Couches in history 歷史上的沙發

Today, most people have at least one couch in their house. They like to sit on their couch and watch TV. But it might surprise you to find out that throughout history, couches have been used for many different purposes.

For example, a long time ago, only rich people had couches. In the Middle East, kings used couches as their thrones. In Italy, people didn't sit in chairs while they ate. Instead, they put couches around their table and ate while lying down. Regular people have been able to afford couches only for a few hundred years.

Today, people like to sit on couches to relax. If someone likes to spend too much time relaxing on the couch and not working, you can call him or her a "couch potato." (Marc Langer, Staff Writer)

今天，多數人家裡至少都有一張沙發。人們喜歡坐在沙發上看電視。不過，了解到歷史上沙發的用途五花八門，可能會讓你大吃一驚。

例如，在很久以前，有錢人才有沙發。中東的國王將沙發做為王位。義大利人吃東西時不坐在椅子上，而是在餐桌四周擺上沙發，躺下來吃東西。一般人買得起沙發，也不過才幾百年的歷史。

今日，人們喜歡坐在沙發上休息。假如某個人喜歡終日窩在沙發上無所事事，你就可以稱那個人為「couch potato」（沙發馬鈴薯）。

（翻譯：賴美君）