Overall: HSK 5
When winter arrives, what lingers in Chinese people’s minds are two sweet treats, the sweet and sour candied hawthorns and the warm roasted chestnuts which bring back childhood memories for many.
Today, let’s take a bite of the taste of winter in China.
冬天一到，街头最让人惦记（diàn jì , to keep in mind）的就是两口甜香味。冰糖葫芦的酸甜和糖炒栗子的温热，是很多中国人童年的记忆。今天，就带大家一起尝一尝冬天的中国味道。
As the weather turns cold, the streets seem a little quieter. But in this winter calm, the most irresistible sounds come from two calls: one is the bright, crisp cry of “Candied hawthorns!” and the other is the slightly muffled call of “Roasted chestnuts!” which makes you want to warm your hands just hearing it.
天气一冷，街面上瞧着清净了些。这冬日里最勾魂（gōu hún, irresistible）的动静，莫过于两声吆喝（yāo he, to call out to customers）：一是“冰糖葫芦儿——”，又脆又亮；二就是“糖炒栗子——”那声儿闷些，听着就让人想揣起手来。
Candied hawthorns show a splash of color in the winter.
先说冰糖葫芦儿。那可是冬天里的一抹亮色。
Take a bite, “crack”, the hard candy shell shatters in your mouth, immediately followed by the tangy fruit inside, making you shiver with its sharp sourness. The vendor carries a straw stick that lined with bright red fruit. Only hawthorns of uniform size are chosen, washed, pitted, and skewered five on each stick.
那卖糖葫芦的扛着个草棒子，上面插满了红艳艳的果子。山楂得选大小均匀的，洗净了，挖了核，用竹签子一串五个。咬一口，“嘎嘣” （gā bēng, sound word）一声，又脆又响，糖壳儿在嘴里裂开，紧接着是酸溜溜的果肉，酸得人一激灵（jī ling, to shiver）。
再说那糖炒栗子，可就是另一番温暖的滋味了。
Roasted chestnuts offer a completely different kind of warmth. Grab a bag of freshly roasted chestnuts that is still hot enough to pass from hand to hand.
买一包刚出锅的栗子，用纸袋装着，烫得左手倒右手。也顾不得那许多，急急地剥开一颗。
The glossy shell splits easily with a squeeze, revealing the warm, golden, plump nut inside. Pop it into your mouth, it immediately gives you a sense of sweet, soft, and satisfying.
栗子壳油亮亮的，轻轻一捏，“咔” （ka, sound word）的一声便裂开，露出里面暖黄饱满的仁儿。放进嘴里，又甜又糯。
These two treats, one sparkling like ice while the other warm like hearth, may not be considered as delicacies in China. But without them, winter feels bland and endless.
这两样吃食，一串是亮晶晶的“冰”，一包是暖烘烘的“火”。它们算不得什么珍馐（zhēn xiū, delicacies），可离了它们，这冬天，仿佛就少了魂儿，变得寡淡（guǎ dàn, plain）而漫长了。
