留学生在中国 第45期:收礼还是不收礼 Refusing and Accepting Gifts

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　　小时候，我妈妈常跟我说如果别人给你礼物你应该先拒绝然后再收下。

　　David: I think in the American culture, you usually directly¹ say whether you want or don't want something.

　　美国人通常直接说想要或不想要。

　　You: In China during Spring Festival, it's customary² for relative to give younger children money. After celebrating at home, my parents used to take me to visit some of our relatives. When they offered me money, I always refused it until they shoved³ it into my pocket. That was the only way I could accept it. But now we can accept gifts directly and just say "thank you".

　　中国春节有个习俗，亲戚要给小孩子压岁钱。在家里过完年以后，我父母会带我去走亲戚。他们给我钱的时候，我要尽力拒绝，直到他们把钱塞进我的口袋。我必须这样做，但现在我们可以大方地拿着，说“谢谢”。

　　David: So the traditions and customs⁴ are changing?

　　由此可见，人们的传统习俗是在不断变化的。

　　You: Yes, I think these Chinese people are accepting the western culture.

　　是的。我认为中国人在逐渐地接受西方文化。

　　David: How about you? Do you think it is important to learn some western customs?

　　你觉得了解西方的传统文化是很重要的吗？

　　You: Yes. We should learn western customs and cultures so we can establish friendships with people from different countries.

　　是的。我们要同世界各个民族建立友谊，我们就必须了解他们的文化。

　　David: You're right. I think it's a good thing. It's meaningless and silly to try to understand people whose culture you do not understand.

　　我也觉得是这样的。这样很好。毕竟跟一个你根本就不懂他的文化的人谈话，是很没意思的。

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