中华文化翻译练习

1.传统节日TraditionalFestivals元宵节LanternFestival元宵节起源于远古时代人们以火把驱邪的仪式。元宵节的风俗特征是张灯结彩，供人观赏取乐，故又称“灯节”。各处有灯会，比赛花灯，举行灯谜盛会，小孩也提着灯笼四处游观玩耍。这种欢乐的场景，一直要持续到十八日“落灯”方止。此外，元宵节还时兴跑旱船、舞龙灯、耍狮子等等群众性娱乐活动。TheLanternFestivaldevelopedfromanancientceremonyofusingtorchestowardoffevilspirits.OntheLanternFestival,peopledecoratehousesandstreetswithvariouslanternandredstreamersforwatchandamusement,hencecomesthenameLanternFestival.Everywhereislanterndisplayandlantern-riddleguessing.Children,carryinglanterns,areparticularlycheerfulandwakingaboutforfun.Thissceneofgreatjoylaststill18thTakingDownLanterns.Besides,therearemanypopularpublicentertainmentssuchasland-boatdance,dragon-lanterndanceandliondance。清明节PureBrightnessFestival每年公历四月五日前后，是中国人的清明节。清明时节，人们上坟扫墓祭祖，以寄托对先人的怀念。踏青本是清明扫墓的伴生活动。人们在扫墓之余，趁便在山间乡野游乐一番，因此也叫春游。PureBrightnessFestivalfallsonaroundApril5theveryyear.Onthatveryday,peoplesweepthegravesandoffersacrificesandworshipthepassedancestors.Taqing(Springouting)isanaccompanyingactivityofgravesweeping.Onthewayhome,peoplehappilywanderingaroundfarmsandthroughmountains.Henceitderives（obtain）thename,springouting.端午节DragonBoatFestival农历五月初五是中国传统的端午节。有关端午节的起源，说法不一，但最富影响力的传说是：战国时，楚国大夫屈原遭人诋毁，被迫流放，于五月初五自投汨罗江。楚人哀之，以竹筒储米投水，划舟楫于江上营救。后来前者演变为裹食粽子；后者演变成龙舟竞渡。ThefifthdayofthefifthlunarmonthisobservedasDragonBoatFestival,atraditionalChinesefestival.Althoughithasdifferentversionsoftheorigin,themostinfluentiallegendgoesasfollows:Quyuan,onceaseniorofficialinChu,wasunfortunatelyslanderedandthenwasforcedtoexileandtookhisownlifebyjumpingintoMiluoRiver.PeopleofChuwereoverwhelmedwithsorrowatthissadnewsandthrewricepackedinbamboointoriveranddroveboattorescueQuYuan.Theserespectivelydevelopedintotoday'scustomofeatingZongzianddragon-boatracing.2.TheimportanceofChopsticks筷子的重要性A.说到中国筷子(chopsticks)的起源，有人认为中国是农耕民族，食物以植物为主，用筷子适宜取食。而西方人是游牧民族(nomads)，以肉食为主，刀叉就来得方便。也有人认为中国是农业社会，工业发展晚，木筷正是这种情形的产物。而西方是工业化社会，金属制品做餐具是必然的。AstotheoriginofChina’schopsticks,onetheoryisthatChinawasanagriculturalsocietyandreliesonvegetablesforfood.Chopstickswereveryconvenienttoolsforeating.TheWesterners,ontheotherhand,werenomadsandlivedonmeat.Theknifeandforkweremorepractical.OthersbelievethatChinadidnothavemuchindustryandtherefore,peopleusedchopsticks.TheWestwasanindustrialsociety,sotheireatingutensilsweremadeofmetal.B.中国文化推崇集体主义，崇尚共有，融合；西方文化崇尚个体。体现在吃饭的方式上就是筷子和刀叉的不同。中国人实行合餐制，用餐的人在用一个盘中取食，用筷子可以限制个别人大量取食。如此一来，既保留了集体主义的形态，个人利益又不会受太大影响。Chinesecultureisdevelopedaroundcollectivismwhichstressescommunionandharmony.Westerncultureemphasizesindividualism.Intermsofeatingcustoms,chopsticksandknivesandforksaretwodisparateexpressionsofthisculturedifference.TheChineseliketohavecommunalmealswhereeverybodyeatsoutofthesamebowloffood.Chopstickswereusedinordertodiscouragepeoplefromeatingmorethanothers.Thiswasnotonlyawaytopreservecollectivenessbutalsotolimitindividualism..C.很多古代用筷的禁忌沿用至今，成为普遍认可的餐桌礼仪。上菜时要由尊者或长者先食。用餐者要尽量做得靠前，以免掉落食物弄脏衣服。喝汤不可过快，咀嚼时不可发出声响。忌将筷子竖直插入碗盘中，因为这代表为死人上坟。取食时不要用筷子敲打盘碗，或游离于盘碗之间，或把不喜欢的食物再放回去。Manyancientchopsticktaboosarevalidtothisdayandacceptedasanormintableetiquette.Eachdishservedshouldbecommencedbytheeldestorrespectfulperson.Thedinersshouldsitclosetothetablesofoodwon’tdropontheirclothes.Oneshoulddrinksoupslowlyandnonoiseissupposedwhenchewing.Don’tplacechopsticksverticallyintoadish,asthiswasthewayofmakingsacrificestothedead.Whentakingfood,dinerscouldnottapdishwithchopsticks,ormovechopsticksbetweendishes,orsendfoodbacktothecommunalplateeveniftheydon’tlikeit.3.TheEleganceofTea-Drinking喝茶的格调A.开门七件事，柴米油盐酱醋茶。饮茶与吃饭的目的大不相同。吃饭是为了果腹，饮茶却能提升精神境界。茶的流传据说与佛教有关。僧侣们喝茶为了提神醒脑。世俗社会模仿这种清净脱俗的举动，所以品茶被看做是清雅之事。在古典小说中，用大杯喝茶解渴被称为“饮”，而雅士用精致的茶具喝茶被称为“品”。Firewood,rice.oil,salt,soysauce,vinegarandteaarethesevendailynecessities.Thepurposeofteaandfoodistotallydifferentthough.Peopleeattofilltheirstomach,whiletea-drinkingcanhelpapersonachieveanelevatedstateofmind.Tea-drinkingissaidtohaveoriginatedwiththeadventofBuddhism.Monksdrankteatokeepthemselvesawakeandhelptheirconcentration.Ordinarypeopleweretemptedbythetranquilityofthemonasteriesandbegantoimitatethemonks.Sotea-drinkingisconsideredanelegantpastime.Inclassicalnovels,thewordusedtoillustratetea-drinkingfromabigcuptoquenchone’sthirstis“drink”.Scholarswouldusefinecupstodrinkteaandthewordtouseis“savour”.B.喝茶是一种很讲究格调的消遣。首先是环境。古人在竹间月下品茶论道。如今格调被商业化了。人们在装修豪华的茶馆谈生意，真是大异其趣。茶不仅有经济功能，还有社会功能。平民百姓常常光顾小茶馆打牌，闲谈。格调当然谈不上，气氛却是轻松随意，多了几份趣味。Teadrinkingisaverysophisticatedpastime.Itstartswiththeenvironment.Ancientscholarsenjoyedthemselvesbysavouringteaamongbamboosorinthemoonlight.Itiscommercializednow.Peopletalkbusinessinexpensivelydecoratedteahouses.Tea,notonlyserveseconomicalpurposes,butalsosocialpurposesaswell.Ordinarypeoplegototheinexpensiveteahouseswheretheycanplaygamesorsimplychatwithfriends.Althoughsuchteahousesmaynotlookelegant,theycertainlyhavearelaxedatmosphereandaregoodfun.C.古人用铁壶烧水，用纸袋装茶，用瓷杯或陶器饮茶。茶大概分为这样几种：红茶，绿茶，乌龙茶和普洱茶。人们认为绿茶有延年益寿和抗癌的作用，红茶有暖胃的作用，普洱茶可以减肥和降血压。茶搭配奶和糖的饮用方式，比如台湾芋头味珍珠奶茶，在中国城市的年轻人中很流行。Intheolddays,peopleusedironkettlestoboilwater,Teawasplacedinapaperbag.PorcelainteasetsorYixingteapotswereusedfo