Why Do Onions Make You Cry?

Hey, I'm home! Wait... are you crying?

嘿，我回来了！等等……你在哭吗？

Ugh, it's these onions! I can't see anything!

唉，都是这些洋葱！我什么都看不见了！

Oh no! Okay, put the knife down for a second.

哎呀！好了，先把刀放下一会儿。

Seriously, why do onions always do this to me?

说真的，洋葱为什么老是这样折磨我？

Actually, it's some pretty cool science!

其实，这背后有很酷的科学原理！

An onion is full of tiny cells, like little bags.

洋葱里满是微小的细胞，就像一个个小袋子。

When you cut it, you break those cells open.

你一切，就把那些细胞弄破了。

That lets two chemicals mix together,

这样两种化学物质就会混在一起，

and they make a gas that floats up into the air.

产生一种会飘到空气中的气体。

And then the gas goes straight into my eyes?

然后那种气体就直接跑进我眼睛里了？

Exactly. It irritates the surface of your eyes.

没错，它会刺激你的眼睛表面。

So your eyes make tears to wash it away.

所以你的眼睛就会流泪，把它冲掉。

Hmm, so crying is my body protecting me?

嗯，所以流泪其实是身体在保护我？

That's right! Your eyes are just doing their job.

对啊！你的眼睛只是在尽职尽责。

Well, I wish they'd do it a bit more quietly!

好吧，我只希望它们能低调一点！

Okay, so how do I stop it?

好吧，那我要怎么避免呢？

First, put the onion in the fridge for half an hour.

首先，把洋葱放进冰箱冰半个小时。

Cold onions release the gas more slowly.

冰过的洋葱释放气体会慢一些。

And use a really sharp knife,

还有，要用很锋利的刀，

because a blunt knife crushes more cells.

因为钝刀会压碎更多细胞。

What about holding bread in my mouth? My mom always does that!

那嘴里含一块面包呢？我妈每次都这样！

Ha, sadly there's no real proof that works.

哈，可惜没有真正的证据证明那招有用。

Oh, and leave the root end until last,

哦，还有，根部留到最后再切，

because that part has more of those chemicals.

因为那部分含有更多那种化学物质。

And open a window, or turn on the fan.

再打开窗户，或者开个风扇。

Okay, cold onion, sharp knife, window open. Here goes!

好，冰洋葱、快刀、开窗。开始了！

Wait... this is actually so much better!

等等……真的好多了！

See? Science wins again!

看吧？科学又赢了！

Thanks! Now you can chop the garlic.

谢啦！现在换你切大蒜。

Ha, nice try! Garlic doesn't make anyone cry!

哈，想得美！大蒜又不会让人流泪！