在中国，火锅不仅是一种吃饭的方式，而且是和朋友见面的好机会。
In China, hotpot is not only a way of eating, but also a great chance to get together with friends.
天气一冷，我就想找几个老朋友，一起去吃火锅。
As soon as the weather turns cold, I want to round up a few old friends and go eat hotpot together.
一张桌子，一个热热的锅，大家把肉和菜放进去，边吃边聊天。
One table, one steaming pot — everyone drops in meat and vegetables, eating and chatting at the same time.
吃火锅的时候，几乎没有人看手机，因为大家都忙着从锅里找好吃的。
While eating hotpot, almost nobody looks at their phone, because everyone is busy fishing tasty things out of the pot.
有人喜欢辣的，有人怕辣，没关系，锅可以分成两半，一半辣，一半不辣。
Some people love spicy food and some are afraid of it — no problem, the pot can be split in two: one half spicy, one half mild.
对我来说，火锅的味道就是朋友的味道，桌子上越热闹，心里越暖和。
For me, the taste of hotpot is the taste of friendship — the livelier the table, the warmer my heart.
即使工作再忙，我们也应该常常和朋友坐下来，慢慢吃一顿火锅。
Even if work is ever so busy, we should still sit down with friends often and enjoy a slow hotpot meal.
因为最好吃的，从来不是锅里的东西，而是坐在你旁边的人。
Because the most delicious thing has never been what's in the pot, but the people sitting beside you.
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Key words 生词
火锅huǒguōhotpot
锅guōpot
方式fāngshìway; method
热闹rènaolively; bustling
暖和nuǎnhuowarm
顿dùn(measure word for meals)
Grammar note 语法点
不仅……而且……
"Not only ... but also ..." links two qualities of the same topic: 火锅不仅是一种吃饭的方式，而且是和朋友见面的好机会。
他不仅会说汉语，而且说得很流利。 — He not only speaks Chinese, but also speaks it fluently.
一……就……
"As soon as A happens, B happens" — the second thing follows the first immediately: 天气一冷，我就想找几个老朋友吃火锅。
我一到家就给妈妈打电话。 — As soon as I get home, I call my mom.
不是……而是……
"Not A, but B" corrects a wrong idea and replaces it with the right one: 最好吃的不是锅里的东西，而是坐在你旁边的人。
他不是不想来，而是太忙了。 — It's not that he doesn't want to come; it's that he is too busy.
Check yourself 小测验
1. According to the text, what do people rarely do while eating hotpot?
2. What solution does the text give for friends who cannot eat spicy food?
3. What does the author say is the most delicious part of hotpot?