Chinese Conversation - lesson 397
离开玉器展示区
曼蒂：从这里开始，我们要去看读书人的玩物﹕清朝的雕刻象牙、竹子和犀牛角。
卡西：这些东西每每让我叹为观止。
曼蒂：来看这些竹子。竹子就像玉一样，因为中国人用竹子来比拟君子的性情。
卡西：谦冲能屈却不失原则，刚毅却优雅。
曼蒂：犀牛角酒杯则据说可以增加酒的风味。
卡西：但是可怜的犀牛就……
Leaving the jade area
Morley: From here, we move over to the scholars’ toys: the carved ivory, bamboo, and rhinoceros horns of the Qing dynasty.
Kathy: These always amaze me.
Maddie: Look at this bamboo. Bamboo is just like jade in that the Chinese compare it to the personality of a gentleman.
Kathy: Bending but not breaking, strong but elegant.
Maddie: The rhinoceros horn wine cups were said to add to the flavor of the wine being drunk from it.
Kathy: But the poor rhinos…
(Source: wwenglish.com)