美食英语：“蟠桃”原来是“扁桃”

　　Flat peaches are also known as “saucer” or “doughnut-type” peaches because of their round, oblate to squat¹ appearance.

　　蟠桃因其外形扁平，所以又被称作“茶碟”或“油炸圈”状桃子。

　　明明是延年益寿的仙桃啊，为什么看着flat peach这个名字就提不起神呢……也许在外国人眼里，桃子不过是一种水果，但在中国传统中，桃子还有更进一步的象征意义：

　　In China, the peach was said to be consumed by the immortals² due to its mystic virtue³ of conferring longevity⁴ on all who ate them.

　　在中国，人们认为食用桃子能使人长生。

　　The immortals residing in the palace of Xi Wangmu were said to celebrate an extravagant⁵ banquet called the Pantao Hui or "The Feast of Peaches".

　　神话传说中，西王母的住处会举办盛大的蟠桃会。

　　The immortals waited six thousand years before gathering⁶ for this magnificent feast; the peach tree put forth⁷ leaves once every thousand years and it required another three thousand years for the fruit to ripen⁸.

　　仙人们每六千年才能参加一次蟠桃会，因为蟠桃树要一千年才长出叶子，三千年才结果。

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