解惑！為什麼印度人吃飯要用手抓？ Get in Touch with Your Food

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用手吃飯是該國的一種普遍做法，而且這個做法往往讓遊客迷惑不解。

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文章主講 Wesley

If you sit down for a family meal in India, you might be confused when you realize there are no eating utensils by your plate. Eating with one’s hands is a common practice in the country, and it is one that tends to mystify visitors. 

如果你在印度坐下來享用家庭餐，你可能會在意識到餐盤邊沒有餐具時感到困惑。用手吃飯是該國的一種普遍做法，而且這個做法往往讓遊客迷惑不解。

延伸學習｜其他表「工具，用具，器具」的單字

• utensil [ juˈtɛnsl̩ ] n. 餐具；（尤指廚房或家用的）用具∕器皿
  kitchen utensils　　廚房用具
  disposable utensils　　免洗餐具
• appliance [ əˈplaɪəns ] n.（家用）電器∕器具
• tool [ tul ] n. 工具
• instrument [ ˈɪnstrəmənt ] n.（尤指與科技相關的）精密工具∕儀器
• implement [ ˈɪmpləmənt ] n.（尤指用手操作或用於戶外體力活的）工具∕器具
• kit [ kɪt ] n. 工具組，成套工具
  a first-aid kit　　急救包∕箱
  a tool kit　　工具箱
• gear [ gɪr ] n.（從事某種活動的）一套裝備，用具（集合名詞，不可數）
  fishing / camping gear　　釣魚∕露營用具

The etiquette of eating with one’s fingers actually has to do with the importance of the (C)sense of touch. In India, eating is considered a sensual activity, and touch is just as vital to the enjoyment of the meal as sight, smell, and taste. In Ayurveda traditional medicine, each finger (A)represents one of the five elements of nature. In using all five fingers to eat, one is said to bring greater awareness and spirituality to the act of eating. Practically speaking, dining with your hands makes (D)it easier to gauge the temperature of food with your fingers, and it also leads diners to eat slower, which prolongs the meal and benefits digestion. 

這項用手指吃東西的禮節實際上與觸感的重要性有關。在印度，進食被認為是一種感官活動，且觸摸對於享用餐點來說，與視覺、嗅覺和味覺一樣重要。在阿育吠陀傳統醫學中，每一根手指代表自然的五個元素之一。據說用五根手指進食時，可以使進食行為具有更大的意識與靈性。說得實際一點，徒手進食可以更容易地用手指來測量食物的溫度，還可以讓用餐者吃得慢一些，這延長了用餐時間並有益於消化。

*If you worry that this practice isn’t very (C)hygienic, think again. There are strict rules concerning cleanliness that all diners are expected to follow. Both hands must be washed before the meal. One hand is used for eating, while the other is (B)reserved for passing dishes and serving or accepting food. Communal food is considered contaminated if it is touched with a hand or utensil that someone has put in their mouth. If you ever get the chance to eat with your hands, ask yourself whether you appreciate the food more than usual.

如果你擔心這種做法不是非常衛生，那你就錯了。關於清潔，有所有用餐者都應該遵守的嚴格規定。飯前必須洗淨雙手。一隻手用於進食，而另一隻手保留來傳遞菜餚、上菜或接過食物。如果共餐的食物被某人放到嘴裡過的手或餐具觸碰到，則該食物便被認為受到汙染。如果你有機會用雙手吃飯的話，問問自己是否比平時更能欣賞食物了。

＊本句中的 think again 字面意思為「再想一想」，但前面有條件句 If you worry...，因此此處表面上是「請你再想想」，實則有暗指「你想錯了」之意。

 

克漏字測驗選項
1.    (A) organ    (B) angle    (C) sense    (D) gesture
2.    (A) represents    (B) prohibits    (C) sponsors    (D) discloses
3.    (A) them    (B) what    (C) so    (D) it
4.    (A) credible    (B) diverse    (C) hygienic    (D) lawful
5.    (A) qualified for    (B) reserved for    (C) deprived of    (D) composed of

 

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