中国特色词汇及其英译

宣纸rice paper

衙门yamen

叩头kowtow

孔子Confucius

牌楼pailou；pai-loo

武术wushu（Chinese Martial Arts）

功夫kungfu ；kung fu

中庸the way of medium （cf. Golden Means）

中和harmony (zhonghe)

孝顺to show filial obedience

孝子dutiful son

家长family head

三纲：君为臣纲，父为子纲，夫为妻纲three cardinal guides: ruler guides subject, father guides son, husband guides wife

五常：仁、义、理、智、信five constant virtues: benevolence (humanity), righteousness, propriety, wisdom and fidelity

八股文eight-legged essays

多子多福：The more sons/children, the more blessing/ great happiness

养儿防老：raising sons to support one in one's old age

The 24 Solar Terms:

立春Spring begins.

雨水The rains.

惊蛰Insects awaken.

春分Vernal Equinox

清明Clear and bright.

谷雨Grain rain.

立夏Summer begins.

小满Grain buds.

芒种Grain in ear.

夏至Summer solstice.

小暑Slight heat.

大暑Great heat.

立秋Autumn begins.

处暑Stopping the heat.

白露White dews.

秋分Autumn Equinox.

寒露Cold dews.

霜降Hoar-frost falls.

立冬Winter begins.

小雪Light snow.

大雪Heavy snow.

冬至Winter Solstice.

小寒Slight cold.

大寒Great cold

戏剧表演Theatrical Performances

京剧人物脸谱types of facial makeup in Beijing opera 生male characters

末middle-aged male characters

净“painted face” characters

旦female characters

丑clown

京剧票友amateur performer of Peking Opera

木偶戏puppet show

独角戏monodrama; one-man play

皮影戏shadow play; leather-silhouette show

折子戏opera highlights

戏剧小品skit

哑剧dumb show; mime; mummery; pantomime

单口相声monologue comic talk

双口相声witty dialogue

口技vocal imitations; ventriloquisim

说书monologue story-telling

杂技acrobatic performance

叠罗汉making a human pyramid

特技stunt

踩高跷stilt walk

马戏circus performances

神化人物Mythological Figures

八仙the Eight Immortals

嫦娥Chang’e (the Chinese moon godd ess)

伏羲Fu Xi (God of Fishery and Husbandry)

福禄寿三星the three gods of fortune, prosperity and longevity

共工God of Water

后羿Houyi (a legendary hero who shot down nine suns)

黄帝Yellow Emperor

夸父Kuafu (a fabled sun-chasing giant)

女娲Goddess of Sky-patching

盘古Pan Gu (creator of the universe)

神农Patron of Agriculture

禹Yu (the reputed founder of the Xia Dynasty)

祝融God of Fire

古代建筑Ancient Architecture

塔pagoda

琉璃塔glazed stupa

舍利塔dagoba; sarira stupa (a pagoda for Buddhist relics)

舍利子sarira remains from cremation of Buddha’s or saints’ body 喇嘛塔Lamaist pagoda

楼storied buildings

钟楼bell tower

鼓楼drum tower

阁pavilion

烽火台beacon tower