don't
invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you. Dinner parties usually
start between 7 and 8 p.m., and end at about 11. Ask your hosts what time you
should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates or a bottle of wine as a
present.
一些英國(guó)和美國(guó)人喜歡邀請(qǐng)朋友和同學(xué)在家里吃飯.如果你的英國(guó)朋友沒有邀請(qǐng)你到他家做客你不必心煩意亂.這并不代表他不喜歡你.晚餐聚會(huì)通常在晚上7點(diǎn)到8點(diǎn)開始,11點(diǎn)結(jié)束,所以要問一下主人你應(yīng)該什么時(shí)候到達(dá).帶一些禮物如花、巧克力或一瓶紅酒是一種禮貌.
Do you want to be extra (特別地) polite? Say how much you like the
room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember-not to ask how much things cost.
You'll probably start the meal with soup, or something small as a "starter"
(第一道菜), then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then a dessert (甜食),
followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take
more if you want it. Some people eat bread with their meal, but not everyone
does.
你是否想顯得特別客氣?你可以說你多喜歡這個(gè)屋子或是墻上的畫.但是請(qǐng)注意不要問價(jià)格.你們的晚餐通常是先喝湯,或是一些簡(jiǎn)單的第一道菜,然后你會(huì)吃到搭配蔬菜的肉或魚,然后是甜食,緊接著是咖啡.吃光你盤子里的所有東西或是再要一些被視為有禮貌.有些人會(huì)在晚餐吃面包,但并不是所有人都這樣.
Before they take out their cigarettes after the meal, most people
usually ask, "Do you mind if I smoke here?"
在餐后點(diǎn)煙前,大部分的人都會(huì)問一句“你介意我抽一支煙嗎?”
Did you enjoy the evening? Call
your hosts the next day, or write them a short "thank you" letter. Perhaps it
seems funny to you, but British and American people say, "thank you, thank you,
and thank you." all the time.
你享受這樣的夜晚嗎?在第二天打電話告訴主人,或是寫一份簡(jiǎn)短的“感謝”信.也許對(duì)于你來說這看起來很好笑,但是英國(guó)人或美國(guó)人都會(huì)在任何時(shí)候說“感謝、感謝、感謝”