2013年12月英语四级翻译练习(二)

第一篇：2013年12月英语四级翻译练习(二)

2013年12月英语四级翻译练习

（二）1．外宾观看了在北京举行的这场锦标赛。这场比赛在发扣球、转球、保险球、吊球和扣杀方面技术都十分精湛，最后打成了平局。他们看得简直人了迷。

2．对于以往的几代人来说，旧式的体力劳动是一种用以摆脱贫苦的手段，而技术的进步则摧毁了穷人赖以为生的体力劳动。因此，首先体验到技术进步之害的是穷人。

3．50年代后期的美国出现了一个真正的奇观：穷知识分子以“垮掉的一代”这种颇为浪漫的姿态出现而成为美国的典型的穷人。正是在这个时候大批大学毕业生被赶进了知识分子贫民窟。

4．每年有成千上万的各国游客参观万国宫（此处也指“日内瓦的国际新闻中心”），所有这些项目都向他们开放，让他们更多地了解这个不断书写历史新篇章、每天都为维护世界和平与安全做出新努力的场所。（根据汉语的习惯，可以将其断为四个短句/也叫重组）

5．毫无疑问，我们还必须作出更大的努力来对抗全球变暖的威胁，这个威胁最能清楚地体现各国的命运是如何紧紧相连。

6．第一次技术服务应始于本合同生效之日起第六天。乙方应派遣一名技术人员赴甲方工厂，提供12 工作人/日的技术指导。

答案

1．The foreign visitors watched in a fascinated manner the tournament held in Beijing, which exhibited a superb performance in smash service, twist service, steady service, high drop and killing and ended in a draw.2．They(The poor)are the first to experience technological progress as a curse which destroys the old muscle-power jobs that previous generations used as a means to fight their way out of poverty.3．A great number of graduate students were driven into the intellectual slum when in the United States the intellectual poor became the classic poor, the poor under the rather romantic guise of Beat Generation, a real phenomenon in the late fifties.4．All these features are accessible to visitors to the Palace(of nations)who come each year in their tens of thousands from many countries to find out more about a place where history is continually in the making and where efforts to preserve world peace and security are renewed every day.5．Without question, we must do more to counter a threat that shows more clearly than any other how closely our nations’ facts are linked: the threat of global warming.6．The first technical service shall start in the sixth day after the contract comes into effect.Party B shall send a specialist to Party A’s factory to provide technical service for 12 working day/man.

第二篇：英语四级教案翻译练习

Part 11 Translation Practice

Compilation Time: Jun.5, 2017 Implementation Time：Jun.12--Jun.18 Teaching Contents: Section A Summary of translation skills Section B Translation practice Time allocation:(4 periods)Aims and Requirements: 1.Introduce some of the translation exercises in the new CET Band 4, helping the freshmen know how to prepare for it； 2.Master the main translation skills of CET Band 4.Focal Points and Difficult Points: Analysis of the translation skills;Key words of translation.Instruction Types: 1.Lecture and explanation.2.Student-oriented communicative teaching, free discussion and interaction.Teaching Aids:

Multimedia software, CD-ROM

Step 1 The Problems of the translation

1、词汇积累不够，活跃词汇量低；

2、质低、量少、面偏；

3、课堂教学欣赏有余，练习密度差，强度小。改正策略：

1、坚持扩大词汇量；

2、练习、对比、分析、思考总结四合一。

Step 2 The Skills of the translation 把平常的毎一次测试当考试（练习即模考）

1、开头与结尾要多分配时间(开头结尾不出错误，句式漂亮地道，汉译英重

表达)；

2、英语译文必须语法正确（直接影响及格与否）；

3、多用有把握的词句；

4、谨慎对待考场灵感；

5、对待难点宜“软”不宜“硬”；

6、在试卷上做适当的勾画。推荐书目:

1、《大学英语翻译技巧》上海外教出版社 蔡基刚

2、《汉英翻译技巧》外文出版社

唐义均

3、《灵活与变通——英汉翻译案列讲座》 外文出版社 叶子男

4、《说词解句——英汉语言对比与翻译》 大连理工大学出版社

仝益明

做题步骤: 1、2分钟大致意群分析； 2、2分钟精细意群分析； 3、2分钟划分信息主干； 4、20分钟翻译全文； 5、3分钟检查。

简言之：

1、全文浏览；

2、短句；

3、找出主干（主谓或主系结构）

4、补充修饰成分（定状语）

Step 3

Translation Practice

练习1 • 中国将进一步发展经济、扩大开放，这对 海外企业（enterprises）意味着更多的商机。改革开放以来，中国企业与海外企业一直 积极开展经济技术合作，并取得了巨大成 就。海外企业不仅帮助了中国企业的成长，而且也在合作中获得了收益。中国政府将 继续提供有利的政策和条件，推动中国企 业与国外企业进一步开展合作。

• China will develop its economy further and open itself wider to the outside world, which offers more business opportunities to overseas enterprises.Since China’s reform and opening up, Chinese enterprises have been cooperating with overseas enterprises in terms of economy and technology, and have scored great achievement.Overseas enterprises have not only helped Chinese enterprises with their growth, but also benefited from the cooperation.Chinese government will continue to offer favorable policies and conditions to promote the further cooperation between

Chinese and overseas enterprises.练习2

• 狮舞（Lion Dance）是中国最广为流传的民间舞蹈 之一。狮为百兽之首，在中国传统中，狮子被视 为是能带来好运的吉祥物（mascot）。古人将狮 子视作是勇敢和力量的化身，能驱赶邪恶、保护 人类。据记载，狮舞已拥有了2,000多年的历史。在唐代（the Tang Dynasty），狮舞就已经被引入 了皇室。因此，舞狮成为元宵节（the Lantern Festival）和其他节日的习俗，人们以此来祈祷好 运、平安和幸福。

• The Lion Dance is one of the most widespread folk dances in China.The lion is the king of animals.In Chinese tradition, the lion is regarded as a mascot, which can bring good luck.Ancient people regarded the lion as a symbol of braveness and strength, which could drive away evil and protect humans.The dance has a recorded history of more than 2,000 years.During the Tang Dynasty, the Lion Dance was already introduced into the royal family of the dynasty.Therefore, performing the lion dance at the Lantern Festival and other festive occasions became a custom where people could pray for good luck, safety and happiness.练习3 • 假日经济的现象表明：中国消费者的消费 观正在发生巨大变化。根据统计数据，中 国消费者的消费需求正在从基本生活必需 品转向对休闲、舒适和个人发展的需求。同时，中国人的消费观在蓬勃发展的假日 经济中正变得成熟。因此产品结构应做相 应调整，来适应社会的发展。另一方面，服务质量要改善，以满足人们提高生活质 量的要求。

• The phenomenon of holiday economy shows that Chinese people’s consumption concept is undertaking great changes.According to statistics, the demands of Chinese consumers are shifting from the basic necessities of life to leisure, comfort and personal development.Therefore, the structure of products should be adjusted accordingly to adapt to social development.On the other hand, services should be improved to satisfy people’s demand for an improved quality of life.练习4 • 端午节，又叫龙舟节，是为了纪念爱国诗人屈原。屈原是一位忠诚和受人敬仰的大 臣（minister）,他给国家带来了和平和繁荣。但最后因为受到诽谤（vilify）而最终投河自 尽。人们撑船到他自尽的地方，抛下粽子，希望鱼儿吃粽子，不要吃屈原的身躯。几 千年来，端午节的特色在于吃粽子

（glutinous dumplings）和赛龙舟，尤其是 在一些河湖密布的南方省份。

• The Duanwu Festival, also called the Dragon Boat Festival, is to commemorate the patriotic poet Qu Yuan.Qu Yuan was a loyal and highly esteemed minister, who brought peace and prosperity to the state but ended up drowning himself in a river as a result of being vilified.People got to the spot by boat and cast glutinous dumplings into the water, hoping that the fishes ate the dumplings instead of Qu Yuan’s body.For thousands of years, the festival has been marked by glutinous dumplings and dragon boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes.练习5

• 2013年6月20日在中国各地，剧估计60万儿童和他们 的老师观看了有宇航员（astronaut）王亚平在距离 地球300公里的上空所讲授的科学课。王亚平与两个 同事乘坐天宫一号实验舱(the Tiangon-1 laboratory module)执行为期两周的任务。她在课上进行了一系 列太空的物理演示。在有些演示中还对比了在地球 上重力（one-gravity）环境下同样的实验。这堂物理 课不仅让孩子们享受了一堂知识与乐趣兼具的物理 课，也显示了 我国通信科技的前进。

• On June 20, 2013, an estimated 600 thousand school children and their teachers across China watched a science lesson taught from 300km above the Earth by astronaut Wang Yaping.Wang is aboard the Tiangong-1 laboratory module with two crewmates, for a two-week mission.Her lessons were a series of physics demonstrations in the space.In some demonstrations, she compared with the same experiment under the one-gravity environment on Earth.The lesson has not only offered children a physics lesson with knowledge and interest, but also shows the advance in communication technology of China.练习6通常看一个读些什么书就可知道他的为人，就像看他同什么人交往就可知道他的为人一样，因为有人以人为伴，也有人以书为伴。无论是书友还是朋友，我们都应该以最好的为伴。但如果你放下了一本你不喜欢看的书而不断地去找寻另外一本对你有意义的书，因为这样一本书让你得到消遣放松，你确定很享受——因为阅读，你变得更好，更聪慧，更和善或者说更文雅，如果没有阅读的过程你什么也享用不了。他认为这本书和书中的知识只是违背他自身世界的另一个世界，一个他不存在也不想介入的世界，一个可恨的老师们代表着和标榜着的世界。

．A man may usually be known by the books he reads as well as by the company he keeps;for there is a companionship of books as well as of men;and one should always live in the best company, whether it be of books or of men.But if you put down a book you don‟t like and try another till you find one that means something to you, and then relax with it, you will almost certainly have a good time—and if you become as a result of reading, better, wiser, kinder or more gentle, you won‟t have suffered during the process.He felt that books and the knowledge in them were part of a world that was against him, a world to which he did not belong and which he did not want to enter, the world of which the hateful teachers were representatives and symbols.练习7我们对历史的爱好起源于我们最初仅对一些历史上的宏伟场面和激动人心的事件感到孩童般的兴趣；其后，这种爱好变得成熟起来，我们开始对历史这出“戏剧”的多样性和复杂性，对历史上的辉煌成就和悲壮失败也感兴趣；对历史的爱好，最终以我们对人类生命的一种深沉的神秘感而告结束。对死去的，无论是伟大与平凡，所有在这个地球上走过而已逝的人，都有能取得伟大奇迹或制造可怕事件的潜力。

．It begins as a childlike interest in the grand spectacle and exciting event;it grows as a mature interest in the variety and complexity of the drama, the splendid achievements and terrible failures;it ends as deep sense of the mystery of man„s life of all the dead, great and obscure, who once walked the earth, and of wonderful and awful possibilities of being a human being.中国的传统节庆膳食是节日必不可少的伴侣。例如，我国的端午节(the Dragon Boat Festival)是纪念古代 诗人屈原的日子。那一天，人们通常要赛龙舟、吃粽子(zongzi)。中秋节是观赏满月的日子。圆圆的月亮象征 着圆满，象征着家庭团聚。因此，中秋节(The Mid-autumn Festival)的特制食品是一种圆形的月饼。春节是中国 的农历新年(the Chinese lunar New Year’s holiday)，除了常见的家禽和肉类之外，人们还要按各自的地方习俗 烹制传统食物，如铰子和年糕。

Traditional Chinese holiday meals are indispensable on some festivals.For example, the Dragon Boat Festival is a day established in memory of the ancient poet Qu Yuan and people usually hold dragon boat races and eat zongzi, or rice dumpling on that day.The Mid-autumn Festival is an occasion for viewing the full moon.The round moon is a symbol for completeness and family reunion.The special food of the day is yuebing, a round cake known as the mooncake.The Spring Festival is the Chinese lunar New Year’s holiday.Besides the popular poultry and meat, people

cook traditional food according to regional customs, for example, jiaozi, or boiled dumplings, and niangao, or the “ 1 ” new year cake

练习8北京有无数的胡同(hutong)。平民百姓在胡同里的生活给古都北京带来了无穷的魅力。北京的胡同不仅仅 是平民百姓的生活环境，而且还是一门建筑艺术。通常，胡同内有一个大杂院，房间够4到10个家庭的差不多20 口人住。所以，胡同里的生活充满了友善和人情味。如今，随着社会和经济的飞速发展，很多胡同被新的高楼大 厦所取代。但愿胡同可以保留下来

In Beijing, there are numerous hutongs.The life of common people in hutongs brings endless charm to the ancient capital, Beijing.The hutong in Beijing is not only the living environment of common people but also a kind of architecture.Usually, there is a courtyard complex inside hutong, with rooms shared by 4 to 10 families of about 20 people.Therefore, life in hutongs is full of friendliness and genuine humanity.Nowadays, with rapid social and economic development, many hutongs are replaced by new tall buildings.I hope hutongs can be preserved.练习9过去的七年，中国的房地产(real estate)业经历了前所未有的高速增长。对于那些月薪较低却渴望在大城市 拥有一套属于自己的体面、舒适的栖身之所的人来说，高昂的房价是他们无法承受的负担。鉴于这一状况，政府近来采取了一系列的措施来防止房价过快增长，包括提高利率及增加房产税等。目前，这些措施在部分城市已经 取得了初步的成效

In the past seven years, China’s real estate industry has developed in a record high speed.For those who earn less but are eager to own a decent and comfortable place of their own in a big city, the high housing price is a heavy burden that they cannot afford.For this reason, the government has taken a series of measures to prevent the housing price from rising too fast, including raising interest rates and increasing taxes on real estate etc.Presently, these measures have achieved initial effects in some cities.练习10如今，越来越多的大学生抱怨很难找到好工作。造成这一现象的原因如下：首先，大学生把在校的大多数 时间都用在了专业学科学习上，只有当他们开始找工作的时候，才意识到自己缺乏必要的职业培训。其次，大 学生之间的竞争也越来越激烈，这导致任何一名大学生找到工作的机会都变小了。因此，强烈建议大学生在 课余时间做一些兼职工作，以积累相关的工作经验。

Nowadays, more and more university students complain about having great difficulties in finding a good job.The reasons for this phenomenon are as follows: First, college students spend most of their time at school studying academic subjects and it is only when they start looking for a job that they realize they lack necessary job training.Second, competition among graduates has become more and more

fierce.And this results in a decreased chance for any individual graduate to find a job.Therefore, it is highly suggested that college students should do some part-time jobs in their spare time to accumulate relevant working experience.Assignments: Students are required to finish all the related exercises in the book.

第三篇：四级翻译练习

Directions: Complete the sentences by translating into English the Chinese given in brackets.（一）

1.Just do it_____________（尽自己最大努力）.2._____________（抽象意义上的语言）is our facility to talk to each other.3.We should pursue economic policies______________（根据国家利益）.4.We delayed our departure____________（由于暴风雨）.5.We had better_____________（趁天气暖和）by going for a walk this afternoon.（二）

1.Because she knew French, she______________（比我们有利）.2.Adults should________________（原谅孩子的无知）.3.You should_________（充分利用）.4.The river__________（冲破堤岸）.5.Please_____________________（将问题提出来）.（三）

1._______________________（如果发生火灾）, ring the alarm bell.2.______________________（在这种情况下）, I couldn’t go away.3.Your care-free nature often_____________（遇到钱的问题）.4.I will do it________________（如果你帮我）.5.You may___________（学一学）the classic school of photographers.（四）

1.We want our methods to be____________（最新的）.2.The naughty boy________________（以…为乐）pulling the cat’s tail.3.A little persistence_____________（发挥重要作用）between success and failure.4.That detail_____________（和…毫无关系）the main point of the article.5.The regulation doesn’t_____________（生效）until the first of March.（五）

1.The first signs of spring are______________（显而易见）.2.He finished the job__________________(但却损害了健康).3.We must____________（面对困难）manfully and accept the responsibilities of our actions.4.You can________________（随时找我们帮忙）whenever you have difficulties.5.__________________（你的梦想将会落空）if you don’t work on them.（六）

1.The substance does not dissolve in water___________________（不管是否加热）.2.Not only______________（他向我收费过高）；but he didn’t do a good repair job either.3.Your losses in trade this year are nothing_____________（与我的相比）.4.One average, it is said, visitors spend only_____________（一半的钱）in a day in Leeds as in London.5.By contrast, American mothers were more likely_____________（把孩子的成功归因于）natural1

talent.（七）

1.All universities______________（正在做好准备）for an increased intake of students.2.After her lost son was found, _____________（她破涕为笑）.3.He never ______________（追名逐利）.4.My mother wanted me to___________________（从事教育工作）.5.He has given up smoking__________________（永远的）.（八）

1.When he gets old, he will_________________（把公司交给儿子来经营）.2.His tastes are______________________（和我的相同）.3.We should serve the people__________________(全心全意的).4.___________________（要是他没有花这么多钱该多好）.5.The population of Africa is growing_____________(极其迅速).（九）

1.Without steady economic development, it is impossible to meet the people basic needs in life, _______________(更别提)protect the ecosystem and environment.2.You are____________(自由的)to leave at any time you want.3.____________________（鉴于国际局势的变化）, the Chinese government wishes to share with the governments of other countries some of its basic views concerning the establishment of a new international order.4.This new discovery ____________（有助于说明这个问题）.5.We must never______________(辜负)our parents’ trust and expectation.(十)

1.Her beauty cannot_________________________（弥补她的愚蠢）.2.The ship was ____________________（任凭波涛的摆布）.3.We ought to___________________（充分利用时间）.4.Being a professional actor_____________(必定)means working nights and Sundays.5._______________________(既然我们学完了这门课程)，we shall start doing more revision.（十一）

1.Men like that never____________________（冒险尝试）.2.He had not yet attempted to_________________________(把他的理论付诸实践).3.She answered these embarrassing questions__________________（镇定自若）.4._________________（关于）what we did last month I would like to read you this letter

received.5.When defeat is _____________（不可避免）, nothing matters.

第四篇：四级翻译练习

1.孔子

孔子(Confucius)是一位思想家、政治家，教育家，也是中国儒学(the Ru School)思想的创始人。儒学(Confucianism)，这个道德和 宗教哲学的大系统建立在孔圣人(Master Kung)的教学上。冯友兰，中国思想史上 20 世纪伟大的权威之一，把孔子在中国历史上的影响比作 西方的苏格拉底。

参考译文: Confucius was a thinker, political figure, educator, and founder of the Ru School of Chinese thought.Confucianism, the great system of moral and religious philosophy built upon the teachings of Master Kung.Fung You-lan, one of the great 20th century authorities on the history of Chinese thought, compares Confucius’s influence in Chinese history with that of Socrates in the West.2.京剧

京剧(Beijing Opera)是中国的国粹。作为一门古老的艺术，京剧的服装（costume)、脸谱(facial mask)更易被人喜爱。不同的服装类型反映不同的人物身份特征。富贵者的服装缀满精美的刺绣;穷困者的服装则简单朴素，少有装饰(elemental)。脸谱是京剧中塑造人物 形象的重要 手段，它是用不同的颜色在脸上勾画出来的。脸谱的颜色让人一看便知角色(portray)的善恶。比如白色代表奸诈(treachery)，黑色代表正直不阿，黄色是骁勇，蓝、绿色多用于绿林 好汉(rebellious fighters)，金、银色多用于神佛(divinity and Buddhism)等。

参考译文: Beijing Opera is the cream of the Chinese culture.As a traditional art form, its costumes and facial mask are more popular with people.Different styles of costumes are used to reflect the status of different characters.There are more decorations in the costumes of nobles，while those of the poor tend to be simple and less elemental.Facial masks can reflect qualities of different characters.Facial masks using different colors are important ways to portray a character.People can tell a hero from a villain by the colors of the masks.In general，white usually represents treachery, black represents righteousness, yellow represents bravery, blue and green represent rebellious fighters，while gold and silver represent divinity and Buddhism.3.茶马古道

茶马古道(Tea-horse Ancient Road)两边，生活着 20 多个少数 民族。不同的地方有着各自美丽而神奇的自然风景和传统文化，比 如:大理，丽江古城，香格里拉(Shangrila),雅鲁藏布江 大峡谷和布达拉宫(Potala Palace)。古道的两旁有庙宇、岩石壁画、骚站(post house),古桥和木板路，还有少数民族舞蹈和民族服装。时至今天，虽然这条古道的踪迹都消失了，但它的文化和历史价值仍然存在。

参考译文: Along the Tea-horse Ancient Road lived more than 20 minorities.Concentrations of beautiful and mysterious natural landscapes and traditional cultures developed in various sites，including Dali old city, Lijiang old city, Shangrila, Yarlung Zangbo River Grand Canyon, Potala Palace.The road features temples, rock paintings, post houses, ancient bridges and plank roads.It is also home to many national minorities and their dances and folk customs.Today, although the traces of the ancient road are fading away, its cultural and historic values remain.4.八大菜系

中国一个幅员辽阔、资源丰富、历史悠久的多民族国家，每个民族都有其独特的丰富菜肴。地域菜系在地理环境、气候、文化传统、民族风俗和其他因素的影响下经过悠久历史的发 展已经成形。最有影响力、最具代表性的是鲁、川、粤、闽、苏、浙、湘、徽菜系，这八 种被人们称为“八大菜系”。中国的“八大菜系”是以多种多样 的烹饪方法区分的，各有其长处。

参考译文: China is a time-honored multi-ethnics nation with a vast territory and abundant resources, and every ethnic group has its unique abundant dishes.Regional cuisines have taken shape after long-history evolution under the influence of geographical environment, climate, cultural tradition, folk customs and other factors.The most influential and representative ones are Lu, Chuan，Yue, Min, Su，Zhe, Xiang and Hui Cuisines, which are commonly known as “Eight Major Cuisines”.Dishes in the “Eight Major Cuisines” in China are characterized by diversified cooking skills, with each having its strong points.5.四合院

四合院是从明代的北京延续下来的古典建筑风格的住宅。四合 院之间的狭窄的街道被称为 “胡同”。一个四合院有园林包围着四个房子，有高高的围墙保护。四合院与胡同都是人们 常见到的，有超 过 700 多年的历史，但是由于现在的城市改造和中国经济的发展，四合院 慢慢地从北京消失。

参考译文: Si He Yuan is a classical architecture style of residential housing of Beijing citizens dated from the Ming Dynasty.The narrow streets between the Si He Yuan are called “Hutong”.A single implementation of Si He Yuan comprises of garden surrounded by four houses and protected by high walls.Si He Yuan with Hutong which have been very familiar to people，having a history of more than 700 years now suffer from the urban renovation and economic development of China, and they are slowly disappearing from Beijing.6.少林功夫

少林功夫(Shaolin Kungfii)是河南登封少林寺信奉佛教文化的和尚们练习的一种武术(martial arts)。少林寺，建于北魏(the Northern Wei Dynasty)太和期(Taihe Period)十九年，是少林功夫发展的文化空间。少林功夫最初是佛教僧侣练习的，他们的职责是保护寺庙。现在经过 1500 多年的发展，少林功夫已逐步发展成为一种完美技术和丰富含义相融合的艺术，在全世界享有声誉。

参考译文: Shaolin Kungfu is a kind of martial arts practiced by monks under the special Buddhist culture of the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng City, Henan Province.The Shaolin Temple, built in the Nineteenth year of Taihe Period during the Northern Wei Dynasty, is a cultural space for the development of the Shaolin Kungfu.The Shaolin Kungfii, which is originally practiced by the Buddhist monks whose duties were to protect the temple, has been gradually developed into an art of perfect technology, abundant meanings and high reputation in the whole world after more than 1500 years of development.7.秧歌

秧歌是农历正月的主要的民族花市形式。在这种活动中，两人都盛装打扮，轮流唱歌跳舞，其他人作为唱歌和跳舞的搭档。锣(gong)鼓按照节奏敲打;唢呐（suona)或其他传统的弦乐 器、木管乐器作为背景音乐。

参考译文: Yangge, which is one of the main forms of folk flower fair actions in the first month of the lunar year.In this activity, two people are dressed up, singing and dancing in antiphonal style, others act as singing and dancing partners.The gong and drum are beaten in rhythm;traditional stringed and woodwind instruments are dubbed in background music.8.筷子

说到筷子(chopsticks)的起源，中国是世界上第一个使用筷子的 国家，用筷子吃饭已经有至 少 3000 年的历史了。筷子看起来很简单，只有两根小细棒，但它有很多功能，比如挑选，移动，夹，搅拌或 者挖。此外，它便于使用，价格便宜。而且筷子也是世界上独有的 餐具(tableware)。使用筷子的人，无论是中国人还是外国人，都无不钦佩筷子的发明者。

As the origin of chopsticks, China is the first country in the world to use chopsticks and has a history of at least 3,000 years to have meals with chopsticks.Chopsticks seems quite simple with only two small and thin sticks, but it is in possession of many functions, such as picking, moving, nipping, mixing and digging;moreover，it is convenient for use and cheap in price.Besides, chopsticks are also unique tableware in the world.Anyone using chopsticks，no matter Chinese or foreigners, would without exception admire the inventor of chopsticks.9.扇子

中国扇子的历史可以追溯到 3000 多年前的商朝(the Shang Dynasty)。第一种扇子叫作 “扇汗”（Shanhan),是拴在马车上用来 挡住强烈的阳光，给乘客遮雨的。“扇汗”有点像现在的雨伞。后来 “扇汗”变成了由薄但是结实的丝绸或者鸟的羽毛做成的长柄扇，称为中山扇（Zhangshan fan),它主要用于皇帝的仪仗(honour guard)装饰。

参考译文: The history of Chinese fan can be dated to over 3,000 years ago，around the Shang Dynasty.The first type of fan, known as Shanhan, was tied to a horse-drawn carriage to shut out the strong sunshine and shelter the passengers from the rainfall.The Shanhan was a bit like today’s umbrella.Later this Shanhan became a long-handled fan made of thin and tough silk or birds5 feathers, called a Zhangshan fan, which was mainly used by the emperor’s honour guard as decoration.10.中国茶

中国是茶的故乡。据说早在五六千年前，中国就有了茶树(tea-shrub),而且有关茶树的人类 文明可以追溯到两千年前。来自中国的茶和丝绸、瓷器(porcelain)—样，在 1000 年前为世界所知，而且一直是中国重要的出口产品。目前世界上 40 多个国家种植茶，其中亚 洲国家的产量占世界总产量的 90%。其他国家的茶树都直接或间接地起源于中国。

参考译文: China is the homeland of tea.It is believed that China has tea-shrubs as early as five to six thousand years ago，and human cultivation of tea pants can date back two thousand years.Tea from China，along with her silk and porcelain, began to be known the world over more than a thousand years ago and has since always been an important Chinese export.At present more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the world’s total output.All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China.11.丝绸之路

丝绸之路(the Silk Road)是历史上连接中国和地中海的一条重要 贸易路线。因为这条路上的 丝绸贸易占绝大部分，所以在 1877 年它 被德国的一位地理学家命名为“丝绸之路”。这条 古道从长安开始，经过河西走廊(the Hexi Corridor),到达敦煌后分成三条：南部路线，中部 路线和北部路线。这三条路遍布新疆维吾尔自治区(Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region)，然后扩展到巴基斯坦(Pakistan)，印度，甚至罗马。

参考译文: The Silk Road is a historically important international trade route between China and the Mediterranean.Because silk comprised a large proportion of trade along this road, in 1877, it was named the Silk Road by an eminent German geographer.This ancient road begins at Chang’an, then by way of the Hexi Corridor，and it reaches Dunhuang, where it divides into three, the Southern Route，Central Route and Northern Route.The three routes spread all over the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and then they extend as far as Pakistan, India and even Rome.12.经济水平多样化的中国

中国是一个文化、语言、风俗和经济水平都很多样化的地方。经济格局尤其多样化。大城市如北京，广州和上海是现代的，相对富裕的。然而，约 50%的中国人仍然生活在农村地区，尽管中国只有 10%的土地是可耕地(arable land)。数百万农村居民仍然依靠体力劳动或役畜(draft animal)耕作。两三百万农民迁到城镇寻找工作。一般来说，南部和东部沿海地区比内陆地区更富有，西部和北部，以及西南部是非常不发达的地区。参考译文: China is a very diverse place with large variations in culture, language, customs and economic levels.The economic landscape is particularly diverse.The major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou and Shanghai are moden and comparatively wealthy.However, about 50% of Chinese still live in rural areas even though only 10% of China ’s land is arable.Hundreds of millions of rural residents still farm with manual labour or draft animals.Some 200 to 300 million former peasants migrated to townships and cities in search of work.Generally the southern and eastern coastal regions are wealthier while inland areas, the far west and north, and the southwest are much less developed.13.中国对外贸易

对于世界上很多国家来说，中国正迅速成为他们最重要的双边(bilateral)贸易伙伴。然而，中国和世界其他国家之间贸易不平衡的问题已经引发了关注。尤其是美国对中国的贸易赤字是最大的，达到了 3150 亿美元，这个数字是十年前的三倍还多。贸易纠纷(trade dispute)也越来越多，主要是关于倾销(dumping)、知识产权和人民币的估价。

参考译文: For many countries around the world, China is rapidly becoming their most important bilateral trade partner.However，there have been concerns over large trade imbalances between China and the rest of the world.The US in particular has the largest trade deficit in the world with China at $315 billion, more than three times what it was a decade ago.There have also been a growing number of trade disputes brought against, mainly for dumping, intellectual property and the valuation of the yuan.14.中国的假日

中国人民依法享受超过 115 天的假期，其中包括 104 天的周末和 11 天的节假日。中国一 年中有 7个法定假日，包括元旦(New Year’s Day),春节（Spring Festival),清明节（Qingming Festival), 五一劳动节(May Day)，端午节(Dragon Boat Festival),中秋节(Mid-Autumn Day)和国庆节(National Day)。员工有 5 至 15 天的带薪年假。学生和老师有大约三个月的寒暑假。在中国，暑假一般约在 7 月 1 日开始，8 月 31 日左右结束，寒假是根据春节的日期，通常是在 1 月或 2 月

参考译文: Chinese people legally enjoy over 115 days off including 104 days of weekends and 11 days of festivals.China has seven legal holidays in a year，including New Year’s Day, Spring Festival, Qingming Festival, May Day, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Day and National Day.Employees have 5 to 15 days of paid annual leave.Students and teachers have summer and winter vacations for about three months.The summer vacation in China generally starts around July 1st and ends around August 31st，and the winter vacation usually falls on January or February according to the date of the Spring Festival.15.信用卡

信用卡(credit card)是银行所创造出来的最便捷同时也是最危险 的信用工具。通过信用卡，人们可以先用银行付账的方式购买那些 负担不起的物品，同时，银行也将对此征收比 一般贷款要高的利率(interest rate)。遗憾的是，信用卡现巳成为资本主义体制(capitalist system)的重要组成部分，而该体制就得依赖消费(consumption)的持续增长。

Credit cards are one of the most convenient devices ever created by the banking system but, at the same time, one of the most dangerous.They allow people to buy things they，otherwise, couldn’t afford，with money created by the banks and, charged out at much higher interest rates than normal loans.Unfortunately, credit cards have become an essential part of the capitalist system which only survives on the continued growth in consumption.参考译文: 16.老龄化

根据全国老龄工作委员会(the China National Committee On Aging)的数据来看，到 2053 年，中国 60 岁及以上的老人数量预计 会从目前的 1.85 亿一跃变为 4.87 亿，或者说是占总人口 的 35%。扩张的比例是由于寿命的增加和计划生育政策(family planning policies)限制大部分城市家庭只生一个孩子。快速老龄化对社会和经济稳定 造成了严重威胁。

参考译文:The number of people aged 60 and above in China is expected to jump from the current 185 million to 487 million, or 35 percent of the population, by 2053，according to figures from the China National Committee On Aging.The expanding ratio is due both an increase in life expectancy and by family planning policies that limit most urban families to a single child.Rapid aging poses serious threats to the country’s social and economic stability.17.中国经济

自从 1978 年经济改革以来，中国已经完成了从中央计划经济(centrally planned economy)向 市场经济(market based economy)的转变。超过 6 亿人已经脱离了贫困，但是仍然有超过 1.7 亿人生活在 国际贫困线以下，每天少于 1.25 美元。2012 年，中国的人均 GDP 为 12405.67 美 元，这是 30 年前的 37 倍。到 2018 年，中国的人均 GDP 将从世界第 90 位上升到第 75 位。然而，这仍然是低于预计的世界平均水平。

参考译文: Since initiating market reforms in 1978，China has shifted from a centrally planned to a market based economy.More than 600 million citizens have been lifted out of poverty, but over 170 million people still live below the $1.25-a-day international poverty line.In 2012, China’s GDP(PPP)per capita was $12,405.67.This is 37 times higher than what it was just 30 years ago.By 2018，China’ s GDP per capita will climb from the 90th to 75th highest in the world.This however will still be below the forecasted world average.18.中国的保健食品

中国的保健食品（health food)市场首次出现于 20 世纪 80 年代。保健食品是指具有特定保 健功能或补充维生素或矿物质的食品。保 健食品适用于特定人群消费，具有调节人体功能 的效果，但不用于治疗疾病的目的。保健食品有两种。一种是具有特定保健功能的食品，另外一种是营养补充剂。

China’s health food market first emerged in the 1980s.Health food refers to food products which claim to have specific health functions or supplement one’s vitamins or minerals.Health food is suitable for the consumption by specific groups of people and has the effect of regulating human body functions, but is not used for the purpose of treating diseases.There are two kinds of health food.One is food with specific health functions, the other is nutritional supplements.19.成年子女必须探望父母的法律

这周颁布的一项新法律要求子女必须经常探望年龄超过 60 岁的 父母，并确保他们经济和精 神上的需求得到满足。星期二，新华社 报导了_条新闻，来自江苏市无锡市的一位 77 岁的老太太起诉她的女儿忽略她。这是新法律生效后的第一起案件，当地法院规定她的女儿至少每月探望母亲两次，并提供财力支持。但是这项法律引发了争议。有人说这给了那些因为工作、学习或者其他原因搬离家乡的人更多压力。参考译文: A new national law introduced this week requires the offspring of parents older than 60 to visit their parents “frequently” and make sure their financial and spiritual needs are met.On Tuesday, Xinhua reported a news that a 77-year-old woman from Jiangsu city of Wuxi sued her daughter for neglecting her.In the first case after the new law came into effect, the local court ruled that her daughter must visit her at least twice a month and provide financial support.But the law’s introduction has proved controversial.Some say it puts too much pressure on those who move away from home for work, study or other opportunities.20.中国游客出境游

联合国下属机构世界旅游组织(World Tourism Organization)公布的数据显示，中国游客对全 球旅游业的贡献最大。中国人去年花 在出境游上的支出膨胀至 1020 亿美元，同 2011 年相 比增长了 40%。联合国世界旅游组织在其网站上发布的一份声明中说，这一增幅令 中国 迅速超越德国和美国。后两者在之前是出境游支出最高的两个 国家。2012 年德美两国出境 旅游支出均同比增长 6%,约 840 亿美元。参考译文: The figures from the United Nations World Tourism Organization show that Chinese travelers are making the most contributions to the global tourism industry.Chinese travelers spent a record $102 billion on outbound tourism last year, a 40% rise from 2011.That surge sent China screaming past Germany and the U.S.— the former No.1 and No.2 spenders, respectively 一 which both saw tourist outlays increase 6% year-on-year to around $84 billion in 2012, the UNWTO said in a statement on its website.21.大学生就业问题

2008 全球经济衰退导致中国的新毕业生的就业市场显著下降。2009 年毕业的学生将加入到 2008 年毕业仍在找工作的 300 万学生之中。毕业生过剩(glut)也可以归因于大学入学率的提高和教育机构的增加。虽然大学的学生人数增加了，但是他们的质量并没有明显地提高。在大多数情况下，毕业生无法在 2008 年找到合适的就业机 会是因为他们没有行业所需的技能。

The 2008 global recession resulted in a significant drop in the job market for China’s new graduates.Students graduating in 2009 will join around three million students who graduated in 2008 and are still seeking job opportunities.The graduate glut can also be attributed to a rise in the number of college enrollments and educational institutions.Although the number of college students has increased, there has not been any significant improvement in their quality.In most cases, graduates were unable to find suitable employment in 2008 because they did not have the skills required by the industry.

第五篇：英语四级段落翻译练习(一)

段落翻译

一、对龙图腾的崇拜在中国大约已绵延了八千多年。中国龙是古人将鱼、蛇、马、牛等动物与云雾、雷电等自然天象集合而成的一种神物。中国龙的形成与中华民族的多元融合过程同步。在中国人的心目中，龙具有振奋腾飞、开拓变化的寓意和团结凝聚的精神。

二、秧歌舞是中国汉族的一种民间传统舞蹈，通常在北方省份表演。秧歌舞者通常穿上明亮多彩的表演服装，他们的表演动作有力迅速。在农历春节、元宵节等节日期间，人们一旦听到锣鼓声，不管外面天气有多冷，他们都会蜂拥到街上看秧歌舞表演。近年来，中国东北某些城市的老年人自发组织了了秧歌队，队员常年通过跳秧歌舞来保持健康，同事他们也乐在其中。

三、长城是人类创造的世界奇迹之一。如果你到了中国却没去过长城，就想到了巴黎没有去看看菲尔铁塔，或者就像到了埃及没有去看金字塔一样。人们常说：“不到长城非好汉。”实际上，长城最初只是一些断断续续的城墙，直到秦朝统一中国后才将其连城长城。然而，今天我们看到的长城——东起山海关，西至嘉峪关——大部分都是在明代修建的。

四、饺子是深受中国人民喜爱的传统食品。相传为古代医圣张仲景发明。饺子的制作是包括： 1）擀皮、2）备馅、3）包馅水煮三个步骤。其特点是皮薄馅嫩，味道鲜美，形状独特，百食不厌。民间有“好吃不过饺子”的俗语。中国人接亲待客、逢年过节都有包饺子吃的习俗，寓意吉利。对崇尚亲情的中国人来说，“更岁交子”吃饺子，更是欢度除夕、辞旧迎新必不可少的内容。

五、针灸是中医学的重要组成部分。按照中医的经络理论，针灸疗法主要是通过疏通经络、调和气血，来达到阴阳归于平衡，使脏腑趋于调和之目的。其特点是“内病外治”。主要疗法是用针刺入病人身体的一定穴位，或用艾火的温热刺激烧灼病人的穴位，以达到刺激经络。治疗病痛的目的。针灸以其独特的优势，流传至今并传播到了世界，与中餐、功夫、中药一起被海外誉为中国的“新四大国粹”。

六、中国功夫即中国武术，是将技击寓于搏斗和套路运动之中的中国传统体育项目，承载着丰富的中华民族传统文化。其核心思想是儒家的中和养气之说，同时兼容了道家、释家的思想。中国武术源远流长、流派林立、拳种繁多，讲究刚柔并济、内外兼修，蕴含着先哲们对生命和宇宙的参悟。后世所称十八般武艺，主要指：徒手拳艺，如太极拳、形意拳、八卦掌等；器械功夫，如刀枪剑戟、斧钺钩叉等。

七、汉字是从原始人用以记事的简单图画，经过不断演变发展最终成为一种兼具音、形、意韵的独特文字。现存中国古代最早成熟的文字是甲骨文，被认为是现代汉字的初形。此后，汉字又经历了金文、隶书、楷书、草书、行书等不同的阶段。汉字结构“外圆内方“，源于古人”天圆地方“的观念。汉字有五种基本笔画，即：横、竖、撇、捺、折。

八、中国人使用筷子就餐的方式在世界上独树一帜。有史记载用筷的历史已有三千多年。筷子古时称为箸，它看似简单，但却同时具有夹、拨、挑、扒、拌、撮、戳、撕等多种功能。中国民间视筷子为吉祥之物，如婚俗中将筷子隐喻为快生贵子的祝福等。与使用刀叉以及手抓的 方式不同，成双结对的筷子含有“和为贵“的意蕴。西方人赞誉筷子是古老的东方文明。

九、印章就是图章。中国历代官、私所用的印章有印信、朱记、合同、符、契等等不同的称谓，而帝王所用的印章古时称玺、印、宝、章等。据史料记载，印章在战国时代已普遍使用。印章的制作是将篆隶等字体、图像用阴、阳的形式雕刻而成，形状以圆、方为主。印章用朱色

钤盖，除日常应用外，又多用于书画题识，逐渐成为中国特有的艺术形式之一。

十、天干地支是中国历法中用以记录和命名年岁的方法。十天干为：甲、乙、丙、丁、戊、已、庚、辛、壬、癸；十二地支为：子、丑、寅、卯、辰、巳、午、未、申、酉、戊、亥。古人观测朔望月，发现月亮圆缺12次大体上是一年的天数，而两个朔望月约是60天。古人以十天干与十二地支的顺序依次相配，记录不同年份，60年为一个轮回。干支纪年法从古沿用至今。按干支纪年法，2011年便是辛卯年。C

十一、京剧被誉为“东方歌剧”，是地道的中国国粹。它起源于中国多种古老的地方戏剧，特别是南方的“徽班”。到了19世纪末，京剧形成并成为中国最大的戏曲剧种。京剧是综合性表演艺术，集唱（歌唱）、念（念白）、做（表演）、打（武）、舞（舞蹈）为一体，通过程式化的表演手段，叙述故事，刻画人物。角色主要分生（男性）、旦（女性）、净（男性）、丑（男性女性皆有）四大行当。

十二、道教是中国土生土长长的宗教。创始人是春秋末期的哲学家、思想家老子。道教以老子所著的《道德经》为主要经典。道教主张“重人贵生”。崇尚清静无为，修身养性。“道可道，非常道。名可名，非常名。无名天地之始；有名万物之母。故常无，欲以观其妙；常有，欲以观其徼”便是老子的至理名言。

十三、中国成语是汉语中意义完整的表示一般概念的固定词组或短语。“成语”中的“成”既是约定俗成。成语是比词大而语法功能又相当于词的语言单位。绝大多数的中国成语由四个汉字组成，例如：自强不息、青出于蓝、厚积薄发。成语主要从民间谚语、古代文学作品、诗歌、寓言、典故、名言警句等方面提炼而成，是汉语语言中精炼而又富有生命力的一部分。

十四、中国是丝绸的故乡。栽桑、养蚕、缫丝、织绸是中国古代人民的伟大发明。商周时期丝绸的生产技术就已发展到相当高的水平。西汉时张骞通西域，把中原与波斯湾、地中海紧密联系起来，开辟了中外交流贸易的新纪元。从此中国的丝绸以其卓越的品质、精美的花色和丰富的文化内涵闻名于世，成为中国文化的象征。东方文明的使者。

十五、中国园林是把人造的山水、植物、建筑等与自然地貌有机结合的环境艺术，是我国古代建筑艺术的珍宝。其建造原则是“妙极自然，宛自天开”。游赏中国古典园林，能充分领略“假自然之景，创山水真趣”的园林意境。在世界三大园林体系中，中国园林历史悠久、内涵丰富，被誉为世界造园史上的渊源之一。

十六、笔墨纸砚是中国古代文人书房当中必备的宝贝，被称为“文房四宝”。用笔墨书写绘画在中国可追溯到五千年前。秦时已用不同硬度的毛和竹管制笔；汉代以人工制墨替代了天然墨；有了纸张以后，简牍锦帛逐失其用；砚台则随笔墨的使用而发展。“文房四宝”到宋朝以后特指湖笔、徽墨、宣纸、端砚。可以说文房四宝书写了整个中华文明。

十七、中国书法（calligraphy），像中国汉字一样，最初见于殷商时期（Yin or Shang Dynasty）。书法不是像写字那样仅仅是为了达到社会交流的目的，而是一种用来表达作者思想，抱负以及自身感情的艺术。作为中国上乘艺术世界特有的一个构件，书法也是外国友人津津乐道或者掌握的最富挑战性的艺术形式之一。学习中国书法，必须对中国文字的起源有所了解。书法这门艺术包含了很多理论，也需要很多技巧，能够达到书法艺术最高境界的书法家并无几人。十八、十二生肖（animal sign）在中国非常流行。十二属相是一个用来纪年的十二年的循环（cycle）。长期以来，人们与十二生肖之间有着特别的关系。许多艺术形式都取材于十二生肖。属相有其特别的文化内涵，如属鼠的人往往聪明，懂得积累财富。属相还有助于在社交活动中得知别人的年龄。为了避免直接问及一个人的年龄，人们通常问他的属相，这就可以确定他在十二生肖的排位。然而通常问属相只是在朋友和熟人之间弄明白谁的年龄更大。

十九、农历正月十五日的元宵节（Lantern Festival）是中国的传统节日。自汉代（Han Dynasty）起中国人就开始庆祝元宵节了。如今元宵节已经成为一个人们娱乐消遣的节日。节日期间，各地举行各式各样的灯节，街上会挂起形状不同、大小各异的灯笼，引得无数游人驻足。另外还举行猜灯谜、敲年鼓、耍龙灯、赶庙会等其他娱乐活动。元宵节另一个重要组成部分是吃元宵（也称汤圆），很显然它们是因为元宵节而得名的。

二十、师父/师傅是用来指大师或老师。通常用于武术（martial arts）的语境，表示一种教导关系。在中国大陆，师父/师傅是用来对需要知识或技术的各行各业的一种常见的尊称，例如教师、司机、厨师、家庭装饰人员以及某些行业和艺术中的一些长者，而且他们都有丰富的经验，例如绘画与书法（calligraphy）。在现代俚语（slang）中，人们用这个词来加强与其他人的关系，尤其是不太熟悉的人。

二十一、舞龙（dragon dance）是中国文化中一种传统的舞蹈与表演形式。舞龙最多出现于节日庆祝中，这与舞狮相似。在舞龙中，一队人用竿举着龙。传统的龙在表演中的动作象征着它的历史角色，即对力量和威严的表现。龙深深地扎根于中国文化之中，中国人经常认为自己是“龙的传人”并将其作为民族身份的象征。东方和西方都存在着龙的文化。在西方的许多文学作品中都可以找到龙，而且这些龙与中国龙存在着巨大的差异。

二十二、放鞭炮（firecrackers）是春节庆祝时最盛行的习俗之一。在宋朝，人们用火药制作鞭炮，代替以前的爆竹。最初，放鞭炮是为了驱赶邪恶，寻求幸福。现在放鞭炮驱赶邪恶的用意逐渐淡化，更多的是为了增加节日的气氛。由于燃放烟花爆竹会引起火灾和造成人身伤害，所以近来各地方市区都有规定禁止燃放烟花爆竹。尽管有禁止燃放烟花爆竹的规定，但很多市民还是会到乡村、郊区放烟花来庆祝新年。

一、Chinese Dragon

Dragon totem worship in China has been around for the last 8,000 years.The ancients in China considered the dragon(or loong)a fetish that combines animals including the fish, snake, horse and ox with cloud, thunder, lightning and other natural celestial phenomena.The Chinese dragon was formed in accordance with the multicultural fusion process of the Chinese nation.To the Chinese, the dragon signifies innovation and cohesion.二、Yangko Yangko is one of tradition folk dance of Han in China.It is usually performed in northern provinces.The dancers usually wear colorful and light costumes, and the performance is powerful and rapid.During some festivals such as Spring Festival, Lantein Festival, if people hear the sound of drum and gong, no matter how cold the weather is , they will come to street and appreciate the Yangko.Recent years, the old people in city of east-northern of China organized the team of Yangko by themselves, the teamers keep their health by dancing Yangko the whole year.三、The Great Wall

The Great Wall is one of the wonders of the world that created by human beings!If you come to China without climbing the Great Wall, it's just like going Paris without visiting the Eiffel Tower;or going to Egypt without visiting the Pyramids!Men often say, “He who doest not reach the Great Wall is not a true man.”In fact, it began as independent walls for different states when it was first built, and did not become the “Great Wall” until the Qin Dynasty.However, the wall we see today, starting from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayunguan Pass in the west, was mostly built during the Ming Dynasty.四、Dumplings

Dumplings are one of the Chinese people’s favorite traditional dishes.According to an ancient Chinese legend, dumplings were first made by the medical saint---Zhang Zhongjing.There are three steps involved in making dumplings: 1)make dumpling wrappers out of dumpling flour;2)prepare the dumpling stuffing;3)make dumplings and boil them.With thin and elastic dough skin, fresh and tender stuffing, delicious taste, and unique shapes, dumplings are worth eating hundreds of times.There’s an old saying that claims, “Nothing could be more delicious than dumplings”.During the Spring Festival and other holidays, or when treating relatives and friends, Chinese people like to follow the auspicious custom of eating dumplings.To Chinese people who show high reverence for family love, having dumplings at the moment the old year is replaced by the new is an essential part of bidding farewell to the old and ushering in the new year.五、Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an important part of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM).In accordance with the “main and collateral channels” theory in TCM, the purpose of acupuncture is to dredge the channel and regulate qi and blood, so as to keep the body’s yin and yang balanced and achieve reconciliation between the internal organs.It features in traditional Chinese medicine that “internal diseases are to be treated with external therapy”.The main therapy of acupuncture involves using needles to pierce certain acupoints of the patient’s body, or adopting moxibustion to stimulate the patient’s acupoints so as to stimulate the channels and relieve pain.With its unique advantages, acupuncture has been handed down generation after generation and has now spread all over the world.Nowadays, acupuncture, along with Chinese food, kung fu(otherwise known as Chinese martial arts), and traditional Chinese medicine, has been internationally hailed as one of the “four new national treasures.”

六、Chinese Kung Fu

Chinese kung fu, or Chinese martial arts, carries traditional Chinese culture in abundance.It is a traditional Chinese sport which applies the art of attack and defence in combat and the motions engaged with a series of skill and tricks.The core idea of Chinese king fu is derived from the Confucian theory of both “the mean and harmony” and “cultivating qi”(otherwise known as nourishing one’s spirit).Meanwhile, it also includes thoughts of Taoism and Buddhism.Chinese kung fu has a long history, with multi-various sects and many different boxing styles, and emphasizes coupling hardness with softness and internal and external training.It contains the ancient great thinkers’ pondering of life and the universe.The skills in wielding the 18 kinds of weapons named by the later generations mainly involve the skills of bare-handed boxing, such as shadow boxing(Taijiquan), form and will boxing(Xingyiquan), eight trigram palm(Baguazhang), and the skills of kung fu weaponry, such as the skill of using swords, spears, two-edged swords and halberds, axes, tomahawks, kooks, prongs and so on.七、Chinese Characters

Chinese characters were initially meant to be simple pictures used to help people remember things.After a long period of development, it finally became a unique character system that embodies phonetic sound, image, idea, and rhyme at the same time.The writing system, which was extremely advanced in ancient times, began with inscriptions on bones and tortoise shells, and these are regarded as the original forms of Chinese characters.Afterwards, Chinese characters went through numerous calligraphic styles: bronze inscriptions, official script, regular script, cursive script, running script, etc.Chinese characters are usually round outside and square inside, which is rooted in ancient Chinese beliefs of an orbicular sky and a rectangular Earth.The five basic strokes of Chinese characters are “---“(the horizontal stroke)“│”(the vertical stroke), “／”(the left-falling stroke), “＼”(the right-falling stroke), and “乙”(the turning stroke).八、Chinese Chopsticks

The Chinese way of eating with chopsticks is unique in the world.The recorded history of chopsticks started more than three thousand years ago.Chopsticks were named zhu in ancient Chinese.They look deceptively simple to use, but possess multi-various functions, such as clamping, turning over, lifting up, raking, stirring, scooping, poking, tearing, and so on.Chopsticks were taken as an auspicious mascot by ordinary people in ancient China.For example, the partial tone of chopsticks is often used by people as a metaphor at weddings to indicate a blessing or benediction for the couple to have a baby soon.Unlike using a knife and fork or one’s own hands, a pair of chopsticks also implies the meaning of “Harmony is what matters”.Chopsticks are highly praised by Westerners as a hallmark of ancient oriental civilization.九、Chinese Seal

A seal can also be defined as a stamp.Both the Chinese official and private seal of various dynasties have different titles, such as stamp, zhu note, contract, fu, lease and others.The seals used by the emperors of ancient China were called xi, yin, bao, etc.According to historical records, seals were widely used during the Warring States Period(475BC-221BC).The making of a seal is to engrave fonts, such as seal characters and official script and so on;or images in the form of intaglio and embossment into the seal, basically shaped as round or square.Covered with a vermilion overlay, the Chinese seal is not only used in daily life, but it is also used to represent signatures on paintings and calligraphies.It is gradually becoming one of China’s unique artworks.十、Chinese Era

The Chinese era is the symbol that the Chinese calendar uses for recording and naming years.The ten Heavenly Stems are: jia, yi, bing, ding, wu, ji, geng, xin, ren, gui.The twelve Earthly Branches are: zi.chou, yin, mou, chen, si, wu, wei, shen, you, xu, hai.After observing the lunar month, the ancients found that the moon always wazes and wanes roughly 12 times a year, and two lunar months account for about 60 days, so the order of the ten Heavenly Stems and the order of the twelve Earthly Branches are properly matched in turn.In terms of recording date, 60 years is considered to be a full time cycle.The Chinese era chronology was first invented in ancient times and is still in use now.according to the chronology of the “ten Heavenly Stems,” 2011 is the year of “the seventh of the ten Heavenly Stems” and “ the fifth of the twelve Earthly Branches”.十一、Beijing Opera

Praised as “Oriental Opera”, Beijing Opera is a genuine national quintessence of China.It originated from many kinds of ancient local operas, especially huiban in southern China.At the end of the 19th Century, Beijing Opera evolved and took shape, becoming the greatest kind of opera in China.Beijing Opera is a blend of performing arts---song, speech, performance, acrobatix fighting and dance.Beijing Opera portrays and narrates the plot and characters through stylized acting.The main types of roles in Beijing Opera are sheng(male), dan(young female), jing(painted face, male), and chou(clown, male or female).十二、Chinese Taoism

Taoism first originated in China.The founder of Taoism is Laozi, a philosopher and thinker who lived in the late Spring and Autumn Period(770BC-476BC).Tao Te Ching whose authorship has been attributed to Laozi, is considered to be the main Taoist classic.Taoism advocates the value of a human being’s life, recommends the discarding of all desires and worries from one’s mind, and encourages the cultivation of moral character and the nourishment of human nature.The following is an example of Laozi’s golden saying: The way that can be told of is not an unvarying way;The names that can be named are not unvarying names.It was from the nameless that Heaven and Earth sprang;The named is but the mother that rears the ten thousand creatures, each after its kind.Truly, only he that rids himself forever of desire can see the secret essences;He that has never rid himself of desire can see only the outcomes.十三、Chinese Idioms

Chinese idioms refer to comprehensive and integrated fixed phrases and expressions.Idioms are established and accepted by constant usage and common practice.An idiom is a language unit that is larger than a word, but has the same grammatical function as a word.Most Chinese idioms consist of four characters.For example, ziqiangbuxi(make unremitting efforts to improve oneself), qingchuyulan(bluer than indigo), and houjibofa(success comes with time and effort).Idioms are extrated from folk proverbs, ancient works of literature, poems, fables, allusions, and well-known sayings.Idioms are a part of the Chinese language that are concise and have great vitality.十四、Chinese silk

China is the home of silk.Mulberry planting, sericulture, silk reeling and thickening are all great inventions of the ancient Chinese.As early as the Shang and Zhou Dynasties(1600BC-256BC), the Chinese people’s silk-weaving techniques had reached an extremely high level.During the Western Han Dynasty(206BC-25AD), Zhang Qian, an outstanding diplomat, travelled around central Asia and connected China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean, opening up a new era of Sino-foreign trade, exchange and communication.From then on, China’s silk became well known for its extraordinary quality, exquisite design and color, and abundant culture connotations.Hitherto, Chinese silk has been accepted as a symbol of Chinese culture and the emissary of oriental civilization.十五、Chinese Classical Garden

The Chinese classical garden is a precious treasure of our ancient Chinese architecture.It is a kind of environment art, which systematically combines artificial mountains and rivers, plants and buildings with the natural landscape.The construction standard of a Chinese classical garden is “artificial as it is, the garden must look ingenious and natural.” When you go sightseeing in a Chinese classical garden, you should be able to appreciate its artistic concept which “makes use of the natural landscape to create the real fun of mountains and rivers for viewers.” Of the world’s three major garden systems, the Chinese classical garden is hailed as one of the origins of the world’s garden due to its long history and abundant connotations.十六、The Four Treasures of the Study

The writing brush, ink stick, ink stone, and paper were requisite treasures in the study of the scholars of ancient China, and they are often referred to as the “Four Treasures of the Study.” The writing brush and ink stick have been used by the Chinese to write and paint since 5,000 years ago.In the Qin Dynasty(221BC---206BC), people already used feathers of different hardness and bamboo trunks to make brushes.During the Han Dynasty(206BC-220AD), man-made ink was used instead of natural ink.After paper was invented by the Chinese, bamboo slips, wooden tablets, brocade and silk, which originally functioned as writing surfaces, gradually faded out.The ink stone was first developed with the use of writing brushes and ink.After the Song Dynasty(960AD---1279AD), the “Four Treasure of the Study” particularly referred to hubi, the writing brush produced in Huzhou, Zhejiang province;huimo, the ink stick produced in Huizhou, Anhui province;xuan paper, a kind of paper produced in Xuanzhou, Anhui province;and duanyan, the ink stone made in Zhaoqing, Guangdong province(Zhaoqing was earlier called Duanzhou).Indeed, the Four Treasures of the Study” have writtin the whole Chinese civilization, as it is.十七、Chinese Calligraphy Chinese Calligraphy, like character, first appeared during the Yin or Shang Dynasty.Calligraphy, unlike writing for the sole purpose of social communication, is an art used to express the ideas, accomplishments, and feelings of the calligrapher.Calligraphy is a special category in China’s world of fine arts and one of the most challenging Chinese art forms for a foreigner to appreciate or master.Studying Chinese calligraphy one must learn something about the origins of Chinese characters.Calligraphy is an art of form that involves a great deal of theory and requires many skills;consequently there are few calligraphers that have reached the highest realm of calligraphy.十八、Animal Sign The 12 animal signs are very popular in China.The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years.For a long time there has been a special relationship between humans and the 12 animal signs.The 12 animal signs are widely used in many art forms.These animal signs have specific cultural connotations.For example, people under the rat sign are usually smart and willing to accumulate wealth.The animal signs also serve a useful social function for finding out people’s ages.Instead of asking directly how old a person is, people often ask what his or her animal sign is.This would place that person’s age within a cycle of 12 years.More often, asking for animal signs is simply to know who is older among friends and acquaintances.十九、The Lantern Festival The Lantern Festival is a traditional festival celebrated by Chinese on the 15th of the 1st lunar month.Chinese started to celebrate the Lantern Festival since the Han Dynasty.Nowadays the Lantern Festival has become an occasion for people to entertain themselves and have fun.During the Lantern Festival, different lantern appreciation activities are held, lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors.Other entertainments such as guessing riddles on lanterns, beating drums, playing dragon lanterns and going to fairs are also held.Another important part of the Lantern Festival is eating small dumpling balls, yuanxiao or tangyuan.Obviously, they get the name from the festival itself.