Most countries have a brand of liquor that tells a story of their history.
大多數(shù)國(guó)家都有一個(gè)酒的品類，可以講述其歷史故事。
Wine is mostly associated with the European countries of France, Spain and Italy.
葡萄酒主要與法國(guó)、西班牙和意大利等歐洲國(guó)家有關(guān)。
Beer is a dominant force in the U. K. and Germany.
啤酒是英國(guó)和德國(guó)的主導(dǎo)力量。
You can't think of Ireland or Scotland without Whisky.
如果沒(méi)有威士忌，你不會(huì)想到愛(ài)爾蘭或蘇格蘭。
Vodka is Russia's stamp on the world.
伏特加是俄羅斯在世界上的印記。
Mexico has Tequila, the U. S. A has many but Bourbon has a solid claim.
墨西哥有龍舌蘭酒，美國(guó)有很多種酒，但波旁酒有最堅(jiān)實(shí)的話語(yǔ)權(quán)。
In the East, Japan has sake and the Korea's have soju.
在東方，日本有清酒，韓國(guó)有燒酒。
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.
但是有一個(gè)國(guó)家，盡管有著悠久的歷史，可以說(shuō)是世界上最具影響力的文化之一，我們卻不把它與特有的酒的品類聯(lián)系在一起，這個(gè)朋友就是中國(guó)。
What is baijiu?
什么是白酒？
China's national drink and most popular drink is baijiu.
中國(guó)的國(guó)酒和最受歡迎的酒是白酒。
Baijiu is a clear liquor distilled from fermented grain, usually sorghum.
白酒是從發(fā)酵的谷物（通常是高粱）中蒸餾出來(lái)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.
一般會(huì)提前警告，因?yàn)榘拙瓶赡芸雌饋?lái)像亞洲其他地區(qū)推出的清酒，但白酒明顯更烈，不適合膽小的人。
It typically runs around 40-60% ABV and has been described as a mouthful of flames.
它的酒精度數(shù)一般在40%——60%間，被描述為一口火焰（喝到嘴里是火辣辣的感覺(jué)）。
Interestingly enough, this burning liquor does have a national classification system.
有趣的是，這種烈性酒確實(shí)有國(guó)家級(jí)分類系統(tǒng)。
It has four distinct classifications.
它有四種不同的分類。
Strong aroma, light aroma, sauce aroma and rice aroma.
分為濃香、淡香、醬香、米香。
Wine is definitely not the only drink judged on its odor.
葡萄酒絕對(duì)不是唯一一種根據(jù)氣味來(lái)判斷的飲品。
Guiding the brush of painters.
還可以引導(dǎo)畫(huà)家作畫(huà)。
Now with that glowing review of baijiu, it begs the question, why is it so popular in China?
現(xiàn)在有了對(duì)白酒的熱烈評(píng)論，但它帶來(lái)了一個(gè)問(wèn)題：為什么白酒在中國(guó)如此流行？
To find out, we have to go dive into Chinese culture.
為了找到答案，我們必須深入了解中國(guó)文化。
Chinese culture has been responsible for many technologies that have helped develop the rest of the world into what it is.
中華文化對(duì)許多技術(shù)產(chǎn)生了影響，這些技術(shù)推動(dòng)世界其他地區(qū)發(fā)展成為現(xiàn)在的樣子。
From martial arts to gun powder and liquor.
從武術(shù)到火藥和酒。
Baijiu started its journey from its first form, huangjiu under the Han, Tang and Song dynasties.
白酒是從漢、唐、宋時(shí)期的黃酒開(kāi)始的。
Huangjiu was said to have guided the brushes of painters and coax words from poets.
據(jù)說(shuō)，黃酒曾指導(dǎo)畫(huà)家繪畫(huà)、詩(shī)人吟詩(shī)。
But alcohol soon became a battlefield.
但酒精很快就成了戰(zhàn)場(chǎng)。
Confucianists spoke of moderation while Daoists preached enlightenment through drunkenness.
儒家講中庸，道家講通過(guò)醉酒開(kāi)悟。
Who knew Daoists were the fun philosophers?
誰(shuí)曾想道家其實(shí)是有趣的哲學(xué)家呢？
Ultimately huangjiu becomes baijiu around the Ming dynasty and was called shaojiu or burnt wine.
最后黃酒在明朝前后成為白酒，被稱為燒酒。
Bigger than you think.
超乎你的想象。
Baijiu has touched all aspects of Chinese life influencing religion, art, philosophy and politics.
白酒觸及了中國(guó)人生活的方方面面，影響著宗教、藝術(shù)、哲學(xué)和政治。
It brought enemies together and kingdoms to their downfalls.
它可以使敵人團(tuán)結(jié)起來(lái)，也可以使王朝淪陷。
Even today it's the go-to drink for banquets, weddings, funerals and as offerings to deities and ancestors.
即使在今天，它仍然是宴會(huì)、婚禮、葬禮以及供奉神靈和祖先的必備之選。
Though it isn't well known around the world, it's popularity hasn't dropped, having sold 10.8 billion liters in 2018 alone.
雖然它在世界上并不知名，但它的受歡迎程度并沒(méi)有下降，僅在2018年就售出了108億升。
More than whiskey, vodka, gin, rum and tequila combined.
銷量比威士忌、伏特加、杜松子酒、朗姆酒和龍舌蘭酒的總和還多。
It's not hard to see why baijiu is so important.
不難看出為什么白酒如此重要。
It has been ingrained in the Chinese culture and was essential in shaping their identity for millennia and will continue to do so.
它已經(jīng)在中國(guó)文化中根深蒂固，幾千年來(lái)對(duì)塑造他們的民族身份至關(guān)重要，這種影響將會(huì)延續(xù)下去。
海量英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力資源，高亮雙語(yǔ)字幕，盡在每日英語(yǔ)聽(tīng)力~
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