請將下面這段話翻譯成英文:
十二生肖
十二生肖(the twelve Chinese Zodiacs)是中國傳統(tǒng)文化的重要組成部分,它們源于自然界的11種動物和一個民族圖騰(totem)。十二生肖代表動物的性格特點各不相同。到了龍年或虎年,人們常說“生龍活虎”;馬年人們會說“馬到成功”;豬在中國人的眼里是“寶”的意思;牛是勤勞(diligence )的象征,這一點在魯迅的詩句“俯首甘為孺子?!敝杏兄昝赖捏w現(xiàn)。
參考翻譯:
The Twelve Chinese Zodiacs
The twelve Chinese Zodiacs, including eleven animals in the nature and a national totem, play an important role in the Chinese traditional culture. The twelve symbolic animals have their own characteristics. In the Year of Dragon or the Year of Tiger, people will say shenglonghuohu—full of vim and vigor; in the Year of Horse, people will say madaochenggong—to gain an immediate success. In Chinese eyes, pig is a “treasure”. Ox is a symbol of diligence, which is well presented in the verse by Lu Xun一an outstanding writer in China, “head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children”.
1.生龍活虎、馬到成功:中國成語在翻譯時可以先譯為拼音,再進一步解釋其內涵。“生龍活虎”即“精力充沛,活力四射”,可譯為vim and vigor; “馬到成功”即“快速獲得成功”可譯為gain an immediate success。
2.牛:生肖中的“?!庇胦x來表達,而不用如cattle, cow, bull等其他表示“?!?的詞。
3.俯首甘為孺子牛:可直譯為Head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children;或者根據(jù)其表達的“愿意為弱小服務的精神”譯為modesty combined with the spirit of willingly serving the young and weak。同時,譯文要簡略給出魯迅的身份,以使譯文內容更為周全。