Every winter, a sixth of the world's population, including more than one billion Chinese citizens, celebrate Chinese New Year. The 15-day festival, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, kicks off on the second new moon after the winter solstice, or according to the Gregorian calendar in use since the 16th century, sometime between January 21 and February 19. But Chinese New Year goes back a lot further than the 16th century—it's based on the ancient Chinese calendar, which existed as early as the 14th century BC. Even though China adopted the Western calendar in 1912 and began marking January 1 as the official start of the year, Chinese New Year remains the country's most important social and economic holiday.
每年冬天，全世界六分之一的人口，包含超過十億中國人，慶祝中國新年。這持續十五天的節日，又稱作農曆新年或春節，在冬至後的第二個新月開始，或根據十六世紀開始使用的公曆，中國新年大約落在一月二十一號和二月十九號間。不過中國新年可回溯至十六世紀更久遠以前－－它是以中國古老曆法為根據，那早在西元前十四世紀就存在。即使中國在 1912 年採用西洋曆法，並開始將一月一號標為正式的一年之始，中國新年仍是國家最重要的社交和商業節慶。
Over the centuries, holiday festivities have spread far beyond China and now take place all over the world. In fact, the biggest celebration outside of China takes place in the United States—San Francisco to be exact. Ever since the Gold Rush in the 1840s and '50s brought an influx of Chinese immigrant workers to Northern California, the city has held a massive parade for Chinese New Year.
幾世紀來，節日慶典已遠佈至中國以外的地方，如今在全世界舉行。事實上，中國外最大的慶典就在美國舉行－－準確點說是在舊金山。自 1840 和 1850 年代的淘金熱將大量中國移工帶到北加州後，舊金山這城市就為中國新年舉辦盛大的遊行活動。
According to Chinese tradition, each year is named for one of the 12 animals associated with the Chinese zodiac. Two of those animals, the dragon and the rabbit, are particularly important to Chinese New Year. You'll see dragons everywhere, because the Chinese are said to have descended from the mythical creature. And on the 15th day of the New Year, known as the Festival of Lanterns, many people display paper lanterns in the shape of rabbits. These symbolize a Chinese goddess named Chang'e, who is said to have brought a rabbit along with her when she jumped on the moon.
依照中國傳統，每年是以和中國生肖有關的十二種動物之一命名。那其中兩種動物，龍和兔，對中國新年特別重要。你在任何地方都會看到龍，因為中國人據說是這種玄妙生物的後代。而在新年的第十五天，稱作燈節，許多人展示出以兔為形的紙燈籠。這些象徵一位名為嫦娥的中國女神，據說她在跳到月亮時帶了隻兔子一起。
To prepare for Chinese New Year, lots of people clean out their houses to rid them of ghosts and bad luck associated with the old year. They might get a new haircut and clothes, settle disagreements, or pay off debts in order to start the year fresh. In this way, the Chinese New Year customs resemble the Western custom of New Year's resolutions.
為了準備過中國新年，許多人打掃房子以除去和舊的一年有關的鬼魂和厄運。他們可能會剪個新髮型和買新衣、化解紛爭，或還清債務好有個新年新氣象。就這方面，中國新年的習俗和西方的新年新希望習俗相似。
In the late-night hours of Chinese New Year's Eve, many families make dumplings together. This food is said to bring good fortune to the household. Long noodles are also a traditional Chinese New Year's dish. But if you wanna live a long life, never cut the noodles while eating them. And be sure to wear red, the color of good luck, and avoid black, which many people associate with death. Whether they're superstitions or resolutions, one thing's for sure: There's a lot of tradition associated with Chinese New Year that we bet you didn't know!
在除夕的深夜，許多家庭會一起包餃子。據說這種食物會帶給家庭好運。長壽麵也是傳統的中國新年料理。不過如果你想要長命百歲，永遠不要在吃長壽麵時把麵條咬斷。務必穿著紅色，喜氣的顏色，並避免黑色，許多人將黑色和死亡聯想在一起。無論那些是迷信或決心，有件事是毫無疑問的：有許多和中國新年相關的傳統，我們敢說你不知道!
- 「開始」- Kick Off
The 15-day festival, also known as Lunar New Year or the Spring Festival, kicks off on the second new moon after the winter solstice...
這持續十五天的節日，又稱作農曆新年或春節，在冬至後的第二個新月開始... - 「根據、按照」- According To
...or according to the Gregorian calendar in use since the 16th century, sometime between January 21 and February 19.
...或根據十六世紀開始使用的公曆，中國新年大約落在一月二十一號和二月十九號間。 - 「被使用、通用」- In Use
...or according to the Gregorian calendar in use since the 16th century, sometime between January 21 and February 19.
...或根據十六世紀開始使用的公曆，中國新年大約落在一月二十一號和二月十九號間。 - 「追溯」- Go Back
But Chinese New Year goes back a lot further than the 16th century—it's based on the ancient Chinese calendar...
不過中國新年可回溯至十六世紀更久遠以前－－它是以中國古老曆法為根據... - 「根據、以...為基礎」- Base On
But Chinese New Year goes back a lot further than the 16th century—it's based on the ancient Chinese calendar...
不過中國新年可回溯至十六世紀更久遠以前－－它是以中國古老曆法為根據... - 「舉行、發生」- Take Place
Over the centuries, holiday festivities have spread far beyond China and now take place all over the world.
幾世紀來，節日慶典已遠佈至中國以外的地方，如今在全世界舉行。 - 「打掃、清除」- Clean Out
To prepare for Chinese New Year, lots of people clean out their houses to rid them of ghosts and bad luck associated with the old year.
為了準備過中國新年，許多人打掃房子以除去和舊的一年有關的鬼魂和厄運。 - 「除去」- Rid Of
To prepare for Chinese New Year, lots of people clean out their houses to rid them of ghosts and bad luck associated with the old year.
為了準備過中國新年，許多人打掃房子以除去和舊的一年有關的鬼魂和厄運。 - 「償清債務」- Pay Off
They might get a new haircut and clothes, settle disagreements, or pay off debts in order to start the year fresh.
他們可能會剪個新髮型和買新衣、化解紛爭，或還清債務好有個新年新氣象。 - 「為了...」- In Order To
They might get a new haircut and clothes, settle disagreements, or pay off debts in order to start the year fresh.
他們可能會剪個新髮型和買新衣、化解紛爭，或還清債務好有個新年新氣象。
