Chopsticks were developed about 5,000 years ago in China. Chopsticks, or kuài-zi, are usually nine to ten inches long, rectangular with blunt ends, and made from a variety of materials. Bamboo chopsticks are the most common because bamboo is inexpensive, readily available, easy to split, resistant to heat, and has no perceptible odor or taste.
lì li:
wǒ yòng dāo chā hái bù xí guàn, nĭ bié jiàn xiào.
丽丽：
我用刀叉还不习惯，你别见笑。
Lili:
I'm still not used to using a knife and fork. So, don't laugh at me.
mài kè:
jiù xiàng wǒ kāi shĭ yòng kuài zi yí yàng.
麦克：
就像我开始用筷子一样。
Mike:
It's just like when I first started using chopsticks.
lì li:
nĭ xiàn zài yòng de bú cuò le.
丽丽：
你现在用得不错了。
Lili:
You use them quite well now.
mài kè:
hái bù zĕn me shú liàn, bú guò, zhì shăo kĕ yĭ yòng tā jiā cài chī fàn le.
麦克：
还不怎么熟练，不过，至少可以用它夹菜吃饭了!
Mike:
I'm still not really skillful, but I can at least pick up my food during a meal!
lì li:
bĭ wǒ yòng dāo chā qiē ròu pái hăo duō le.
丽丽：
比我用刀叉切肉排强多了。
Lili:
You're still a lot better than I am at using a knife and fork to slice steak.
mài kè:
zhī dào ma, wǒ liáo jiĕ zhōng guó jiù shì cóng kuài zi kāi shĭ de.
麦克：
知道吗，我了解中国就是从筷子开始的。
Mike:
You know, my first lesson in understanding China began with chopsticks.
lì li:
shì ma? shuō shuō kàn.
丽丽：
是吗？说说看。
Lili:
Really? Tell me about it.
mài kè:
wǒ rèn wéi kuài zi dài biăo zhōng guó rén de yì zhǒng wén huà. wǒ xué huì yòng tā găn dào hěn zì háo.
麦克：
我认为筷子代表中国人的一种文化。我学会用它感到很自豪。
Mike:
I think chopsticks are a part of Chinese culture. I am proud of myself that I have learnt how to use them.
lì li:
guài bù de nà me duō wài guó rén dōu yào xué xí yòng kuài zi ne.
丽丽：
怪不得那么多外国人都要学习用筷子呢。
Lili:
No wonder so many foreigners want to learn how to use chopsticks.
mài kè:
zài yòng kuài zi de guò chéng zhōng, bú dàn duì kuài zi ér qiě duì zhōng guó rén yě chăn shēng le yì zhǒng tè shū de găn qíng.
麦克：
在用筷子的过程中，不但对筷子而且对中国人也产生了一种特殊的感情。
Mike:
While learning how to use chopsticks, one not only develops a special feeling for chopsticks, but also for the Chinese people.
筷子 kuài zi: chopsticks
刀 dāo: knife
叉 chā: fork
见笑 jiàn xiào: to laugh at
熟练 shú liàn: skillful
夹菜 jiā cài: to pick up food (usually with chopsticks)
