英語早間課堂:跟老外聊春節(jié) 貼春聯（二）

短文回顧：The Spring Couplet, also called “couplet” or“a pair of antithetical phrases” is a special form of literature in China. The Spring Couplet is composed of two antithetical sentences on both sides of the door and a horizontal scroll bearing an inscription, usually an auspicious phrase above the gate. The sentence pasted on the right side of the door is called the first line of the couplet and the one on the left the second line. On the eve of the Spring Festival, every household will paste up on doors a spring couplet written on red paper to give a happy and prosperous atmosphere of the Festival. In the past, the Chinese usually wrote their own spring couplet with a brush or asked others to do for them, while nowadays, it is common for people to buy the printed spring couplet in the market. What's more , spring couplets which express good wishes is one of the house decorations. They are usually posted in pairs because even numbers are connected with good luck and auspiciousness in Chinese culture.

1. antithetical [?ænti'θetik?l] adj.對偶的, 對立的

Eg . Antithetical couplet is a kind of traditional literature form, which has a long history. 對聯是一種傳統(tǒng)的文學形式，有著悠久的歷史淵源。

2. horizontal [?h?ri'z?ntl] adj.水平的, 橫的

Eg . The vertical line meets the horizontal one here. 垂直線與水平線在此相交。

3. scroll [skr?ul] n.(供書寫用的)羊皮紙卷, 紙卷. 畫卷

Eg . My friend was much pleased with my explanation and left for home with the scroll. 我的朋友對我的解釋非常的高興，拿著畫卷就離開回家了。

4. inscription [in?skrip??n] n.銘文，碑文，題字

Eg . The ring bears an inscription. 這個戒指上刻有字。The inscription on the coin had worn away. 鑄造在硬幣上的文字已經磨損。

5. auspicious [?:'spi??s] adj.吉利的, 幸運的

Eg . The publication of my first book was an auspicious beginning of my career. 我的第一本書的出版是我事業(yè)吉祥的開始。I' m pleased that you' ve made such an auspicious start to the new term. 你新學期開門紅使我很高興.

6. prosperous ['pr?sp?r?s] adj.繁榮的, 興旺的

Eg . The city at one time must have been prosperous for it enjoyed a high level of civilization. 這座古城在一個時期準是很繁榮的，因為它曾享有高度文明。At no time has the country been more prosperous than at present. 我國任何時候都沒有現在這樣繁榮。

7. atmosphere ['ætm?sfi?]

Eg . There is an atmosphere of peace and calm in the country, quite different from the atmosphere of a big city. 在鄉(xiāng)間有一種和平寧靜的氣氛，和大城市的氣氛截然不同。The people are in a festal atmosphere. 各族人民都沉浸在節(jié)日的氣氛之中。

8. paste [peist] 裱糊,粘貼

用法(1)~ sth (on) to sth; ~ sth on (sth) 用漿糊把......貼在......上面

Eg. She pasted posters onto the wall. 她把海報貼在墻上了

用法(2)~ A and B together 用漿糊把......粘在一起

Eg .My naughty nephew pasted pieces of paper together. 我那淘氣的侄兒把紙粘在一起了。

9. bear 顯示(某事物); 明顯地帶有

Eg. The ring bears an inscription.這個戒指上刻有字. I saw a tombstone bearing the date 1602. 我見到一塊刻有1602年字樣的墓碑。He was badly wounded in the war and still bears the scars. 他在戰(zhàn)爭中受了重傷, 現在仍有傷疤.