大年初七 人日捞鱼生

　　Chinese New Year on my fingertip 指尖上的新年：大年初七 人日捞鱼生

　　Today is the 7th day of the 1st month in Lunar Calendar. 今天是农历正月初七。

　　Today is commonly referred to as 人日 ( ren ri, the day of human) and it is considered as birthday for everyone. 这天通常被称为人日，被认为是每个人的生日。

　　In most part of China, people will have noodles on this day, because noodles symbolise longevity in Chinese culture. 在中国的大部分地区，人们会在这一天吃面条，因为在中国的文化中，面条象征着长寿。

　　In south part of China and even South East Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, Chinese people will take yusheng on this day to celebrate everyone’s birthday. (鱼生)， also known as lo hei (Cantonese for 捞起， lao qi, or toss up) is a Chinese style raw fish salad. 在中国的南方，甚至是在东南亚地区，特别是马来西亚和新加坡，中国人会在这一天拿鱼生来庆祝每个人的生日。这种中国式的生鱼沙律也被称为lo hei(捞起鱼生)。

　　It usually consists of strips of raw fish (most commonly salmon)， mixed with shredded vegetables and a variety of sauces and condiments, among other ingredients. 它通常由生鱼条(多为鲑鱼)拌入蔬菜丁，再加入多种酱汁及作料，与其他配料一并食用。

　　Yusheng literally means ‘raw fish’ but since ‘fish (鱼)’ is commonly conflated with its homophone “abundance (余)”， yusheng (鱼生) is interpreted as a homophone for yusheng (余升) meaning an increase in abundance. 鱼生字面意思就是“生的鱼肉”，但是因为“鱼”和“余”发音相同，鱼生被解释为同音词“余升”，寓意为高升有余。

　　Therefore, yusheng is considered as a symbol of abundance and prosperity. 因此，鱼生便成了富足、发财的象征。

　　The yusheng had fish served with white radish, carrots, red pepper, turnips, red pickled ginger, sun-dried oranges, Chinese parsley, chopped peanuts, toasted sesame seeds, Chinese shrimp crackers (or fried dried shrimp)， five spice powder and other ingredients, laced with a sauce using plum sauce, rice vinegar, kumquat paste and sesame oil. 鱼生的配料包括萝卜(白色小萝卜)、胡萝卜、红辣椒、芜菁、紫姜泥、橘子干、柠檬叶、芫荽、干辣椒、海蜇皮、花生末、烤芝麻、炸虾米、五香粉等，再加入由酸梅酱、米醋、金丝橘膏及香油调制的酱汁。

　　It is common to say auspicious wishes as each ingredient is added。一般说来，每个加进去的配料都意为吉祥如意。

(沪江英语)