Chinese cuisine¹ is noted² for the following characteristics:

中国菜肴具有以下有名的特点:

Vegetables are the main ingredients.

蔬菜是主要配料。

This explains why most Chinese women are slim and men free of cardiovascular diseases. This is because in China an there is a traditional respell for land. As the old saying goes agricultural country,Live on the mountain if you live in one and live on water if you live by water.”The Chinese are meticulous³ about food preparation. Whether the ingredients they use are pastries⁴ or vegetables，they always try to make the dishes tasty. For example，beans，a tommon vegetable，are exquisitely⁵ prepared into such delicious dishes as bean sprouts⁶ and bean curd⁷.

这就是中国妇女十分苗条而男子不用担心得心血管疾病的原因。中国作为一个农业国家，对土地有着传统的敬仰。正如一句老话所说的:“靠山吃山，靠水吃水。”中国人对于食物的烹制十分讲究。无论是糕点还是蔬菜，他们总是力图将其做得美味可口。例如，豆子这种普通的蔬菜就精致地做成了诸如豆芽和豆腐等美味的菜肴。

The Chinese people like well prepared food.

中国人喜欢精心烹制的食物。

To facilitate food absorption and digestion，they are scrupulous⁸ about the temperature while cooking. Undercooked food is unacceptable to them. To the Chinese，the sight of Westerners eating undercooked steaks still oozing⁹ blood inside is horrible. In addition，warm soup is very important. Wonton，or dumpling soup，and noodles are popular nationwide. Other hot soups include jellied bean curd，rice porridge and corn porridge.

为了便于食物的消化和吸收，中国人注重烹饪时的温度。对于他们来说，没有烧熟的食物是难以下咽的。当中国人看到外国人吃着渗着血的半熟牛排时会觉得十分恶心。此外，热汤也是极为重要的。馄饨汤或饺子汤以及面条都在全国深受欢迎。其他热汤包括豆腐脑、米粥以及玉米粥。

Chinese also like to eat together，a tradition that can be traced back a long time ago.

中国人还喜欢在一起吃饭，这个传统可以追溯到很久之前。

It reflects the Chinese notion of union versus¹⁰ division round tables，round dishes，and round bowls all syriibolize union and perfection. Dishes are usually placed at the center of the table so that everyone around the table can share them. A hot pot, in particular, adds to the atmosphere of harmony and union. Friends eat and live together. A recent book by an American Sinologist held that the Chinese collective tradition developed out of the practice of eating together.

这反映出中国人喜欢团圆不愿分离的观念—圆桌、圆盘、还有圆碗都象征着团圆和美满。盘子通常放在桌子的中央，这样坐在桌子面前的所有人都可以吃得到。一锅热汤尤其可以增加和谐、团圆的气氛。朋友们在一起吃饭、生活。最近一位美国汉学家的著作认为，中国人的集体观念就是从一同吃饭发展而来的。