带孩子玩转中国传统文化——筷子

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Chopsticks were invented in China over 3,000 years ago. They are equal-length sticks that were first used for cooking and later for eating. Made from wood, bamboo, or metal, many chopsticks have beautiful designs with poems or pictures. They are an important symbol of Chinese culture and are used in everyday life. Next time you pick up a pair of chopsticks, remember you're holding a piece of Chinese history in your hands!

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筷子是在中国发明的，已有超过3000年的历史。它们是等长的细棍，最初用于烹饪，后来用于吃饭。筷子通常由木头、竹子或金属制成，许多筷子上都有漂亮的图案和诗句。它们是中国文化的重要象征，日常生活中也会用到。下次你拿起筷子时，记得你手中握着的是一段中国历史！

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⚠️1. Invent，动词，发明, 创造一些全新的东西，比如发明一个工具或发现一个新想法

🌰I want to invent a robot that helps clean my room. 我想发明一个能帮我打扫房间的机器人。

🌰My friend invented a new game for us to play. 我的朋友发明了一种新游戏，供我们玩。

⚠️2. Equal，形容词，相等的，平等的, 表示两个东西是相同的，或者在某种情况下是一样的。

🌰In a fair game, everyone has an equal chance to win. 在公平的游戏中，每个人都有平等的获胜机会。

🌰Four apples are equal to four oranges. 四个苹果等于四个橙子。

⚠️3. Pick up, 捡起，拿起

🌰Please pick up your backpack before we leave. 在我们离开之前，请把你的背包捡起来。

🌰I will pick up the fallen leaves in the yard. 我会捡起院子里掉落的树叶。

Pick Up还可以表示接某人

🌰My mom will pick me up from school at 3 o'clock. 我妈妈会在三点钟来学校接我。

🌰I asked my dad to pick up my friend for the party. 我让爸爸去接我的朋友参加聚会。

Pick up还可以表示“搭载”或“乘坐”。

🌰The bus will pick up all the kids at the bus stop. 公交车会在公交站接所有的小朋友。

🌰We can pick up our friends on the way to the park. 我们可以在去公园的路上搭载我们的朋友。

此外，“pick up”还有其他一些意思，比如“学习到”某个技能或信息。

🌰I picked up some new words in English class. 我在英语课上学到了几个新单词。

🌰She quickly picked up how to ride a bike. 她很快学会了骑自行车。

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1. 筷子的发明

筷子最早是用来做饭的工具，而不是用来吃饭的。古时候，人们用筷子翻动热的食物，后来才慢慢开始用筷子来吃饭。

Chopsticks were originally used for cooking, not eating. In ancient times, people used them to handle hot food, and over time, they became utensils for eating meals.

2. 筷子不同名称的演变

在先秦时代，筷子被称为“梜”（jiá），到了汉代，人们开始称它为“箸”（zhù）。明代的时候，因为“箸”与“住”谐音，而船夫不希望船停住不动，于是开始用“快”的谐音，称之为“筷”（kuài），这个名称沿用至今。

In the pre-Qin era, chopsticks were called “梜（jiá）”. By the Han Dynasty, they were known as "箸（zhù）". In the Ming Dynasty, the name changed to "筷子（kuàizi）" because sailors thought "箸（zhù）" (which sounds like "stop") was bad luck. The new name, meaning "fast," has stuck ever since.

3. “筷子”文化

虽然筷子起源于中国，但它们对其他亚洲国家的餐具文化产生了深远的影响。比如，中国的筷子比较长，适合在大桌子上夹菜，而日本的筷子较短，更适合吃小份食物。越南的筷子上通常有一个小钩子，以防止筷子滑入碗中，而泰国的筷子最初是由中国移民带过去的，后来当地人主要在吃面条时使用筷子。

Though chopsticks started in China, they’ve shaped tableware culture in other Asian countries. Chinese chopsticks are longer, perfect for sharing dishes at a big table. Japanese chopsticks are shorter for small portions. Vietnamese chopsticks often have a little hook to stop them from sliding into bowls. In Thailand, chopsticks, brought by Chinese immigrants, are mostly used for noodles.

4. 筷子禁忌 

在中国文化中，筷子不能竖插在米饭上，因为它看起来像是供奉祖先的香火，这是不吉利的。

In Chinese culture, it’s considered unlucky to stick chopsticks upright in rice, as it looks like incense used in ancestor offerings.

5. 筷子的吉祥寓意

在中国文化中，“筷子”有很多美好的寓意，比如“筷子”中的“快”字代表快速、顺利，因此在婚礼或庆典中送筷子是希望新人生活顺利、早生贵子。此外，筷子的形状（长而成双）也象征着家庭和谐、团圆。

Chopsticks symbolize many good things in Chinese culture. The word "筷kuài" (fast) represents success, so they’re often gifted at weddings or celebrations to wish people a smooth, happy life. Their paired design also stands for harmony and family unity.