独特的饮酒方式

10　独特的饮酒方式　Unique Ways of Drinking Alcohol

转转酒Zhuanzhuan Drinking

Zhuan means“turnaround.”Zhuanzhuan drinking is a unique way of alcoholic drinking among people of the Yi ethnic nationality in Southwest China.No matter whether they are guests or hosts，people habitually sit in a circle around a jar that contains an alcoholic beverage.They drink together with only a cup or glass，which passes around from one participant's hand to another one's.Each drinks a very small quantity or just sips his drink at a time when he holds the cup in order to stay sober and properly behave himself in the circle.

劝酒Persuade Others to Drink More

Chinese hosts always want their guests to drink more.On special occasions，like a dinner banquet or feast，they repeatedly invite their guests for toasts in a hospitable attempt to overwhelm the guests with alcoholic beverages.The more the guests drink，the happier is the host.It is not a guest's job to drink himself or herself to the point of discomfort，but if the guest drinks too little，this may also upset the host.

文敬A Toast in a Gentle Way

As the beginning of a dinner party，a host makes the first toast after giving a short opening speech.Sometimes he will turn his glass upside down to show no liquor is left in the glass.While this happens，the guests stand up and usually drink their liquor off.During the party，the host often leaves his seat and goes to each table to clink the glasses to each guest and then drink a toast to them.

回敬Drink a Toast in Return

As a host toasts，guests will respond.Even if the host or some other participants propose a“sip”toast，everyone in the party should do a“bottom up.”Generally guests should graciously accept these gestures.Towards the end of the meal，the senior guest should give a return speech of gratitude for the hospitality and propose an appropriate toast.

互敬Toasts Among Guests

These toasts may involve guests at the table.Usually the one who proposes the toast will give various excuses or reasons，which sound so convincing that it is hard to reject a“bottom up.”Throughout toast exchanges，participants at a table continue talking with each other.

代饮A Substitute Toast Drinker

Toasts are used not only to express interest or pleasure in the event，but also sometimes to demonstrate drinking prowess.So when a host or a guest is the“object”of numerous toasts，it is acceptable to have a substitute to drink on his behalf，since sometimes joining the toast with water or a soft drink is not desirable.For example，at the wedding party，the bridesmaid and the best man usually serve as ideal substitutes to drink wine on behalf of the bride and bridegroom.

Notes: 1)habitually 习惯性地 2)sober 清醒 3)repeatedly 反复地 4)upset 使难过 5)graciously 有礼貌地 6)gesture 手势;表示 7)appropriate 适当的 8)reject 拒绝 9)prowess 非凡的能力 10)acceptable 可接受的 11)substitute 代替 12)bridesmaid 伴娘 13)bridegroom 新郎