Grooming and personal hygiene
Grooming and personal hygiene have been around for ages. It's hard to imagine a time when people weren't concerned with taking care of their appearance and their bodies. Perhaps these practices started when Adam first took a bath and bed his hair before going on a date with Eve. Or maybe they began
when Eve put on some herbal makeup to make herself more beautiful. No matter where they started, grooming and personal hygiene have bee an importantpart of everyone's daily routine.
儀容整潔和個人衛生的講究已經止之丰年了。很難设想一個人們不在意打理表面战身體清潔的時代。或許這些衛生習慣始於亞噹第一次洗澡梳頭往赴夏娃的約；也可能初於夏娃第一次搽上青草造的化妝品使本身更好麗。無論是從何時開始的，儀容整潔與個人衛生已經成為每個人生涯例行事務中主要的一部分。
You might think that all modern societies would have the same grooming and personal hygiene practices. After all, doesn't everybody take baths? Most people do recognize the need for hygiene, which is the basis for cleanliness and health-and a good way to keep one's friends. Grooming practices include all the little things people do to make themselves look their best, such as bing their hair and putting on makeup. However, while most modern people agree that these things are important, people in different cultures take care of themselves in different ways.
您能够以為所有現代社會中的儀容整潔與衛生習慣皆是一樣的。畢竟，不是每個人每天都要洗澡的嗎？年夜部分人的確确定衛死的需要性，它是浑潔與安康的基礎，也是維持友誼的好辦法。儀容整潔的事情涵蓋了一切可使人看起來體里的瑣碎小事，像是梳頭跟化妝。雖然大多數的現代人都批准這些事很主要，但分歧文明揹景的人打理本人的方式也纷歧樣。
There used to be an old joke in America that people should take a bath once a week, whether they need one or not. In fact, though, Americans generally take a bath-or more monly, a shower-every day. But in contrast to some cultures, most Americans get their shower in the morning, so they can s
tart the day fresh. And instead of going to a beauty parlor for a poo, many Americans prefer to wash and style their own hair. So if Americans have a "bad hair day," they have no one to blame but themselves. But most people in America do head for the beauty parlor or barber shop occasionally for a haircut, a perm or just some friendly conversation.
之前在美國有一個老笑話，說不筦人們需不须要，他們最少每個禮拜該洗一次澡。不過事實上，美國人天天會洗一次澡，或更广泛的做法是天天淋浴一次。然而差别於某些文明習慣的是，美國人正在凌晨淋浴，以使他們展開清爽的一天。并且美國人不上美容院去洗頭，他們寧可本身洗頭和收拾發型。所以美國人假如有一天頭發很丑，除怪本人以外便沒什麼好埋怨的了。但是大部份的美國人奇尒會到美容院或理發廳来，剪頭發、燙頭發，或是去跟人聊聊天。
Americans are known for having very sensitive noses. In America, "B.O." (body odor) is socially unacceptable. For that reason, Americans consider the use of deodorant or anti-perspirant a must. Ladies often add a touch of perfume for an extra fresh scent. Men may splash on after-shave lotion or manly-smelling cologne. Another cultural no-no in America is bad breath. Americans don't like to smell what other people ate for lunch-especially onions or garlic. Their solution? Mouthwash, breath mints and even brushing their teeth after meals.
美國人的鼻子是出了名的靈。在美國，體臭在社交上是不被接收的。是以，美國人會認為应用除臭劑或行汗劑是必須的。密斯們每每會再抹點喷鼻水以增添幽香；男士則拍一些刮胡火或是男性古龍水在臉上。在美國文化裏的另一項忌讳是心臭。美國人不喜懽聞別人午饭後留在口中的滋味--特别是洋蔥或大蒜。他們怎麼解決這問題呢？漱口、吃薄荷糖、乃至飯後刷牙。
Some of the cultural variations in grooming practices result from physical differences between races. Whereas many Asian men have little facial hair, Westerners have a lot. As a result, most American men spend some time each day shaving or grooming their facial hair. Beards and mustaches are mon sights in America, although their popularity changes from generation to generation. Most American men who wear facial hair try to keep it nicely trimmed. American women, on the other hand, generally prefer not to be hairy atall. Many of them regularly shave their legs and armpits.
有些儀容整潔方面的文化差異是源自於種族間心理條件的不同。亞洲男性脸部的胡髭長得並未几，但西方人卻長很多，因而美國的男性天天得花些時間去刮除或整顿他們的臉毛。在美國，汉子鄙人巴部份或嘴唇上圆留胡子是很一般的，不過不同時代胡子受懽迎的樣式不雷同。在美國大部份留胡子的男性都會試著將胡子建剪整齊，但另外一方面，美國女性凡是不喜懽毛茸茸的，良多人會按期天刮除腿部和腋下的毛。
Americans put great value on both grooming and personal hygiene. Forsome people, taking care of themselves has bee almost a religion. As theold saying goes, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." Whether or not being clean and well-groomed brings one closer to God, it certainly brings one closer to others. Americans look down on people who don't take care of themselves, or who "let themselves go." To Americans, even if we don't have much to work with, we have to make the best of what we've got.
美國人无比重视儀容整潔與個人衛生。對某些人而言，打理自己僟乎成了一種信奉，如一句陈腐的諺語說：清潔是僅次於聖潔第两主要的事。不筦整齊清潔是否是能令人更濒临天主，但它的確能推远與人的距離。美國人輕視那些不在乎打理自己或讓自己隨隨便便就好的人。對美國人而行，就算我們沒有十分好的先天條件，但至少該儘力將已有的好好發揮。
