日本人大聲吃拉麵好失禮？
Japanese instant ramen producer Nissin Food Products has invented a “noise-canceling” fork to mask the sound of someone slurping down noodles.
日本泡麵製造商日清食品最近發明了一款可「消音」的叉子，可以掩飾在吃麵時發出的聲響。
mask(v.)掩飾;掩蓋slurp(v.)出聲地吃(或喝)、咕嘟咕嘟地喝
The fork, named “Otohiko,” has been designed to drown out the excessive slurping sounds that can be found emanating from noodle shops nationwide.
這款叉子被取名為「音彥」，被設計來掩蓋吃拉麵時過大的吸吮麵條聲，在日本全國的拉麵店都聽得到這種聲音。
drown out(v.)掩飾;掩蓋=cover upexcessive(adj.)過大的emanate from…(聲音)從…傳出來=come from
The Japanese has a tradition of “slurping noodles”, which is supposed to reflect a diner’s appreciation for the food and is believed to enhance the flavor.
日本人有「吸麵」的傳統，被認為能反映出用餐者覺得麵很好吃，且人們相信這麼做能讓食物更美味。
appreciation(n.) 欣賞、感謝
However, some people are becoming bothered by the noise when they are trying to enjoy their own meals.
然而，有些日本人開始覺得吃拉麵時發出的噪音很擾人，讓他們無法好好享用自己的餐點。
The issue is so widespread that social media users have even begun to refer to it as “noodle harassment” after it was featured in a TV show called “Tokudane!”.
在日本電視節目《Tokudane！》探討該問題後，許多社群媒體使用者覺得很有共鳴，甚至開始把這種行為稱作「麵條騷擾」。
so adj. that…如此…以致於…widespread(adj.)普遍
The Otohiko fork can detect multiple types of slurping sounds, and when the fork hears the user engaging in noodle harassment, it will connect to an app on the user’s smartphone and direct it to play customizable sounds to cover up the noise.
音彥可以偵測到各種吸麵的聲音，當叉子感應到使用者正在進行「麵條騷擾」時，會連接到使用者智慧型手機上的一個應用程式，指示應用程式播放客製化的聲音掩蓋噪音。
detect(v.)偵測;察覺engage in~進行;從事customizable(adj.)可以客製化的
The ramen producer says the fork was inspired by TOTO’s celebrated Otohime toilets.
日清表示這款叉子的靈感來自TOTO公司有名的「音姬」廁所。
be inspired by~由…提供靈感;靈感來自於…celebrated(adj.)有名的
Otohime is a system which plays an artificial flushing noise to camouflage embarrassing sounds.
音姬是一套會播放人工沖水聲來掩飾小便聲音的系統。
camouflage(v.)掩蓋;掩飾
Nissin has launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Otohiko fork on the company’s website.
日清已在公司官網上開始音彥叉子的群眾募資活動。
crowdfunding(n.)群眾募資
The company says it will start manufacturing the gadget if more than 5,000 units are pre-ordered by December 15.
日清表示在12月15日前預購量達5000支才會開始生產。
gadget(n.)裝置
It will retail for 14,800 JPY (NT$3900) per fork.
每支叉子的零售價格為14,800日幣（3900元新台幣）。
retail(v.)以…價格零售;零售價格為…