世界长江、中国春节：四川麻婆豆腐

我不卖豆腐

I don’t sell tofu.

豆腐，豆腐，豆腐，豆腐

Tofu, tofu, tofu, tofu!

我在武功学校里学的那叫功夫

What I learned at martial arts school is called kung fu.

功夫，功夫，功夫，功夫

Kung fu, kung fu, kung fu, kung fu!

在这首歌里，如果您听到了“功夫”，那说明您已经开始了解中国了；如果您还听到了“豆腐”，那能说明，您已经开始爱上中国，甚至能证明您到过长江上游的四川。因为中国人爱吃豆腐，而川菜中最有名的就是“麻婆豆腐”。

If you hear “kung fu” in this song, it shows that you’re starting to understand China. If you also catch “tofu”, it suggests that you’re beginning to love this country. And it might even mean you’ve been to Sichuan, upstream of the Yangtze River. Chinese people really love tofu, and one of the most famous dishes from Sichuan cuisine is Mapo tofu.

四川人爱吃辣，和四川那里的地理与气候有关。四川盆地空气湿润，夏季多雨、冬季少雪，非常适合原产南美洲、经海上丝绸之路传入中国的辣椒的生长——四川人管辣椒叫“海椒”，说的就是它从海上来。辣椒产量高，又能够祛湿气，便自然成了川菜的调味主角。四川人称自己“无辣不欢”。

People here have a taste for spicy food, which is related to Sichuan’s geography and climate. The Sichuan Basin boasts humid air, rainy summers, and little snow in winter, making it perfect for growing chili peppers. This crop originated in South America and was brought to China via the Maritime Silk Road. Sichuan people call them “hai jiao”, which means they came from overseas. Chili peppers produce a lot of fruits and help get rid of dampness, so they naturally became the main seasoning in Sichuan cuisine. For the locals, the spicier, the better.

辣椒的火热和豆腐的嫩滑本来大相径庭，它们的相遇，就像四川人性格的“反差”神奇。

The spicy flavor of chili peppers and the soft texture of tofu are very different, but when they come together, it’s as amazing as the strong contrasts in the personalities of Sichuan people.

比如，川妹子性格火辣，但是生活中又很“巴适”——这个词来自四川话，是慢节奏、有松弛感的意思；再比如，四川人平日里不显山不露水，但关键时刻能有大作为。

For instance, Sichuan girls might have bold personalities, but in daily life, they also tend to be quite “ba shi”, a local term meaning they take life at a slow and easy pace. Another example is that Sichuan people are generally modest in everyday life, but they can accomplish impressive things when it really matters.

红油辣子的光泽，有川味，更有年味。辣椒、花椒、豆瓣、牛肉末裹着白嫩嫩的豆腐送入口中，酥嫩鲜嫩就在舌尖快速展开。年饭上的豆腐，可是一道充满好运的菜肴。它的第一个字“豆”与代表“装起来”的汉字“兜”同音；它的第二字“腐”与代表“好运”的汉字“福”同音。把“福”“兜”起来，寓意“五福同享”。这“五福”指的就是长寿、富贵、康宁、好德和善终这五种福气。

The shine of chili pepper oil represents the essence of Sichuan cuisine and the spirit of the New Year. With chili peppers, Sichuan peppers, bean paste, and ground beef wrapped around soft and white tofu, it creates a delicate flavor that bursts in your mouth. Tofu is a dish associated with good luck at the reunion dinner during the Spring Festival. The first part of the word “tofu”, or “dou”, sounds like the Chinese character for “hold”, and the second part “fu” sounds like the character for “good luck”. So, holding “fu” in “dou” symbolizes“wu fu tong xiang”(lit. sharing these five blessings together: longevity, wealth, health, virtue, and a good end.)