外國人最想和你聊的文化話題：十二生肖

     Each animal represents a different "personality".
     每一種動物有他們自己的"性格"。
     According to legend, people held a conference with all the animals, informing them that they would pick the 12 to represent the zodiac.
     根據傳說，人們當初和動物們開了一個會，最先到會的動物們就可以進入十二生肖。
     However, in spite of being fast, the cat was not picked as its close friend, the rat, did not wake it. This action sparked off a rivalry that continues till this day.
     而身為貓最好的朋友，老鼠卻沒有把貓叫醒去開會。因此，它們之間的戰(zhàn)爭一直持續(xù)到今天。
     The year of the rat is regarded as a year of renewal, being the first year in the Chinese zodiac cycle.
     鼠是十二生肖之首，鼠年也因此被視為萬象更新的一年。
     If you don't want to reveal your age, give the name of an animal not in the cycle, like cat or elephant.
     如果你不想透露你的年齡，就說一個不在周期(十二生肖)里的動物，如貓或象。
     In Chinese there is a cycle of twelve years, each with a different animal.
     在中國有十二年的周期，每年都有一只不同的動物(十二生肖)。
     Of all the animals of the Chinese horoscope, the dog really stands out.
     在所有中國的十二生肖當中，狗真的是最突出的。
     Shengxiao is also the source of many traditional customs and newer trends, and the animals are popular images that are seen everywhere.
     生肖同時也是影響很多傳統習俗和時代潮流的一個很重要因素，所以你在很多地方都可以看到那些讓人喜愛的動物圖片。
     Unlike the Western zodiac, it's based on a 12-year cycle according to the lunar calendar.
     和西洋星座不同的是，中國生肖是以農歷來計算，十二年為一輪。
     After the nap, the pig continued the race and was named the12th and last animal of the zodiac cycle.
     午睡醒來，小豬繼續(xù)比賽并且被命名為第十二個獲勝者，也就是最后一個生肖。
     Rabbit is a meek and peaceful small animal, so in Asian countries and regions used the twelve Chinese zodiac signs as method for counting years, Year of the Rabbit should be a peaceful year.
     兔子是溫順安詳的小動物，所以以十二生肖文化紀年的國家和地區(qū)的人們認為，兔年應該是個平和吉祥的年份。
     For the Chinese, the dargon was the greatest mascot and held sacred.
     對中國人來說，龍是中國最大的神物，當然也是最大的吉祥物。
     Year of dragon has always been valued among years of twelve Chinese zodiac signs.
     龍年向來是十二生肖中最受重視的年份。
     Chicken is one the earliest domesticated and raised animals by humans and closely related to human life.
     雞是人類最早馴化、蓄養(yǎng)的動物之一，與人類生活密切相關。
     In Chinese culture, the Chinese character "chicken" is similar to"lucky", so to be given the lucky meaning by people.
     雞由于同"吉"諧音，被人們賦予了吉祥的意義。
     Pigs have been the symbol of wealth for people's boast from the original patriarchal society to the modern times.
     從原始父系氏族社會到近代，豬一直是人們夸耀財富的標志。
     Our ancestors were actually a very pragmatic group of people. The twelve zodiac animals were designed in pairs to form six groups. They represent the high expectations placed on all Chinese by our ancestors.
     中國人的祖先是很實在的，我們十二生肖兩兩相對，六道輪回，體現了我們祖先對中國人全部的期望和要求。
     The first pair of animals consists of the rat and the bull. The rat represents wisdom, while the bull represents diligence. Wisdom and diligence must go hand in hand.
     第一組是老鼠和牛。老鼠代表智慧，牛代表勤奮。智慧和勤奮一定要緊緊結合在一起。
     The second combination is of the tiger and the rabbit. The tiger represents bravery, while the rabbit represents prudence. Bravery and prudence should also be joined so that we have courage without recklessness.
     第二組是老虎和兔子。老虎代表勇猛，兔子代表謹慎。勇猛和謹慎一定要緊緊結合在一起，才能做到所謂的膽大心細。
     The third pair consists of the dragon and the snake. The dragon represents strength, while the snake represents flexibility.
     第三組是龍和蛇。龍代表剛猛，蛇代表柔韌 。
     The next combination is of the horse and the sheep. The horse represents a valiant and resolute march toward a goal, while the sheep represents the spirit of harmonious unanimity.
     接下來是馬和羊。馬代表一往無前，直奔目標，羊代表和順。
     The monkey represents agility, while the rooster, as the one animal to announce the start of each day since time immemorial, represents constancy.
     猴子代表靈活，至于雞呢，以前的年代沒有時鐘，都是聽雞鳴聲決定一天的開始，所以雞定時打鳴， 代表恒定。
     The dog represents loyalty, while the pig represents affability.
     狗是代表忠誠，豬是代表隨和。