中国新年禁忌（二）

Taboos of Chinese New Year （2）

The events that occurred during New Year's Day may impact your life for the rest of the year. Be careful in your actions. Certain precautions （预防）are taken to insure that the New Year will be a good one.

在新年发生的事件可能会影响你一年中的生活。行动谨慎些。采取一些预防来确保新年万事如意。

1. The entire house should be cleaned before New Year's Day. On New Year's Eve， all brooms，brushes，dusters，dustpans （簸箕）and other cleaning equipment are put away. Sweeping or dusting should not be done on New Year's Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. After New Year's Day， the floors may be swept. At no time should the rubbish in the corners be trampled upon.

在新年到来之前应该把整个房子清扫一下。除夕夜那天，把所有的扫帚，刷子，抹布，簸箕和其它清扫工具收起来。新年那天禁止做任何打扫工作以便留住好运。新年过后，可以擦地板。任何时候都不能踩角落的垃圾。

In sweeping，there is a superstition（迷信）that if you sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family；it must always be swept inwards and then carried out，then no harm will follow. All dirt and rubbish must be taken out the back door.

在打扫过程中有一个迷信说法，如果你从前门第一个门口清扫垃圾会把家里的好运赶走，因此必须向里扫然后席卷进行，那样就不会破坏好运了。从后门把所有的污垢和垃圾运出。

2. Shooting off firecrackers on New Year's Eve is the Chinese way of sending out the old year and welcoming in the new.

在除夕夜放鞭炮是中国欢送旧年，迎接新年的出啊弄方式。

On the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve， every door in the house，and even windows， have to be open to allow the old year to go out.

准时地在除夕的午夜，必须打开房间里的每一个门，甚至窗户欢送旧年。

3. Nothing should be lent on New Year's Day，as anyone who does so will be lending all the year. All debts have to be paid by New Year's Eve.

在新年那天不要借给别人钱或者贷款，如果谁这样做会一年都会这样。新年之前必须付清所有债务。

4. Everyone should refrain from using foul（污秽）language and bad or unlucky words. Negative terms and the word "four"， or "si" in Chinese which sounds like the word for death，are not to be uttered.Death and dying are never mentioned and ghost stories are totally taboo.

每个人都应该禁止使用污秽的语言和不吉利的词汇。否定性词汇以及‘4’这个数字在汉语中听着像死的谐音，所以不要说出来。死和鬼故事是决不能提的，完全禁忌。

5. Hair must be cleaned and set prior（先前的） to the holiday，for to do so during the New Year season would invite financial ruin. On New Year's Day，hair should not be washed because it would mean washing away good luck for the New Year.

在节日前必须把头发洗了，因为在新年时候做这件事可能会带来经济损失。新年那天不应该洗头，因为洗头意味着冲洗了新年的好运。

6. Care must be taken not to break any dishes or other things on the first day of the year.

新年第一天小心点不要打碎任何碟子和其它东西。

7. The use of knives and scissors（剪子） —— indeed any sharp instrument —— is to be avoided，for these things could augur（算命） bad luck in the coming year.

避免使用小刀和剪子等任何尖的工具，因为这些东西预示着来年的坏运气。

8. Wear brand new clothes —— preferably in red. Children should wear new clothes and new shoes. Red is considered a bright，happy color，sure to bring the wearer a sunny and bright future. It is believed that appearance and attitude during New Year's sets the tone for the rest of the year.

穿上崭新的衣服-，红色的衣服更好些。小孩们应该穿上新衣服和新鞋。红色被看作是明朗活泼快乐的颜色，一定会带给佩戴者非常美好的未来。据说新年的装束和态度为这一年其余时间定下了基调。

 （听力课堂网Vicky翻译）

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