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flour
staple
steamed roll
bun
pancake
noodle
by contrast
the longevity god
wish him/her everlasting health
see them off
aspiration
to be more fond of
traditional Beijing Noodles
dilapidated nobility
despite of
atmosphere
local side dishes
fried sausage
cool cabbage with wasabi in pier shape
warren in small lanes
communities
cucumber
squat down
door opening
neighborhood
metropolitan
mutual companionship
【原文】
In Northern China, people tend to make food by flour as the staple food, such as steamed rolls, buns, pancakes, noodles and so on. By contrast, people are more likely to eat rice in Southern China. Noodles imply 「long life」, therefore, there is a custom in Northern China that as long as someone observes his/her birthday, the family members will cook a bowl of noodles for the longevity god, wishing him/her everlasting health. There is another popular saying that 「eat dumplings arriving and noodles when departing」, which means that we eat dumplings to celebrate the reunion while we eat noodles before we see them off. People tend to believe that long noodles are just like lines reminding those who prepare to leave to come back earlier. It’s an aspiration to meet again as early as possible.
在北方人的餐桌上，主食一般都以麵食為主，包括花卷、饅頭、烙餅、麵條等等。南方則多以米飯為主食。麵條寓意「長壽」，所以在北方有一個習俗，只要家裡有人過生日，大家就要送他一碗長壽麵，希望他平安健康到永遠。還有一種流行的說法，「下車餃子上車面」：與親朋好友團聚時吃頓餃子慶祝，送別親朋好友離開時吃碗麵，意味著用長長的麵條拴住他們，表達了一種「早日再團員」的期待。
In daily life, Beijingers seem to be more fond of noodles.When people talk of Traditional Beijing Noodles (referred to「the Noodles」below), they say they will never get tired of eating it. In the past, only the dilapidated nobility can eat the Noodles. But nowadays, despite of social status, people can go to the restaurant to order it at any time they want, not only for the atmosphere but more for good taste. You can order some local side dishes such as fried sausage and cool cabbage with wasabi in pier shape, then two seasonal dishes, and finally the Noodles. How indescribably comfortable!
日常生活中，北京人貌似更喜歡吃麵。老北京的炸醬麵有百吃不厭的美譽。雖說在以前，炸醬麵是落魄貴族的吃食，但在現代，無論男女老少、官員百姓都愛吃一口。不僅是奔著氣氛，主要還是因為吃得舒服，點上幾種有滋味的京味小菜，像炸灌腸、芥末墩兒…再弄兩個時令炒菜，最後來一碗炸醬麵，可別提多美了！
Until now, you can still see in the warren in small lanes called hutong in Beijing inner city that neighbors in communities nearby gather together during meal time holding the Noodles bowl with one cucumber in it. Squatting down in the courtyard or door opening, they are chatting and playing chess while having a bite.
直到現在，在北京胡同裡的大雜院，仍可以見到這樣的場景;街坊四鄰在吃飯店兒聚齊在一堆兒，端著碗炸醬麵，碗裡擱一根脆黃瓜，在當院或門洞裡一蹲，吃兩口炸醬麵，咬一口脆黃瓜，既不耽誤聊天，又不耽誤下棋。
This is common but warm, which tells people』s eating habits and also records the neighborhood life. In such a metropolitan as Beijing, what matters is not a bowl of hot noodles, but also the mutual companionship and the warm heart caring others behind.
這是一幅平凡卻凸顯溫暖的畫面，傳達了人們的飲食習慣，記錄這左鄰右舍的街坊生活。在北京這樣一座巨大的都市裡，重要的不止是熱騰騰的炸醬麵，更可貴的是在相互陪伴和關愛中，牽絆他人的那顆溫暖的心。
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