The topic of watermelons is another example of how some people in China are concerned about how they are perceived around the world.
敲西瓜这一热门话题是一些中国人关心外国人如何看待他们的又一例证.
Online users are keen to show they know better, especially on the subject of watermelons.
网友们热衷于表现出自己知道的更多,特别是关于西瓜这件事.
Others pointed out that the concept of watermelon knocking has been passed down from their parents.
还有人指出敲西瓜是爸爸妈妈传下来的方法.
A quick online search will reveal that Chinese social media users are not alone in their thinking. Watermelon knocking and listening for a hollow sound is indeed a near universal concept. A vast array of videos and blogs provide with advice on how to pick a good watermelon. It even appears in film and animation. Popular Russian cartoon, 'Nu, pogodi!' included watermelon knocking as part of an episode.
在网上快速搜索一下就会发现,不仅仅是中国的社交媒体用户这样想.敲西瓜、听回声其实是一种普遍现象.有很多视频和博客都给大家提供了如何挑选好吃的西瓜的建议.敲西瓜这种行为甚至还出现在电影和动画片里.流行的俄语卡通片《兔子,等着瞧！》中也有敲西瓜的情节.
One video comically claimed to have a magic formula but the end result was not very convincing. There's even a smart phone app designed by Chinese university students to you help you in your endeavour to find the ideal watermelon.
一段视频中滑稽地说,有个挑选好西瓜的魔法公式,但其结论并没那么有说服力.几位中国大学生还发明了一个帮人挑选好西瓜的智能手机应用.
There are no absolute guarantees about what to do when it comes to choosing fruit. But at the risk of causing an international diplomatic incident we would suggest there some common ground about what to look for to choose the perfect watermelon.
在挑选水果的时候,没有什么万全之策.但冒着引发国际外交事件的风险,我们给您提几条关于挑选好西瓜的建议.
Feel the weight of the melon. The heavier the better
感受一下西瓜有多重,越重越好.
Press on the watermelon. It should feel firm and if it springs back, it's ready to eat
在西瓜皮上按一按,应该很硬实,如果按下去后能恢复原状,就熟透了.
Look at the markings on the melon. A yellow patch on one end indicates it's ready
看下西瓜上的条带.如果一端发黄就是熟了.
Of course if that all that fails, you could always, knock and wait for a reply.
当然如果这些都没用,你就可以敲敲西瓜,等它回应.
英文来源：BBC
