Chopsticks have been used in Asia for over 3,000 years. The earliest chopsticks ever unearthed date back to about 1200 BCE. These chopsticks were made of bronze and discovered in Henan, China. Over the next 2,000 years, they spread throughout East and Southeast Asia. In the past century, chopsticks have become recognized in many parts of the world, along with the growing popularity of Asian cuisine.
Chopsticks vary across different cultures in Asia. The three most well-known types are Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Chinese chopsticks are typically longer with wide, rounded points at the end. Plastic or bamboo sets are common in Chinese dining settings. In contrast, Japanese chopsticks are shorter and more pointed, with a thicker top that gradually tapers to a slender point. Traditionally, Japanese people prefer chopsticks made of lacquered wood.
Korean chopsticks are the most easily recognizable. They are flat rather than round and made of metal rather than wood. Some theories trace the origin of metal Korean chopsticks back to palace culture. Royalty used silver chopsticks to see if their food was poisoned because silver was thought to change color upon contact with poisons. Later, brass and iron became popular choices among the general population. Though chopsticks are vital to Korean culture, when Koreans are eating rice, spoons are more commonly used than chopsticks. Traditional Korean dining sets include matching metal spoons and pairs of chopsticks.
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The Vietnamese also use chopsticks daily. Vietnamese chopsticks are similar to Chinese ones, both of which have blunt ends and are longer than Japanese and Korean ones. Vietnamese chopsticks are often made of bamboo or wood. The Vietnamese also have a unique style of chopstick that has broad, flat ends. These chopsticks are used specifically for stirring and blending ingredients during the cooking process.
亞洲使用筷子已有三千多年的歷史。挖掘出來最早期的筷子可以追溯到西元前1200年左右。這些筷子由青銅製成，是在中國河南發現的。在接下來的兩千年裡，筷子傳遍東亞和東南亞。在過去的一世紀中，筷子在世界上的許多地方都得到了認可，亞洲美食也同樣變得日益流行。
亞洲不同文化中的筷子各有不同。最知名的三種類型是中國筷、日本筷和韓國筷。中國筷通常較長，筷頭寬又圓。塑膠筷或竹筷在中式餐飲環境中很常見。相較之下，日本筷較短、較尖，筷子上端較厚並逐漸變細成一個細細的尖端。傳統上，日本人更喜歡漆木製成的筷子。
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韓國筷是最容易辨認的。它們呈扁平狀而非圓形、是由金屬而非木材製成。一些理論將韓國金屬筷子的起源追溯到宮廷文化。皇室使用銀筷來檢查他們的食物是否被下毒，因為人們認為銀接觸到毒物會變色。後來，黃銅和鐵筷在普羅大眾之間很盛行。儘管筷子對韓國文化極為重要，但韓國人在吃米飯時，更常用湯匙而不是筷子。傳統的韓國餐具包含成套的金屬湯匙和筷子。
越南人也是每天使用筷子。越南筷與中國筷相似，都是鈍頭，而且都比日本筷和韓國筷長。越南筷通常由竹子或木頭製成。越南人還有一種獨特的筷子種類，筷端又寬又平。這類筷子專門用於烹飪過程中攪拌和混合食材。
Words in Use
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1. recognized a. 受到認可的
recognizable a. 可以辨認∕認出的
Tina is a recognized talent in the local music industry.
提娜是當地音樂界公認的人才。
Mickey’s ears are the most recognizable feature out of all the cartoon characters.
米奇的耳朵是所有卡通角色中最易辨認出來的特色。
2. popularity n. 流行，普及
Vegan food has grown in popularity along with growing social concerns about animal welfare.
純素食品日益流行，社會也益發注重動物福利。
3. cuisine n. 美食，料理
Indian cuisine is famous for its bold spices.
印度料理以濃郁的香料而聞名。
4. vary vi. 相異
Wedding traditions vary greatly across different cultures and religions.
婚禮傳統在不同文化和宗教之間有很大的差異。
5. setting n. 環境
Candlelight creates a romantic setting for
a dinner date.
燭光能為晚餐約會創造出浪漫環境。
Practical Phrases
1. date back to + 時間點 追溯至……
The origins of the festival date back to the 17th century.
那個節日的起源可追溯至十七世紀。
2. be made of... 由……製成
This dress is made of soft silk, so it’s comfortable to wear.
這件洋裝由柔軟的絲綢製成，所以穿起來很舒服。
3. along with... 連同……
In the evenings, Wendy enjoys a cup of tea along with a good book.
傍晚時，溫蒂會一邊享用茶飲，一邊閱讀一本好書。
4. In contrast, S + V 相較之下，……
Dogs are social animals. In contrast, cats are often more independent.
狗狗是群居性動物。相較之下，貓咪通常比較獨立。
5. trace sth back to... 追溯某事物至……
Historians trace the root of democracy back to ancient Greek political systems.
歷史學家將民主的根源追溯至古希臘政治制度。
To be continued tomorrow（明日待續）
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