中国白酒的英文名改了，以后叫Chinese Baijiu

Most countries have a brand of liquor that tells a story of their history.
大多数国家都有一个酒的品类，可以讲述其历史故事。


Wine is mostly associated with the European countries of France, Spain and Italy.
葡萄酒主要与法国、西班牙和意大利等欧洲国家有关。


Beer is a dominant force in the U. K. and Germany.
啤酒是英国和德国的主导力量。


You can't think of Ireland or Scotland without Whisky.
如果没有威士忌，你不会想到爱尔兰或苏格兰。


Vodka is Russia's stamp on the world.
伏特加是俄罗斯在世界上的印记。


Mexico has Tequila, the U. S. A has many but Bourbon has a solid claim.
墨西哥有龙舌兰酒，美国有很多种酒，但波旁酒有最坚实的话语权。


In the East, Japan has sake and the Korea's have soju.
在东方，日本有清酒，韩国有烧酒。


There's one country however, whom we don't associate a drink with despite its long history and being arguably one of the most influential cultures in the world and that my friends is China.
但是有一个国家，尽管有着悠久的历史，可以说是世界上最具影响力的文化之一，我们却不把它与特有的酒的品类联系在一起，这个朋友就是中国。


What is baijiu?
什么是白酒？


China's national drink and most popular drink is baijiu.
中国的国酒和最受欢迎的酒是白酒。


Baijiu is a clear liquor distilled from fermented grain, usually sorghum.
白酒是从发酵的谷物（通常是高粱）中蒸馏出来的清酒。


Be forewarned because baijiu may look like the other clear liquors the rest of Asia has to offer, but it is significantly stronger and not for the faint of heart.
一般会提前警告，因为白酒可能看起来像亚洲其他地区推出的清酒，但白酒明显更烈，不适合胆小的人。


It typically runs around 40-60% ABV and has been described as a mouthful of flames.
它的酒精度数一般在40%——60%间，被描述为一口火焰（喝到嘴里是火辣辣的感觉）。


Interestingly enough, this burning liquor does have a national classification system.
有趣的是，这种烈性酒确实有国家级分类系统。


It has four distinct classifications.
它有四种不同的分类。


Strong aroma, light aroma, sauce aroma and rice aroma.
分为浓香、淡香、酱香、米香。


Wine is definitely not the only drink judged on its odor.
葡萄酒绝对不是唯一一种根据气味来判断的饮品。


Guiding the brush of painters.
还可以引导画家作画。


Now with that glowing review of baijiu, it begs the question, why is it so popular in China?
现在有了对白酒的热烈评论，但它带来了一个问题：为什么白酒在中国如此流行？


To find out, we have to go dive into Chinese culture.
为了找到答案，我们必须深入了解中国文化。


Chinese culture has been responsible for many technologies that have helped develop the rest of the world into what it is.
中华文化对许多技术产生了影响，这些技术推动世界其他地区发展成为现在的样子。


From martial arts to gun powder and liquor.
从武术到火药和酒。


Baijiu started its journey from its first form, huangjiu under the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.
白酒是从汉、唐、宋时期的黄酒开始的。


Huangjiu was said to have guided the brushes of painters and coax words from poets.
据说，黄酒曾指导画家绘画、诗人吟诗。


But alcohol soon became a battlefield.
但酒精很快就成了战场。


Confucianists spoke of moderation while Daoists preached enlightenment through drunkenness.
儒家讲中庸，道家讲通过醉酒开悟。


Who knew Daoists were the fun philosophers?
谁曾想道家其实是有趣的哲学家呢？


Ultimately huangjiu becomes baijiu around the Ming dynasty and was called shaojiu or burnt wine.
最后黄酒在明朝前后成为白酒，被称为烧酒。


Bigger than you think.
超乎你的想象。


Baijiu has touched all aspects of Chinese life influencing religion, art, philosophy and politics.
白酒触及了中国人生活的方方面面，影响着宗教、艺术、哲学和政治。


It brought enemies together and kingdoms to their downfalls.
它可以使敌人团结起来，也可以使王朝沦陷。


Even today it's the go-to drink for banquets, weddings, funerals and as offerings to deities and ancestors.
即使在今天，它仍然是宴会、婚礼、葬礼以及供奉神灵和祖先的必备之选。


Though it isn't well known around the world, it's popularity hasn't dropped, having sold 10.8 billion liters in 2018 alone.
虽然它在世界上并不知名，但它的受欢迎程度并没有下降，仅在2018年就售出了108亿升。


More than whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and tequila combined.
销量比威士忌、伏特加、杜松子酒、朗姆酒和龙舌兰酒的总和还多。


It's not hard to see why baijiu is so important.
不难看出为什么白酒如此重要。


It has been ingrained in the Chinese culture and was essential in shaping their identity for millennia and will continue to do so.
它已经在中国文化中根深蒂固，几千年来对塑造他们的民族身份至关重要，这种影响将会延续下去。

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