Reversed fu and fu arriving 梅姨的倒“福”到底尴尬了谁

张弛

对于中国新年的习俗与文化，今日老外依旧难以理解。比如，英国首相特蕾莎·梅访华倒拿福字，被英国媒体痛批拿错了，还解读梅姨的行为让旁边的中国女孩目瞪口呆。同学们，让我们一起深入了解中国文化，把中国的新年和福气推广到全世界吧！

When people arrive in a new country， it is important to be aware of the cultural difference to avoid embarrassing mistakes. Theresa May， British Prime Minister， knows it too well. She was recently laughed at by the British press for holding a Chinese character upside down. However， the mistake was made by the newspaper not by May.

During May's recent visit to China， she went to the Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai. At the garden， May and her husband Philip tried their hands at paper-cutting， and she held her cut-out of the character fu， meaning good fortune， upside down. The London Evening Standard， a British newspaper， edited by one of May's former colleagues， former British chancellor（財政大臣）George Osborne， called out her so-called mistake. “The eye-catching couple was holding them upside down， earning confused looks from people at the Busy Bee center， including the young girl they were chatting to，” the newspaper said.

Fu means luck or happiness in Chinese. However， it is actually a custom to hang the character “fu” in reverse （颠倒） on doors or windows， as “upside down” rhymes with “arrive” in Chinese and it means good luck will arrive. Chinese netizens sprang to May's defense. “This is clearly correct， holding fu reversed showing people's wishes for good luck，” a user named Gelan said on Sina Weibo， China's Twitter-like social media platform. “It is the newspaper that knows little about Chinese culture，” another user commented on Weibo.

May's three-day trip sealed（盖章）a dozen deals worth a total of about 9 billion pounds including Belt and Road construction， finance， innovation， agriculture and technology. Her visit is expected to put a new shine on the “Golden Era” between both countries.

In an interview with a Chinese reporter， May was glad to find out that the Chinese people affectionately call her “Auntie May.” “Oh， thank you. Thank you very much， indeed. I'm honored by that， thank you，” the Prime Minister replied.

Read the text carefully and fill in each blank with only one word.

Theresa May， British Prime Minister， was 1._______ at by the British press for

2._______a Chinese character “fu” upside down. However， the 3._______was made by the newspaper， because it is a 4.________in China to hang the character “fu” in reverse and it means good 5.______ will arrive.

Ⅰ.Important phrases in the text

1.laugh at 嘲笑……

2.try one's hand at 尝试做某事

3.rhyme with 与……押韵

4.spring to one's defense 为某人辩护

5.put a new shine on 给……增添光彩

Ⅱ.Complete the following sentences in correct forms with the phrases given above.

1.The freshman ___________ finishing all the work like other people before leaving the office.

2.We should lead a helping hand to people in need instead of ___________ them.

3.Jack had been looking for a word that ____________ knee， and at last he thought of three.

4.No one wanted to ______________ because he deliberately hurt his parents just because of a little conflict.

主题应用·语库构建

I.话题表达

高频热词

window decorations 窗花

paper-cutting 剪纸

guess riddles 猜谜语

put up New Year paintings 贴年画

Spring Festival couplets 春联

lion dances 舞狮表演

Chinese New Year cake 年糕

reunion dinner 团圆饭

reunion of the family 亲人团聚

stay up late or all night on New Year's Eve 守岁

an offering in hope of good crops 企盼五谷丰登的祭品

get ready for the Spring Festival 为春节做好准备

get better off each year 每年都过得更好

精彩美句

1.Each Chinese year is associated with an animal sign according to the Chinese zodiac.根据中国的生肖，每一年都有一个动物作为当年的标志。

2.The Spring Festival consists of a series of celebrations starting from the 12th lunar month customarily called the month of La.春节由一系列的庆祝活动组成，围绕着春节的各种活动从农历十二月就陆续开始了，农历十二月通常被称为腊月。

3.Laba porridge is served not only as a delicacy， but also as an offering in hope of good crops next year.腊八粥不仅是香甜可口的节日美食，也是人们对来年五谷丰登的祝愿与企盼。

4.From the 23rd of La onwards the festive mood of the Spring Festival begins to pick up.從腊月二十三开始，过年的气氛越来越浓了。

5.Since then the custom of writing couplets on peach wood gained popularity.从此在桃木上写春联的风气便逐渐流传开来。

6.The festival has a history of over 3，000 years. Celebrations on lunar New Year's Day can be dated back to the ancient worship of heaven and earth.这个节日有三千多年的历史。农历新年的庆祝活动可以追溯到古代对天地的崇拜。

Ⅱ.读后创写

假定你是李华，收到美国高中生Smith的来信，他在信中表达了来中国感受新年氛围的计划。请你写封回信，简要介绍中国新年的风俗习惯并邀请他来中国过年。内容包括：

1.尊重差异;

2.中国风俗;

3.注意禁忌。

注意：

1.词数100左右;

2.可以适当增加细节，以使行文连贯。

Dear Smith，

Yours，

Li Hua