為了讓人們更好地記住年份，我們的祖先用12只動物來代表年份。即“十二生肖”(Chinese Zodiac)。每一年由一種動物代表，每隔12年進行一個循環(huán)，從鼠開始，以豬為結(jié)尾。每一種動物還有其獨特的文化內(nèi)涵 (cultural connotation}。例如，牛年出生的人據(jù)說“勤奮、冷靜、可靠”，虎年出生的人則“強大、勇敢、但又急躁”。十二生肖在亞洲的其他國家，如韓國和日本也很流行。

　　1.第1句中的“為了讓人們更好地記住年份”，如果直譯成in order to make people remember the years more easily。表達不夠地道，有中國式英語的感覺�！白屓藗儭笔菨h語中約定俗成的表達，翻譯時可“省譯”，此處表達為to order to remember即可�！凹础�十二生肖’”可緊跟上文，用which引導(dǎo)的非限制性定語從句來表達。

　　2.第2句中的“每隔12年進行一個循環(huán)”可以用every 12 years comes in a circle表達，主語every 12 years為整體念的單數(shù)名詞。“從鼠開始，以豬為結(jié)尾”用現(xiàn)在分詞短語beginning with Rat and ending with Pig來表達，作“循環(huán)”的后置定語。

　　3.第4句中的“牛年出生的”宜處理成后置定語，用分詞短語born in the Year of Ox來表達�！皳�(jù)說……”譯為 is said to...。

　　4.翻譯最后一句時，先譯出主干(The Chinese Zodiac remains popular)。地點狀語“在亞洲的其他國家”用介詞短語 in other Asian countries 來表達。

　　參考譯文：

　　In order to remember the years more easily, our ancestors used twelve animals to represent the years, which is called the "Chinese Zodiac". Every year is represented by an animal and every 12 years comes in a circle beginning with Rat and ending with Pig. Each animal has its unique cultural connotations. For example, a person born in the Year of Ox is said to be hardworking, calm, and reliable, while the person born in the Year of Tiger is powerful, brave, and impatient. The Chinese Zodiac remains popular as well in other Asian countries, such as Korea and Japan.