中国春节风俗习惯 第10期:春节故事(2)

 　　After that, the people started celebrating the new moon instead of fearing it.

　　之后，人们不再害怕新月，而开始为它庆祝。

　　That celebration became a 15-day festival of family, food and good fortune called Chinese New Year.

　　庆典演变成了一个15天的节日，家人们一起吃饭，祈求好运，这个节日叫做春节。

　　Every Chinese New Year is always represented by one of twelve animals and the Chinese Zodiac chosen by the Jade¹ Emperor centuries and centuries ago.

　　每个春节都由很久以前玉皇大帝选出来的12个动物之一和生肖来代表。

　　According to legend, a long time ago in China the Jade Emperor held a great race, the first twelve animals to reach the palace would be the winners. And they would each get a year named after them in their honor².

　　据传说，很久以前在中国，玉皇大帝举行了一次盛大的赛跑，首先到达天宫的12个动物则为胜者。会有一年以它们命名。

　　During the race, the ox was winning, until he had to cross the rushing river, the rat was right behind him and couldn't swim very well, so the kind ox let the rat ride on his back.

　　赛跑中，牛就要赢了，直到要过一条湍急的河，在它后面的老鼠不太会游泳，好心的牛就让老鼠骑在它的背上。

　　As soon as they got to the other side, the rat jumped off and scurry³ to the finish line to win the race, that's why the first year in the Chinese Zodiac calendar is the year of a rat.

　　它们一到达河的另一边，老鼠就跳起来冲向了终点赢得赛跑，所以中国黄道日历里的第一年是鼠年。

　　Eleven other animals reached the palace to create the twelve year cycle of the Chinese Zodiac.

　　另外11个动物到达天宫，形成了12年一循环的生肖。

　　It's said that the animal your birth year is named after can shape your personality and destiny⁴.

　　据说你的生肖能决定你的个性和命运。

　　You might be honest like a dragon or smart like a monkey.

　　你可能会像龙一样正直，或者像猴子一样聪明。

　　When your animal takes its turn in the Zodiac cycle, legend has it that your year will be full of surprises.

　　当你的本命年来临时，据说那一年会充满惊喜。

　　But no matter which animal you are, everyone is excited to honor these ancient traditions, even in modern New Year celebrations.

　　但不管你属什么，每个人都爱遵守这些古老的传统，在现代的春节庆典中依然如此。

　　Today Chinese New Year brings families together all over the world.

　　现在春节让家人们团聚在一起，不管你在世界的哪个角落。

　　In fact, billions of people travel back to their homes and families in China to feast⁵ on a delicious reunion dinner with plates and plates of homemade food.

　　很多人会回到中国的家里和家人一起吃一盘盘家常的团圆饭。

　　Many of the foods like egg rolls, noodles and shrimp⁶ mean something special.

　　许多食物都有特别的寓意，比如蛋卷，面条和虾。

　　Egg rolls symbolize⁷ wealth for the coming year, because they look like bars of solid gold.

　　蛋卷象征着来年的财富，因为它们看起来像金条。

　　Changming noodles shouldn't be cut, because long noodles symbolize health for a long life.

　　长命面不能切断，因为长的面条寓意健康长寿。

　　Shrimp symbolizes⁸ happiness, because the Mandarin⁹ words for shrimp and smile sounds very similar.

　　虾代表着快乐，因为普通话里的“虾”和“笑”听起来很像。

　　As part of the festivities lucky red envelopes called Hongbao are passed out to children as well as unmarried adults.

　　作为节日的一部分，会有红包发给小孩以及未婚的成年人。

　　In Chinese culture the color red symbolizes luck, in order to receive the red envelopes, well wishes are given to the elder.

　　在中国文化中，红色象征幸运，为了得到红包，小孩会给长者送上美好的祝福。

　　Money is inside each envelope to bring prosperity¹⁰ and good fortune in the coming year.

　　红包里塞着钱，希望给来年带来繁荣和好运。

　　During all 15 days of Chinese New Year, it is a time to reflect on the pasting year and celebrate the future.

　　春节的15天，是回顾去年以及庆祝未来的好时候。

　　Bright fireworks light up the sky, and huge parades wind the streets until the final day of the new year celebration.

　　明亮的烟火点亮了天空，巨大的人群涌动在街头，直到庆典的最后一天。

　　The Lantern Festival when thousands of bright lanterns glow¹¹ in the night to bring good fortune to all.

　　元宵节，千万盏灯笼照亮黑夜，为大家带来好运。

　　No matter where you live you can join the festivities, whether it's one reunion dinner with your family or 15 days of celebrating togetherness.

　　不管你身处何地都能加入庆典，不管是和家人的一顿团圆饭，还是整整15天的团聚。

　　Chinese New Year is open to everyone.

　　每个人都能庆祝春节。

1 jade   

n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠

参考例句：

• The statue was carved out of jade.这座塑像是玉雕的。
• He presented us with a couple of jade lions.他送给我们一对玉狮子。

2 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。

3 scurry   

vi.急匆匆地走；使急赶；催促；n.快步急跑，疾走；仓皇奔跑声；骤雨，骤雪；短距离赛马

参考例句：

• I jumped on the sofa after I saw a mouse scurry by.看到一只老鼠匆匆路过,我从沙发上跳了起来。
• There was a great scurry for bargains.大家急忙着去抢购特价品。

4 destiny   

n.命运，定数，天命

参考例句：

• Nobody knows his own destiny.没有人知道自己的命运。
• It was her destiny to become famous.她命里注定出名。

5 feast   

n.盛宴，筵席，节日

参考例句：

• After the feast she spent a week dieting to salve her conscience.大吃了一顿之后，她花了一周时间节食以安慰自己。
• You shouldn't have troubled yourself to prepare such a feast!你不该准备这样丰盛的饭菜，这样太麻烦你了！

6 shrimp   

n.虾，小虾；矮小的人

参考例句：

• When the shrimp farm is built it will block the stream.一旦养虾场建起来，将会截断这条河流。
• When it comes to seafood,I like shrimp the best.说到海鲜，我最喜欢虾。

7 symbolize   

vt.作为...的象征，用符号代表

参考例句：

• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。
• Dolphins symbolize the breath of life.海豚象征着生命的气息。

8 symbolizes   

v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The use of light and dark symbolizes good and evil. 用光明与黑暗来象征善与恶。
• She likes olive because It'symbolizes peace. 她喜欢橄榄色因为它象征着和平。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 Mandarin   

n.中国官话，国语，满清官吏；adj.华丽辞藻的

参考例句：

• Just over one billion people speak Mandarin as their native tongue.大约有十亿以上的人口以华语为母语。
• Mandarin will be the new official language of the European Union.普通话会变成欧盟新的官方语言。

10 prosperity   

n.繁荣，昌盛，成功

参考例句：

• I wish you the life of happiness and prosperity. 我祝你生活幸福、万事如意。
• A prosperity never seen before appeared in the countryside.农村出现了前所未有的繁荣。

11 glow   

n.白热光；激情；vi.发白热光，(身体)发热

参考例句：

• The sunset glow is just like a picture.晚霞恰如一幅图画。
• There was a dull red glow in the night sky above the steelworks.夜晚炼钢厂的上空闪着暗红色的光。