Chinese and Western Culture: Hot Water vs Cold Water中西文化沖突：喝熱水還是喝冷水？

唐毅/譯

Why do Chinese people drink hot water？ Many westerners find it so interesting that they always see Chinese people carry a vacuum cup no matter which season it is. If you go to a restaurant in western countries， they usually serve you a cup of cold water， sometimes even with ice. And every time when Chinese people ask the waiter if they can change to hot water， actually they may receive a strange look from the waiter or people nearby. Hot water？ Seriously？

為何中國人總是喝熱水？許多西方人發現一件很有趣的事，那就是無論什么季節，他們總能看到中國人隨身攜帶一只真空保溫杯。如果你去西方國家的餐館吃飯，他們總是會遞上一杯冷水，有時甚至加入冰塊。每當中國人向他們要求換成熱水時，總會遭遇侍者和旁人異樣的目光。熱水？沒開玩笑吧？

For lots of Chinese people， nothing is more common than drinking hot water every day. But for most of the Westerners， the idea of drinking plain hot water is really odd since they drink cold water even in winter. Why do Chinese people drink hot water？ Hot water vs cold water， which one is better？ Follow us to find an ideal answer.

對于許多中國人來說，每天喝熱水是最普通不過的事了?？蓪Υ蠖鄶滴鞣饺藖碚f，喝白開水的想法真是很奇怪，西方人即使在冬天都喝冷水。那么為何中國人總是喝熱水呢？喝熱水還是冷水，哪個更利于健康？請跟我們來尋找一個最能釋惑的答案吧。

Water Quality

水質

Water became a matter of civic debate by the 1930s in China， while the water supplies were polluted. In order to prevent people from infectious diseases， the government suggested people drinking boiled water， because they considered it a way to kill off microbes and bacteria. They always boil water daily and store it in a thermos to keep the water warm for the day. Even now， you can find hot water dispensers everywhere， in schools， factories， and government departments across the country.

到1930年代，水成為中國市民討論的話題，當時供水總是受到污染。為了防止國民感染疾病，政府建議喝燒開的水，因為他們認為此舉能殺滅微生物和細菌。每天人們都把水燒開后存放在保溫瓶里，讓水整天都是熱乎乎的。時至今日，無論是在學校、工廠還是政府部門，中國各地遍布熱飲機。

While for western countries， as a result of the loss from severe plague， they took water quality seriously from then on， so that people can drink water directly from the tap rather than having to boil it.

而在西方國家，曾經有許多人因瘟疫喪命，于是從那時起西方人就非常重視水質。所以現在水龍頭接的水可以直飲，而不必燒開后再喝。

Eating Habits

飲食習慣

It is well known that Chinese people prefer hot meals every day. Moreover， some parents always teach their children to drink hot water with meals， because they think mixing cold liquids with hot meals is really bad for the stomach， and cold liquids may solidify fats in your stomach， which can cause digestive problems， whereas hot liquids aid in digestion.

眾所周知，中國人喜歡每天吃熱的餐食。有的父母也總是教導孩子們吃飯時喝熱水，他們堅持認為冷水就熱飯對胃不好，因為冷湯冷水會將胃里的脂肪凝固，從而引起消化不良，而熱湯熱水則會幫助食物消化。

According to the eating habits in western countries， they prefer “raw” food， so they also prefer their water “raw”. At the same time， they are fond of hamburgers， cheese and fried stuff， which are all with high calorie. As a matter of fact， they need cold drinks to cool them off.

按照西方國家的飲食習慣，人們偏愛“未經加工”的食物，所以西方人也更喜歡喝“生”水。他們又喜歡吃漢堡、奶酪和油炸食物，這些食物熱量很高。實際上他們需要喝冷飲來降溫。

Digestion

消化

Chinese people all believe that hot food is better to the stomach. Based on the traditional Chinese medicine， cold food may decrease the temperature of your internal organs which causes chill into your body， makes you easily suffer from cold. Hot water can warm your internal organs， keep the Yang in your body. Thus， hot water can warm your stomach， by this way， your stomach will function well， and it gives less chance to gastrointestinal diseases.

中國人都認為熱的食物有利于養胃。依據中醫的說法，冷的食物會降低臟腑的溫度，讓寒氣進入體內，使人易患感冒。熱水則會溫暖五臟六腑，保持體內的陽氣。因此，熱水可以暖胃，從而讓胃更好地發揮作用，減少患腸胃病的機會。

Since Chinese people prefer hot meals every day， theyre also used to having hot drinks with it， because its better for digestion. Thats the reason why waiters always serve you a glass of hot water or hot tea when you are in a Chinese restaurant.

中國人每天喜歡吃熱的餐食，也總是喝熱飲，因為這利于消化。這就是為何在中餐館就餐時，侍應生總會為你端上一杯熱水或熱茶的緣故。

Medical Basis

醫學依據

Under the influence of traditional Chinese medicine， Chinese people consider drinking hot water as a kind of panacea. They think hot water increases blood circulation and helps decrease complications associated with cramps and indigestion. It washes away the coldness clogged up in ones body， and thus eases pain.

在中醫的影響下，中國人視熱水為靈丹妙藥。他們相信熱水會加快血液循環，幫助減少腹絞痛、消化不良等問題引起的并發癥。此外熱水還會將淤積在體內的寒氣驅走，從而減輕病痛。

On the contrary， for most westerners， the idea of drinking hot water is odd enough. They believe that drinking hot water may weaken your body immunity. If you are used to drinking hot water， the body is unable to stand water below your body temperature after a long period of time. That is to say， the body endurance and stress capability decline， which goes against the state of natural survival.

與此相反，對大多數西方人來說，喝熱水的想法非常奇怪。他們認為，喝熱水會削弱身體的免疫力。如果習慣喝熱水，喝的時間長了，身體就無法耐受低于體溫的水。也就是說，身體的耐受力和承受力會下降，這不符合人自然生存的狀態。

Traditional Chinese Medicine Health Cultivation

中醫健康意識養成

Lets talk about the main functions of drinking hot water from the standpoint of traditional Chinese medicine.

讓我們從中醫的角度來討論一下熱水的主要功能吧。

According to the traditional Chinese medicine， health is due to an internal balance of Yin and Yang. In the Yin-Yang theory， water is Yin-type while hot stuff is Yang-type， drinking hot water can enrich Yin and tonify Yang in your body， keeping Yin and Yang in equilibrium.

依據中醫的說法，人體健康是因為體內陰陽平衡。陰陽之說認為，水是陰，熱的東西是陽，喝熱水能滋陰補陽，從而保持陰陽平衡。

If you have cold symptoms or other Yin-type imbalances such as frequent chills， thirst， depression， sleepiness， bloating or retention of fluids， hot water plays the role of the Yang and brings your body back into balance. Doctors of traditional Chinese medicine always tell patients to drink more hot water. They call it the method of resolving exterior.

如果你有寒癥或是其他陰虛失衡的癥狀，如寒顫、口渴、抑郁、嗜睡、水腫或水潴留等，熱水都可以發揮陽的作用，使身體重回平衡。中醫大夫總是告訴病人多喝熱水，他們稱此舉為解表法。

（譯者單位：東華大學）