A Guest at a Friend’s Home

If invited, a guest must arrive at a Chinese friend's home on time. It is proper to be there a couple of minutes earlier, as being late is rude. Generally speaking, eating is more important than talking at a dining table for Chinese people think scant wine and dishes are impolite to guests. Mike is invited to her colleague Wang Li's home.

Wánglì: fàn zuò hǎo le, kuài lái chī ba.

王丽：饭做好了，快来吃吧。

Wang: Now everything is already prepared. Come on, let’s eat.

mài kè: zhè me duō cài, kàn zhe yǎn dōu chán le.麦克：这么多菜，看着眼都馋了。
Mike: So many delicious dishes! It makes my mouth water just to look at them.

Wánglì: lái, jiā cài, duō chī diǎnr.王丽：来，夹菜，多吃点儿。
Wang: Here, take some more.

mài kè: zhè xiē cài dōu shì nín zì jǐ zuò de ma?

麦克：这些菜都有是您自己做的吗？
Mike: Did you cook all these dishes?

Wánglì: shì a, zěn me yàng?王丽：是啊，怎么样？
Wang: Yes. How do you like it?

mài kè: Zhōng guó rén zuò cài de shǒu yì dōu bú cuò.麦克：中国人做菜的手艺都不错。
Mike: The Chinese are very good at cooks.

Wánglì: lái, gěi nǐ diǎnr zhè gè cài.王丽：来给你点儿这个菜。
Wang: Now, let me help you with the dish

mài kè: bié kè qì, wǒ zì jǐ lái.麦克：别客气，我自己来。
Mike: Don’t stand on ceremony. I’ll help myself.

Wánglì: chī bǎo le ma?王丽：吃饱了吗？

Wang: Are you full?

mài kè: xiè xiè, chī bǎo le.麦克：谢谢，吃饱了。

Mike: Thanks, I’m quite full.

1. 朋友 péng yǒu: friend
2. 做客：zuò kè: be invited
3. 饭fàn: dinner
4. 菜 cài: dish
5. 馋 chán: greedy                              

6. 自己 zì jǐ: oneself
7. 做菜 zuò cài: cook
8. 手艺不错 shǒu yì bú cuò: be good at
9. 夹菜 jiā cài: eat
10.饱 bǎo: be full