What do you usually do on your birthday?

When my birthday comes around these days, one thing I’ll definitely do is reward myself with a new book – a type of self-appointed ceremony. Other than that, I’ll either celebrate it at one of my favorite restaurants and on most occasions, that would be a Sichuan restaurant, or cook a nice dinner at home.

No fancy birthday cakes because they are not really my cup of tea, plus they contain too much sugar and calories.

Oh, my family will also call me on video and we’ll chat for about half an hour or more, sometimes even an hour, and when it ends, I’ll find a virtual red envelope sent to my WeChat from all my family members.

• reward myself with 奖励自己……


• self-appointed 自封的


• ceremony 仪式


• not really my cup of tea 不是我的菜


• virtual 虚拟的

What did you do on your birthday when you were young?

Back when I was a kid, I anticipated my birthday one or even two months before it because it was one of the very few occasions that I’d actually have a very nice homemade dinner cooked by my parents. Usually, the main dish would be dumplings with pork filling.

No birthday cakes of course because we couldn’t afford one and strangely, no gifts. My parents and my sisters and I would chat over the tasty food and stories of our childhood were shared. I guess it’s the best gift for birthdays – that family members get together and have a good time.

• one of the very few occasions 极少数场合


• homemade 自制的；家里做的


• main dish 主菜


• tasty food 美食；可口的食物

Do you think it is important for you to celebrate your birthday?

Well, these days I feel my birthday is like any other day of the year. If not for my family, sometimes I’d even forget all about it. I guess it’s because part of me just doesn’t want to grow old.

• like any other day of the year 跟一年里其它时候一样

Whose birthday do you think is the most important to celebrate in China?

I’m not sure but I guess it would probably be the oldest person in the family, for example, the grandfather, I mean, especially if they are getting up there in years, such as turning 80.

I think turning such an age is a big deal, so I think most families will have a big celebration for one’s 80th, and perhaps also for kids when turning 18, as it’s sort of a watershed moment for becoming an adult, or at least a mature child.

I know there are some parts of China, like in Canton, that also make a big fuss about a baby turning 1 month old: I think it’s called a red egg party. So, I guess those are some of the significant ages that are considered important birthdays in my country.

• getting up there in years 上了年纪


• is a big deal 是大事


• celebration 庆祝


• watershed moment 分水岭


• make a big fuss about 大张旗鼓


• significant 重要的


• are considered 被认为是