Pouring tea: a Chinese conversation with pinyin and English

The conversation

Speakers: Jiahao and Wanqing.

1. Jiahao

   你(nǐ)这(zhè)手(shǒu)指(zhǐ)头(tou)在(zài)桌(zhuō)上(shàng)敲(qiāo)什(shén)么(me)呢(ne)？无(wú)聊(liáo)了(le)啊(a)？

   What are you tapping your fingers on the table for? Getting bored?

2. Wanqing

   你(nǐ)刚(gāng)给(gěi)我(wǒ)添(tiān)完(wán)茶(chá)啊(a)，我(wǒ)这(zhè)是(shì)在(zài)道(dào)谢(xiè)呢(ne)。

   You just topped up my tea, I'm saying thank you.

3. Jiahao

   哟(yō)，动(dòng)作(zuò)挺(tǐng)标(biāo)准(zhǔn)。谁(shuí)教(jiāo)你(nǐ)的(de)？

   Oh, nice form. Who taught you that?

4. Wanqing

   跟(gēn)一(yí)个(ge)广(guǎng)东(dōng)朋(péng)友(you)学(xué)的(de)，食(shí)指(zhǐ)和(hé)中(zhōng)指(zhǐ)轻(qīng)轻(qīng)扣(kòu)两(liǎng)下(xià)。

   Learned it from a Cantonese friend, just tap your index and middle fingers together twice.

5. Jiahao

   可(kě)以(yǐ)啊(a)。你(nǐ)看(kàn)你(nǐ)面(miàn)前(qián)这(zhè)杯(bēi)子(zi)，我(wǒ)怎(zěn)么(me)没(méi)倒(dào)满(mǎn)？

   Not bad. Look at your cup, how come I didn't fill it to the brim?

6. Wanqing

   倒(dào)了(le)七(qī)分(fēn)满(mǎn)。为(wèi)什(shén)么(me)啊(a)？

   Filled it seven tenths full. Why's that?

   1. 怕(pà)客(kè)人(rén)烫(tàng)到(dào)手(shǒu)或(huò)洒(sǎ)出(chu)来(lai) So the guest doesn't burn their hands or spill it
   2. 茶(chá)叶(yè)太(tài)贵(guì)舍(shě)不(bu)得(de) The tea leaves are too pricey to waste
   3. 主(zhǔ)人(rén)家(jiā)不(bù)懂(dǒng)礼(lǐ)貌(mào) The host has no manners

   Answer

   怕(pà)客(kè)人(rén)烫(tàng)到(dào)手(shǒu)或(huò)洒(sǎ)出(chu)来(lai) So the guest doesn't burn their hands or spill it

7. Jiahao

   茶(chá)倒(dào)七(qī)分(fēn)满(mǎn)，是(shì)为(wèi)了(le)不(bú)烫(tàng)手(shǒu)也(yě)不(bù)洒(sǎ)出(chu)来(lai)。酒(jiǔ)满(mǎn)敬(jìng)人(rén)嘛(ma)。

   You only fill tea seven tenths up so it doesn't burn you or spill. Wine you fill to the brim to show respect.

8. Wanqing

   那(nà)讲(jiǎng)究(jiu)谁(shuí)先(xiān)喝(hē)？

   So is there a rule about who drinks first?

9. Jiahao

   客(kè)人(rén)先(xiān)喝(hē)。潮(cháo)州(zhōu)工(gōng)夫(fu)茶(chá)里(lǐ)，主(zhǔ)人(rén)都(dōu)是(shì)最(zuì)后(hòu)才(cái)喝(hē)。

   The guest drinks first. In Chaoshan kung fu tea, the host always drinks last.

10. Wanqing

    那(nà)我(wǒ)今(jīn)天(tiān)是(shì)客(kè)，合(hé)着(zhe)我(wǒ)得(děi)先(xiān)请(qǐng)了(le)。

    Well I'm the guest today, so I guess I should go first.

11. Jiahao

    你(nǐ)在(zài)我(wǒ)这(zhe)儿(r)当(dāng)然(rán)是(shì)客(kè)，这(zhè)还(hái)用(yòng)说(shuō)。

    You're my guest here of course, goes without saying.

12. Wanqing

    广(guǎng)州(zhōu)喝(hē)早(zǎo)茶(chá)不(bù)都(dōu)讲(jiǎng)究(jiu)一(yì)盅(zhōng)两(liǎng)件(jiàn)吗(ma)？

    Don't people in Guangzhou always have tea and dim sum with that one pot and two baskets thing?

13. Jiahao

    对(duì)，一(yì)盅(zhōng)两(liǎng)件(jiàn)叹(tàn)早(zǎo)茶(chá)。广(guǎng)州(zhōu)现(xiàn)在(zài)连(lián)早(zǎo)茶(chá)都(dōu)有(yǒu)行(háng)业(yè)规(guī)范(fàn)了(le)。

    Yep, one pot and two baskets to savor morning tea. Guangzhou even has industry guidelines for morning tea now.

14. Wanqing

    连(lián)吃(chī)早(zǎo)茶(chá)都(dōu)有(yǒu)规(guī)范(fàn)，那(nà)我(wǒ)可(kě)得(děi)去(qù)长(cháng)住(zhù)。yyds

    They even have rules for dim sum? I'm gonna have to move there for good. Absolute legend

Hear it read aloud in the app