Chat attack

socialize/ 社交/ (shèjiāo)

A:Are you someone who values socializing? 

你是一个在生活中格外注重社交的人吗？

(nǐshì yīɡè zài shēnɡhuó zhōnɡ ɡéwài zhùzhònɡ shèjiāo de rén ma?)

B:It depends on the situation. When interacting with someone I don't know in a public place, I often feel a little awkward socializing. 

这个要分情况看,在公共场合和不认识的人相处,社交往往让我有些尴尬。

(zhèɡè yàofēn qínɡkuànɡ kàn, zài ɡōnɡɡònɡ chǎnɡhé hé bùrènshí de rén xiānɡchǔ, shèjiāo wǎnɡwǎnɡ rànɡwǒ yǒuxiē ɡānɡà.)

A:Did you know what people used to socialize in ancient China, when technology wasn't that advanced? 

你知道在科技不发达的中国古代,人们用什么样的方式社交吗？

(nǐ zhīdào zài kējì bùfādá de zhōnɡɡuó ɡǔdài, rénmén  yònɡ shenme yànɡde fānɡshì shèjiāo ma?)

B:From what I know, ancient people often wrote letters to communicate with faraway relatives. A lot of ancient people saw letters as a way to express love, what we call love letters now. 

就我所知,古人常用书信的方式与远方亲人沟通,很多古人把书信当做表达爱情的方式,也就是我们现在所说的情书。

(jiùwǒsuǒzhī, ɡǔrén chánɡyònɡ shūxìn de fānɡshì yǔ yuǎnfānɡ qīnrén ɡōutōnɡ, hěnduō ɡǔrén bǎ shūxìn dānɡzuò biǎodá àiqínɡ de fānɡshì, yějiùshì wǒmén xiànzài suǒshuōde qínɡshū.)

A: Besides letters, tea parties were another method to socialize in ancient China. Drinking tea is a hot option today. 

除了书信,茶话会也是中国古代常用的另一种社交方式。现在,也有很多人会选择饮茶。

(chúle shūxìn,cháhuàhuìyěshì zhōnɡɡuó ɡǔdài chánɡyònɡ de lìnɡyīzhǒnɡ shèjiāo fānɡshì.xiànzài,yěyǒu hěnduō rén huì xuǎnzé yǐnchá.)

Illustration: Liu Xidan/GT