清明节不仅是中国的二十四节气之一，也是中国人缅怀逝去亲人的日子。

作为节日的清明节：

一般翻译为"Tomb Sweeping festival"或者"Tomb-sweeping Day"，扫墓节或扫墓日。这个翻译着重强调了清明节的重要习俗“扫墓”。

另外再谈到作为节气的清明：

它被译为"Clear and Bright"，清洁和明亮。我们也不难发现，这种译法强调的是清明时节的气候状况，和其他节气的翻译出发点一致。

二

清明节 介绍

三

清明节 起源

Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Zhui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.

谈到清明节，有点历史知识的人，都会联想到历史人物介子推。据历史记载，在两千多年以前的春秋时代，晋国公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艰苦，跟随他的介子推不惜从自己的腿上割下一块肉让他充饥。后来，重耳回到晋国，作了国君（即晋文公，春秋五霸之一），大事封赏所有跟随他流亡在外的随从，惟独介子推拒绝接受封赏，他带了母亲隐居绵山。

Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.

晋文公无计可施，只好放火烧山，他想，介子推孝顺母亲，一定会带着老母出来。谁知这场大火却把介子推母子烧死了。为了纪念介子推，晋文公下令每年的这一天，禁止生火，家家户户只能吃生冷的食物，这就是寒食节的来源。

The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.

寒食节是在清明节的前一天，古人常把寒食节的活动延续到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食节。拜介子推的习俗也变成了清明扫墓的习俗了。无论以何种形式纪念，为了使纪念祖先的仪式更有意义，我们应该让年轻一代的家庭成员了解先人过去的奋斗历史，当然，还要学习介子推宁死不屈的气节。

清明的具体日期在仲春和暮春之交，大约农历 4月 4、5、6 日之间。此时，天气转暖，大地回春，万物复苏，一片生机盎然，家家门口插柳条，祭扫坟墓和郊外踏青。农谚中也有 "清明忙种粟" 的说法。

我们人耳熟能详的一首关于清明的诗就是：

清明

杜牧

清明时节雨纷纷，路上行人欲断魂。

借问酒家何处有？牧童遥指杏花村。

这首杜牧《清明》各种英文翻译版本也有很多：

许渊冲译

A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day.

The mourner's heart is going to break on his way.

Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?

A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.

吴伟雄译

It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,

The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay.

When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time,

A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.

万昌盛、王僴中译

The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,

So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.

When asked where could be found at avern bower,

A cow boy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.

杨宪益、戴乃迭译

It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,

Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.

When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,

He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.

吴钧陶译

It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,

I travel with my heart lost in dismay.

"Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"

He points at Apricot Village faraway.

蔡廷干译

The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,

The men and women sadly move along the way.

They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest ----

And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.

孙大雨译

Upon theClear-and-Bright Feast of spring,the rain drizzleth down in spray.

Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.

When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to befound",

The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.

清明节是一个特殊的日子，在这一天生者为他们死去的亲朋献上敬意。(Tomb-Sweeping Day falls on April 4th or 5th. This is a special day for the living to show their love and respect for dead friends and relatives.)每逢清明时节，中国人会去扫墓祭祖，在祖先坟前献上祭品、鲜花，烧些纸钱。有的人还会写悼文，缅怀逝去的亲人。

说到 “纸钱”，英语中是怎么表述的呢?大家可能第一时间想到的就是 paper money。不过字面上它是 “纸钱” 的意思，实际上 paper money 的意思是 “纸质货币”，与 metal money(金属货币)相对应，不是烧给死者的纸钱噢!那么，烧给死者的 “纸钱” 怎么表达呢?可以用 joss paper 或 hell bank notes 表示。

除了传统的祭祀方式，近年来，“绿色祭扫” 逐渐成为人们扫墓的一种新趋势。不仅经济环保，还避免了烧纸钱等传统方式带来的火灾隐患。“绿色祭扫” 的方式有很多，如网上祭扫(online tomb-sweeping)和网络纪念馆(Internet memorial)等。

四

清明节 习俗

The Customs of Qingming Festival

Tomb Sweeping 扫墓

Cleaning the tombs and paying respect to the dead with offerings are the two important practices to remember late relatives. Weeds around the tomb are cleared away and fresh soil is added to show care for the dead. The dead person's favorite food, wine and chopsticks are offered on their tombs, along with paper money.

扫墓和献上供品对逝者表示敬意，是两种纪念逝去亲友的重要习俗。为表示对逝者的关怀，墓边的杂草被清除并盖上新鲜的土壤。逝者最喜欢的食物、酒和筷子连同纸钱一起被供奉在墓边。

Spring Outing踏青

Not only is it a day for commemorating the dead, but it is also a time for people to enjoy themselves.

这一天不仅是纪念死者的日子，也是人们享受生活的日子。

As trees turn green, flowers blossom, and the sun shines brightly, everything returns to life. It is a fine time to appreciate the beauty of nature. This custom can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period (770 – 476BC) and Warring States Period (475 – 221BC).

树木变绿，花儿绽放，阳光明媚，万物复苏。这是欣赏大自然之美的好时机。这个习俗可以追溯到春秋时期(公元前770 - 476年)和战国时期(公元前475 - 221年)。

Flying Kites 放风筝

Flying kites is also closely associated with the Qingming Festival.

放风筝也是和清明节密切联系的一项活动。

Spring outings not only add joy to life but also promote a healthy mind and body.

清明节外出踏青等活动不仅给生活增添了欢乐，也促进了身心的健康。

五

清明节 食俗

Green rice ball 青团

People in the Jiangnan region often eat this kind of green colored balls made from glutinous rice on Tomb Sweeping Day. The green color is from the juice of brome grass that is added in the rice.

江南地区的人们经常在清明节食用这种由糯米制成的绿色团子。由于糯米中混合雀麦草汁，所以团子呈绿色。

San zi 馓子

In both Northern and Southern China, it is a tradition to eat san zi, or fried dough twist, on Tomb Sweeping Day. The differences between san zi made by Northern and Southern people lie in sizes and materials. The former one is larger, often made from wheat and the latter is finer and made from rice.

在中国，无论是北方还是南方，都有清明食用馓子（通过油炸面粉制成）的传统。差别在于北方馓子以麦面为主料，体积较大；而南方馓子则以米面为主料，更为精细。

Thin pancake 薄饼

People in Xiamen in Fujian province often have thin pancakes on Tomb Sweeping Day. Dried seaweed, omelette, veggies and chili sauce are added in the pancakes to enhance the flavor.

福建厦门的人在清明节时常常食用薄煎饼。薄饼中加入紫菜、煎蛋、蔬菜和辣椒酱，会更加美味。

Cudweed herb rolls 清明果

The best time to pick fresh cudweed herb is around Tomb Sweeping Day. The herb is often added in veggie rolls or dumplings and consumed on the day. In South China, people add the wild plant also in steamed buns.

清明节前后，是采摘新鲜鼠曲草（清明草）的最佳时机。当天，人们会在蔬菜卷或饺子里加入鼠曲草当作馅料。在华南地区，人们还将这种野菜加在馒头里面。

六

清明节 词汇

day of sacrifice 祭祀节日

offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供

condolence 哀悼之情

hell note/joss paper 纸钱

funeral supplies/products 殡葬用品

funeral services 殡葬服务业

mortician 殡仪业者

burn incense 焚香

tomb-sweeping 扫墓

tomb sweeper 扫墓的人

kite flying 放风筝

spring outing 踏青

god's lantern 神灯

memorial tablet 纪念碑

willow branches inserted on each gate 门旁插柳

cremation urn 骨灰盒

mourning ceremony 哀悼仪式

inhumation 土葬

cremation 火葬

sea-burial 海葬

boat-coffin burial 船棺葬

tree burial 树葬

celestial burial 天葬

flower burials 花葬

filial piety 孝顺 孝心

Day of the Dead(亡灵节，墨西哥传统节日，人们通过守灵、上供等方式祭奠逝去的亲人。)

七

清明节 例句

为什么我们在清明节要扫墓啊?。

Why must we go and sweep the tomb on Tomb Sweeping Day?

清明节的时候，我们去为忠烈扫墓。

In early April, we went to sweep the martyrs' graves.

你清明节有放假吗?

Do you have holidays on Tomb Sweeping Festival?

清明节对中国人来说是一个很重要日子。

Tomb-sweeping day is an important day for Chinese.

写出了清明节的特殊气氛。

Write the tomb-sweeping day special atmosphere.

清明节我们放假三天。

We have three days free on Tomb-sweeping Day.

随着时间的推移，寒食也为清明节所替代。

Over time, Hanshi Day was replaced with tomb-sweeping day.

四月份的清明节期间，对原该县百姓开放。

It reopened to former residents during Qingming, or tomb-sweeping day, in April.

在这个追思逝者的清明节，人们却更多地感受到了生命的力量、生命的顽强，他们表达着来自同胞的关爱与对国家救援的赞赏。

In this Tomb Sweeping Day for memorizing the deceased, people nevertheless sensed more of the power of life and showed great concern to their compatriots and great compliment to our state’s rescue.

清明节是扫墓拜祭先人的日子。

The Qingming Festival in spring is the occasion for visiting ancestral graves.

据中国传统习俗，人们通常在清明节放风筝。

According to our traditions and customs, flying kites usually happen at the QingMing Festival.

重阳节登山和清明节扫墓等民俗应当被铭记，因为它们是中国文化遗产不可或缺的组成部分。

Folk customs like climbing a mountain during the Double Ninth Festival orcleaning the tombs during the Qingming Festival deserve to be remembered asthey are integral part of the Chinese heritage.

清明节是一个纪念祖先的节日。

Qing Ming is a time to remember the dead and the dearly departed.

随着中国人在一年一度的清明节期间祭祀先人，公墓及殡葬服务价格暴涨成为激起民愤的一个焦点问题。

As millions paused to honor their ancestors during the annual Tomb-Sweeping Festival, the increasing cost of cemetery plots and funerals has become a focusof national anger.

周一是中国传统的清明节，人们在这一天祭奠逝去的亡灵。

Monday was China's traditional "Tomb-Sweeping Day", when people mourn theirdead.

每年4月4-6日左右的清明节是传统的扫墓的日子。

Qingming Day, the traditional tomb-sweeping day, falls on April 4-6 each year.

随着清明节的到来，全国各地的人们都在怀念和哀悼逝去的亲友。

People around China commemorated deceased relatives and friends as theQingming Festival begins.

来源 | 英语教学、爱V高中英语

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