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【Seasons of China】 英语笔记 EP09-16

2023-08-12 15:32 作者:A-marantine  | 我要投稿


EP09 - Grain in Ear 芒种 

plum 李子,梅子

commence 开始发生,发生,着手

reap 收割(庄稼),收获;取得(成果),收获

thresh 脱粒

winnow 扬谷

supervise 监督,管理,指导,主管

adjudicate (比赛中)裁判;判决(争执等)

depot 粮仓;(大宗物品的)贮藏处,仓库

gadget 小器具;小装置

mildew 霉菌

clockwork 可预测的,有规律的;重复的;装有发条的(机械装置)

ingenious (物体、计划、思想等)精巧的,新颖独特的,巧妙的;(人)心灵手巧的,机敏的

mechanized 机械化的


white-collar worker 都市白领

quality inspector 质检员

steamed bun/mantou 馒头

the best hand at the job 一把好手

crown a champion 评选冠军

sniff at 嗤之以鼻

lay down 制定,规定;铺设;放下


Rice transplanting 插秧

Offering sacrifices to the Flower God 祭花神

Harvesting the wheat 收麦

the plains of the Yellow River 黄河流域

four distinct seasons 四季分明

plenty of sunshine 光照充足

loads of rain 雨量充沛

grain production might 粮食产量

closeness and respect for nature 对大自然的亲近与尊重

the Agriculture Bureau 农业局

opening up 改革开放


Known to farmers, as the 'busy planting' peroid, each year when Mangzhong falls, you can bet that it's gping to rain. So farmers are racing to bring in the harvest before the rains come and plant seeds for the next season to safeguard future harvests.

对于中国的农民们来说,芒种意味着忙着种。每年到了芒种的时节,都会迎来降雨。农民必须赶在天门打开之前,收获已成熟的小麦并及时播种下一季的种子,以保证日后的丰收。


In years gone by, every single stalk of wheat was harvested manually.

在过去,每一株小麦都需要手动收割。


As the saying goes that in Spring you can count in days, but in summer you have to count in hours.

俗话说春种日,夏种时,过了芒种争回耧。


In the early 19th century,  a British agriculturalist wrote an investigative report in which he praised farmers of the East for their craft at using the land.

在十九世纪初,一位英国农学家写的调查报告中认为,东方农民对土地的利用达到艺术级。


In ancient times, before technology was applied to farming, this success must have had a lot to do with Chinese farmers' acute sense of timing.

在科技尚不发达的年代,这无疑与中国农民对时间认知的精细程度有关。


As Old Ma said, scientific cultivation and better field management have increased the wheat yield considerably. Mechanized harvesting has meant the Mangzhong is way easier than it was, which has led to some very enterprising locals to seek new business opportunities.

正如老麻所说,科学的育种、栽培和田间管理使得小麦的产量和过去相比大幅提高。机械收割使得芒种时节的工作比以前轻松了许多,于是有一群当地的农民看出了其中的商机。


With the blessings on traditional culture and following the development of the times, science and technology have become all important.

在传统文化的加持下,随着时代的发展,科学技术变得越来越重要。


Jingjie, used as a herbal medicine has a fragrant and strong smell. It can only be eaten around the time of Mangzhong. It grows no matter the soil or climate and is just as hardy as wheat.

荆芥,中国人用它入药,气味香浓,只有在芒种时节才可以吃。它的生长几乎不挑土壤气候,习性与小麦一样顽强。


Since opening up its economy 40 years ago, China has completely transformed. In Xiangcheng, far from China's big cities, you can feel there is a huge in the air. Improved crop varieties and scientific planting methods have increased the amount of food on the table and cash in the farmers' hands.

改革开放40年后,中国发生了巨变。在项城,这个远离中国大都市的村镇,你可以明显感受到这种变化,优良的品种和科学的种植,不仅提高了作物的产量,也让农民有了更多的收入。


Everything here is constantly changing. Only the same time something has not changed: nature carries on regardless.

这里的一切都在不停地变化着,只有一样始终未变:就是大自然的延续。



EP - 10 Summer Solstice 夏至

hemisphere (地球的、大脑的、球体的)半球

latitude 纬度,纬度地区;选择(做什么事或做事方式)的自由

Northern Lights 北极光

Hericium erinaceus 猴头菇

chaga 桦树茸

northernmost 最北的

birch 白桦树

cold-tolerant 极其耐寒

lighter 打火机

match 火柴

stretch (连续的)一段时间;(土地/水域)一片,一鸿,一段;(身体)伸展,舒展

patrol 巡逻,巡查

budding 开始发展的,崭露头角的,萌芽的,发育期的

vendor 小贩,摊贩;(某种产品的)销售公司;(房屋等)卖主

hawk 鹰,隼;鹰派分子

erect 垂直的,竖直的,直立的;建造,建立,搭起,创立

utterly 完全地,彻底地


stack up 堆积,累计

far off 遥远的,远方的

Long-life noodles / noodles for health and longevity 长寿面

staple diet 家常便饭;主要食物

board and keep 食宿

cold water fish 冷水鱼


As far back as the 7th century BC, the Chinese measured shadows to calculate the length of the days and nights. The longest day was set as the Summer Solstice, the shortest day the Winter Solstice. The 24 solar terms branched out from these two known points.

早在公元前七世纪,古代中国人就通过丈量日影的长短计算昼夜的时长。将日照时间最长的一天定惟夏至,最短的一天定为冬至。二十四节气由此延展开来。


…… fate is on our side

咱俩挺有缘的


The commercial zone might not have the bustle of a big city but it's certainly unique.

虽说这里的商业中心不及发达城市的热闹,却独具特色。


The Summer Solstice is the best time to appreciate this far off forest land.

每一年夏至也是欣赏白桦林的最好时节。


So over Summer Solstice you can earn a pretty decent sum of money.

所以说通过夏至你们还能挣到大钱。


Mr. Yang and other guides do well out of the Summer Solstice. With the groups of visitors come the added risk of forest fire. All these long nights mean plenty of sunshine. The dry Summer Solstice means people here are under the constant threats of fires. 

夏至是老杨这样的导游最挣钱的季节,同时也是森林消防最紧张的阶段。漫长的白昼带来充足的光照,干燥的夏至正是森林火险的高发时段


The forest we pass along the way is probably China's most fire-prone area, which means there are fire stations every few hundred metres.

我们沿途经过的林区很可能是中国最易发生火灾的地区,每经过数百米便会遇到防火盆。


How long do you work in one stretch ?

那你多长时间(回一次家)?


When the Summer Solstice comes, the swelling number of hotel guests demand more and more fish.

每年随着夏至的到来哥哥旅店的客人多了。


Fishing, preparing the fish and drying it, this is the ancestral craft of the locals here and gievs tourists like me a tasty glimpse into village life.

捕鱼,处理,晾晒,这是村里人祖传的手艺,也是游客们难得品尝到的原始风味的美食。


The lightest of cooking methods make the most of the delicate river fish flavour.

最简单的料理方法,烹调出江鱼最鲜香的滋味。


Just as the Summer Solstice has transformed the Beihong village, the 24 solar terms have not jukst guided Chinese cultivation since ancient times, but have also changed the lives of people in our village. From this day onwards, sunlight hours will start to decrease. But as the earth heats up, the hottest days of summer are upon us. 

正如夏至改变了北红村,二十四节气也改变着现代人的生活。今天过后,日照时间将逐渐减短,但随着地表热量的累积,炎炎夏日,即将到来。



EP11 - Lesser Heat 小暑

taut 拉紧的,绷紧的;肌肉结实的,不虚胖的;显得紧张的(或焦虑、不安);结构严谨的,紧凑的

fortnight 两周/半个月

plumule 植物胚芽

impetuous 冲动的,鲁莽的,性急的,急躁的

heyday 全盛期;最为强大(或成功、繁荣)的时期

indulgent 纵容的,放纵的;宽容的,过于宽厚的 / 富足的

sultry 闷热的

haughty 傲慢的;高傲自大的

murky 浑浊的,污浊的;昏暗的,阴暗的,朦胧的;隐晦的,含糊的,暧昧可疑的


lotus root 莲藕

on tap 可随时使用

a source of immense feeling 灵感源泉

migrant workers 外来务工者

shaded path 浓荫

cool off 避暑纳凉

flower arrangement 插花

lotus seedpod 莲蓬

let your mind float away 让思绪漂浮

full of life 很有灵气;充满生机


The lotus only blooms in the blazing sun and a heat wave. It has such specific climatic needs that the Chinese call it the floral God of summer. 

荷花只会在烈日和热浪的沐浴下盛开。因为这种对气候的特定要求,荷花成为小暑节气的花神。


It preserves the natural and cultural environment very well.

因为它把自然环境和人文环境保留得很好。


It's a form of power that is not just simple and nice to look at, but also energizing fro the soul.

当一朵荷花破水而出的时候,它所给予我们的那种力量绝对不是简单的悦目,它是对心灵的一种启迪。

 

How should I address you?

怎么称呼您?


The West Lake sees this many turn up every single day.

此时的西湖每天都能为杭州吸引众多的游客。


They think that when the weather is hot, your blood vessels are expanding. So if you drink a lot of ice water, the blood vessels will contract, which is not good for your health. Drinking hot water can keep your blood circulating well and will make you sweat, which is better for cooling the body in the long run. 

他们认为天气炎热时,人体血管处于扩张状态,如果大量饮用冰水,会造成血管迅速收缩,不利于身体健康。喝热水可以加快身体血液循环,促使汗液排出,更利于身体散热。


……being calm and keeping a cool mind / a calm heart keeps you cool

心静自然凉


In summer, people tend to be more impetuous,  and to counter this we need to give our emotions a chance to stabilize. 

夏天的时候人比较容易浮躁,在浮躁的过程中要让自己的情绪稳定下来。


There is an old saying that still waters run deep.

宁静以致远。


In the heyday of the cultural and artistic life, Hangzhou was at the heart of everything. Mr. Han and Mrs. Huang have inherited that era of artistic endeavor. 

在那段文化艺术发展的鼎盛时期,杭州尤为中心。韩璐和黄清源正是那个时代艺术的传承人。 


The city is growing fast and modernizing at a crazy pace. Although the urban rhythm has sped up, it's reassuring that people still like to gather on a sultry summer night by the calm expanse of the lakeside.

这座城市飞速地实现现代化发展,虽然城市的节奏已急剧加快,但这里的人们仍然喜欢在闷热的夜晚聚集在市中心的湖边休闲。

 

Whether in Asia or Western countries,all that matters is that whether and artist grasps the essence or the emotion of artistic creation or not. 

无论是东方人也好西方人也好,在艺术创作的过程中都可以是一种气息的把握。


Lotuses and lotus leaves or the lotus leaves and lotus seedpods. The charm when they all interwave together. We may draw the interactive relationship between the lotus and the reflection in the water.

荷花和荷叶或者是荷叶和莲蓬交织在一起的韵味。水中的倒影跟它产生的一种互动的关系。


The proud and haughty attitude of the lotus. We can represent the lotus as the modest gentleman of the water.

这种高冷高傲的姿态。把它这种水中谦谦君子的这种氛围表现出来。


The lotus comes out of teh mud but it's  not stained by it. Washed clean of the murky depths it leaves behind. This miraculous process of growth makes the lotus a symbol of integrity and innocence. 

荷花出淤泥而不染,濯清涟而不妖。这奇迹般的生长过程使荷花成为正直与纯真的象征。


I came to immered in the beauty of the lotus.

我浸淫沉醉于荷花的美丽。



EP12 - Great Heat 大暑

paddy  稻田,水田

maginture 巨大,重大,重要性;震级

furnace 熔炉,火炉

terrain 地形,地势,地带

disperse 分散,驱散,疏散;散步,散发,传播

sizzling 酷热的;热烈的,激情迸发的

magalopolis 现代大都市

wield 挥,操,使用(武器、工具等);拥有,运用,行使,支配(权力等)

porter (尤指火车站、机场或旅馆)行李员,搬运工;(医院)护工;门卫,门房

rinse (用清水)冲洗,洗刷;冲掉(皂液),漂洗,洗

relentless 不停的,不放弃的;持续强烈的,不减弱的;苛刻的,无情的

refurbish 再装修,清理装修

inquisitiveness 好奇心,求知欲

trickle (使)流,淌;慢慢走,缓慢移动

frantic 手忙脚乱的,紧张忙乱的

unwavering 不动摇的,坚定的;始终如一的

wing-room 厢房

suspend 悬,挂,吊;暂停,中止;延缓,暂缓,推迟


crops of the warm season 喜温作物

stilt house 吊脚楼

inland trade ports 内陆河运港口

household appliances 家具电器

cool off 纳凉

air raid shelters防空洞

Stairway of Love 爱情天梯

prop up 支撑,支持

counteract the dampeness祛湿

boat tracker 纤夫


Surrounded by mountains on all sides, its terrain makes it very difficult for heat to disperse. And  as a result, the summers here are both incredibly long and intense. 

四周山丘起伏,这样的地形使得热量不易散发,因此这里的夏季炎热且漫长。


At the arrival of the Great Heat solar term, the entire city turns into a steaming and sizzling sauna.

一到大暑时节,整座城市就像蒸桑拿一样闷热无比。


And all that has come from the hard work and seat and determination of the incredible people of Chongqing. 

这都来自于重庆的人的努力,汗水和决心。


As the entire city is built on mountainous terrain, leaving the house often means climbing hills. Trade products and ordinary household merchandise all require a considerable amount of labour to carry. And with this, the "Bangbang", wielding a meter-long bamboo shoulder pole wascreated.

然而由于整座城市依山而建,一出门就需要爬坡,所以港口货物和居民的日常生活用品,都需要大量的劳力搬运,于是诞生了这些肩扛一米竹棍的”棒棒“诞生了。


Relying on a bamboo pole for a living is a hard life, but it is also genuinely liberating. And it reflects the wild and unyielding character of the Chongqing people. 

凭一根竹棍谋求全家生活,虽艰辛,却脚踏实地而自由自在。这是重庆人骨子里独有的桀骜。


Thin noodles are rinsed under cold water after boiling, then mixed with vegetables oil and left to cool a bit more. Before eating, ginger and garlic sauce are added with Sichuan pepper oil. It looks simple, but it's spicy, cold and refreshing.

细细的面条煮熟过后过凉白开,拌上植物油再晾凉。吃的时候加上姜蒜水和花椒油。看起来朴素,吃起来却麻辣鲜香,冰凉爽口。 


I‘m really looking forward to getting an iced coffee, and sneaking away to somewhere with air conditioning. 

我真的恨不得赶紧买杯冰咖啡,找个空调房间躲起来。


Because of my inquisitiveness as well as wanting to escape from the burning heat of the city, Professor Ouyang offered to take me to a historical town an hour away from the city center.

为了满足我的好奇心,也避一避城市里钢筋水泥间的酷暑,欧阳教授带我来到距市中心一小时车程以外的郊外。


It is perhaps the most romantic image of the persistence and unwavering character of the Chongqing people. 

也许是对重庆人的执着和顽强最浪漫的诠释。


Its unique geography and climate have pushed architects to the limits of imagination. Combining architecture with the natural environment, they have created a truly unique Chongqing-style of architecture.

独特的地形和气候赋予建筑师们无限的遐想。他们将建筑与自然融为一体,塑造出了重庆独特的建筑个性。


WIth hotpot mouthwatering chillies and soup steaming up in the air, all in the lively company of friends around me. I could the beads of sweat trickling down my skin.

辣椒不断刺激着口腔中的味蕾,汤底散发出阵阵热气,朋友之间涌动着无限热情,衬衫下,我早已大汗淋漓。


The frantic buzz of day fades away.

一天的燥热随之褪去。


Millenniums have passed by, our environment and lifestyles have experienced incredible transformations. But what has remained unchanged,  is the continuous turning of the solar terms and the determination of human kind throughout hundreds of thousands of years. 

光阴流转,人们的生活环境与方式发生了巨大的变化。但始终未变的是节气的轮回和人类千万年来适应自然,与之共舞的决心和奋勉。



EP13  Beginning of Autumn 立秋 

beckon 招手示意,举手召唤;吸引,诱惑;很可能发生(或出现)

longan 龙眼

daunting 看上去棘手的,使人畏惧的

chirp (虫)叽喳地叫

archaic 古体的,已不通用的;早已过时的,陈旧的;古代的,早期

swarm 大群(蜜蜂等昆虫);一大群,一大批(同向移动的人);成群地来回移动/飞来飞去

turnover 交易额,交易额;人事变更率,货物周转率

pictogram 象形字

cranium 脑盖

crouch 蹲,蹲下,蹲伏

stall 货摊,摊位,售货亭;牲畜棚,马厩,牛棚;(房间内的)小隔间,沐浴室

congregate 群聚,聚集

agate 玛瑙

rosewood 红木

whisker 鼠须

polygamous 多配偶制

physique 体格,体形

handler(蛐蛐)斗师

flamboyant (人或行为)炫耀的,卖弄的;艳丽的,绚丽夺目的

clench (表示愤怒、决心、不安时)捏紧,攥紧(拳头),咬紧(牙齿);握紧,抓牢

stomp 迈着重重的步子走(或移动、跳舞)

bestow (将…)给予,授予,献给


spring out 跳出,冲出,突然冒出

cricket-fighting 斗蛐蛐

folding stools 简易马扎

state-owned enterprise 国企


As the hot summer recedes and the cool autumn beckons,crops are approaching their harvest. Farmers gather together, dancing and singing, celebrating the seasonable weather and the coming rich harvest.

暑去凉来,作物即将迎来收获,农人们歌舞狂欢,齐聚一堂,恭祝风调雨顺,五谷丰登。


But to pick out the exceptional from the ordinary is daunting task.

但千军易得,一将难求。


This is the traditional labour division system adopted by the cricket-catching families of Ningjin County.

这是宁津捕虫人家历来不变的家庭分工合作制度。


The chirping of crickets echoes endlessly day and night, cricket-fighting enthusiasts across China gather independently in Ningjin during this season, each searching for the cricket-king in their own image.

蛐蛐儿日以继夜,鸣声不断,而来自中国各地的玩虫人,也都在立秋时节不约而同地聚集在宁津,寻找各自心中那只虫王。


Placed neatly in front of every stall are rows of cricket-pots. Scattered around are a few simple folding stools waiting for customers to stop by.

每个人面前都整齐地排放着蛐蛐罐。周围散落着几把简易马扎,等着客户上门。


The crickets that spring out during Liqiu are literally pieces of gold from the ground.

这些立秋蹦出的蛐蛐儿简直是从土地里冒出的真金白银。


Historically, Chinese writing originated from pictograms, and the word for autumn is represented by a drawing of two crickets.

中国历史上的文字都是象形字,“秋”这个字就是用蟋蟀来表示的,就是画的两蛐蛐儿。


……warm in the winter, and cool in the summer

冬暖夏凉


Every year around Liqiu, these people pur their energy, wits, and fortunes into this tiny insects, with only a hundred-day lifespan, aspring to master the art of victory through it. 

每年立秋前后,他们都会将自己的体力,脑力,财力,倾注在这些生命只有百天的虫子身上,希望借此驾驭战斗的法门。


Each of these crickets has their own perosonalities. Some are clever and adaptable, others stubborn and refuse to give up. After a few rounds of fighting, the losing side retreats, while the winning cricket shows off flamboyantly. 

这些蛐蛐儿各有性格,有的机敏矫健,有的坚忍不屈。几经交锋,败的退却,胜的张翅长鸣。 


Since the beginning of the cricket handler's search during Liqiu, all their enduring efforts now rest in the balance of a single bite. Some clench their fists and stomp their feet in anger, while others laugh and grin with pride and joy. 

养虫人自从立秋收虫以来所有的付出,也都在这一咬间定出胜负。有的捶胸顿足,有的喜笑颜开。


Perhaps this little creature was merely a chance discovery stumbled upon by the anchient Chinese during their busy autumn harvests. Or you could say that it is a delightful gift bestowed upon us by Liqiu-the Beginning of Autumn.

也许它只是中国古人在立秋时节忙碌于田间的一次偶然发现,或者说是节气馈赠给我们的立秋时节的一份可爱礼物。 



EP 14 End of Heat 处暑 

tint 浅色,淡色;色调;染发剂,染发;为……轻微染色;给……略微着色

indigo 靛蓝

shawl 披肩,襁褓

solution 溶液;溶解(过程);答案,解,谜底;解决办法,处理手段

ferment (使)发酵;(政治或社会上的)动乱,骚动,纷扰

paste 面团;糨糊;粘贴,黏合,拼贴

template 样板,模板,型板,标准

oxidation氧化作用

hippy/hippie 嬉皮士

stroll 散步,溜达,闲逛


floating river lanterns 放河灯

Ghost Festival 中元节

Bai minority/people  白族

Neolithic Era 新石器时代

indigo plant 板蓝根

tie-dyeing 扎染

ward off evils 辟邪


This is the best harvest season for thr farmland, and it's also a time for ginving thanks for blessing received, and a season for remembering the departed. 

这是农田间的丰收季,也是感激上天馈赠,纪念故人的季节。


While most of China is changing from the lush greens of summer to the golden tints of autumn. Here, the indigo plant has matured and people come out to greet its fields of blue.

当中国大部分地区都在发生变化,夏日的青绿色调也慢慢过渡到了秋日的金黄,这里,因为板蓝根的成熟,成了一片蓝色的海洋。


The indigo plant is known in Traditional Chinese Medicine for being good for preventing colds.

板蓝根是中国人熟知的一种中药材,可以预防感冒。


White is auspicious for the Bai and blue symbolizes simplicity and sincerity. So, the blue nad white of an indigo tie-dye represents what is pure, open and correct. This is how the Bai look at colors. 

白色代表吉祥,蓝色则象征纯朴和真挚,板蓝根染出的蓝与白表示清清白白,光明磊落,这是白族人对颜色的独特感悟。


In 2015, Duan Shukun converted an old tie-dye factory into the first museum dedicated to Bai tie-dyeing in China.

2015年,段树坤改造了一家旧的扎染厂并将其修建为中国第一家白族扎染博物馆。


Every "End of Heat" solar term, after harvesting and picking indigo leaves, the mature stems and leaves are collected in a pine container mixed with water and lime and soacked. They slowly ferment into a blue-green solution, leaving a sediment behind. After the water evaporates, the tie-dye paste is ready and the artistic journey begins. 

每年处暑,经过收割挑拣的成熟板蓝根茎叶被置于松木缸内,与水、石灰一起,经过浸泡、搅拌、发酵,形成蓝绿色的溶液,再随着时间一天天沉积。待水分蒸发,染泥就准备好了,扎染制作的艺术之旅正式开始。


The charm of tie-dyeing lies in the natural contrast between blue and white. It is precisely the loseness or tightness of the stitching that influences the variety making every piece unique. 

扎染的韵味在于蓝白二色之间的自然过渡,正是由于扎花时针法有松紧,浸染时程度不一,因此染出的每块花布都是独一无二的。


The sweat and hard work of craftspeople bring the craft to life. And the blue borrowed from nature, becomes real with the indigo harvest of the "End of Heat" solar term. This is a blue that the Bai people have no intention of washing off.

手艺人的劳作和汗水赋予物以生命的力量。而那一抹蓝,则是从自然里借来的颜色,带着处暑里那片板蓝根叶的灵魂。这抹蓝将永远流动在白族人的血脉中。



EP 15 White Dew 白露

savor 尽情炫耀;品尝;欣赏;有……的滋味;带有……的性质
reminisce 回忆,追忆,缅怀(昔日的快乐时光)
foliage (植物的)叶,枝叶
commence  开始,着手
makeshift  临时替代的,权益的
tinge (轻微地)给……着色,给……染色;使带有感情;微量,少许,一丝,几分(颜色、感情或性质)
plump 丰腴的,微胖的;松软的,丰满的;饱满的
beckon 招手示意,举手召唤
jagged 凹凸不平的,有尖突的,锯齿状的
lava 熔岩,岩浆
cormorant 鸬鹚
raft 木排,筏;橡皮艇;大量,许多
hibernation 冬眠,蛰居
beak 鸟喙
hemp 麻类植物;麻绳
mannerism 习性,言谈举止;(绘画、写作中)过分的独特风格
attire 服装,衣服
undertaking (重大或艰巨的)任务,项目,事业,企业;承诺,保证,许诺

Karst lanforms 喀斯特(岩溶)地貌
migratory birds 候鸟
ethnic minorities 少数民族
Ghost Festival 中元节
Floating River Lantern ceremony 放河灯仪式
the art of comorant fishing 鸬鹚捕鱼技艺

Temperatures begin to cool, and migratory birds set off on their southward journeys. It's time for savoring the autnmn scenery, and for those far from their families reminiscing memories of home.
气温渐凉,候鸟开始南迁。这是出门赏秋的时节,也是游子思乡的季节。

As the early hours of dawn, if you look closely enough, you can see dewdrops on foliage start to crystalize.
清晨时分,如果细心观察,你会发现草木上露珠开始凝结。

This peculiar natural environment combined with a diverse array of cultures has made everything about this place seem extaordinary.
特别的自然环境和多样的文化氛围,让这里的一切都显得与众不同。

Human societies hold family relatives and ancestors close at heart.
对人类而言,先祖和亲人是非常重要的存在

Every year, during the Ghost Festival, the people of Guilin perform a "Floating River Lantern ceremony" in which the deceased are remembered and whilst the living are blessed.
每年中元节,广西桂林地区的人们会举行放河灯仪式,用以祭祀逝者并为生者祈福。

……born and bred here
土生土长的

Truth be told, these River Lanterns are not particularly elegant,  yet they have soul and they are truly beautiful.
说实话,这些河灯看起来并不能说是精致,却格外接地气。

From bamboo designs to paper -pasting and coloring, every step requires meticulous handing.
从给竹子定型,到糊纸上色,每一步骤都需要靠手仔细把握。

The glowing lanterns set carefully onto the water, sail downstream. Hopes of a lasting river current carry the prayers and memories of loves ones far and beyond.
点燃的河灯被虔诚的双手放入水中,顺水漂流,以祈祷长流不息的江河之水送去对亲人的追思和缅怀。

Entrusted with hopes and promises the lanterns float onwards. And as they depart from our sight, the harvest season of crops beckons, marking the beginning of the busy farming season.
当这些寄托着美好愿望的河灯顺流而下,最终消失在视线中时,田间的庄稼将迎来收获,预示着农忙的开始。

The mountains and waters of Guilin are the finest of all.
桂林山水甲天下。

The mountains refer to these jagged lava forms, the waters point to the Lijiang River.
山,就是这些嶙峋的熔岩山, 水,就是这条漓江。

To be honest, manipulating birds to catch fish can seem cruel. Fishermen tie a thin hemp string around the birds' neck to prevent them from swallowing fish.
老实说,利用鸬鹚捕鱼看起来会有些残忍。渔民通常用一根细麻绳绑紧鸬鹚的脖子以防它们私吞猎物。

A bamboo raft sits on the magnificent rivers, human and bird working together living by fishing.
宽阔的江面上一条竹筏,人鸟配合,捕鱼为生。

Yet, we must recognize that times are changing. Some traditions are inevitably fading away, whilst others, under our persistent efforts, endeavor to remain in their original forms.
但我们必须看到时代在改变,有些传统在不可避免地消亡,有些传统则在人们的坚持下,努力维系着原本的样貌。

……is solely bound together by affection
仅仅靠情感来维系

There's no better stage than the moon-lit Lijiang River.
月光下的漓江水面,是最好的舞台。

His nine cormorants, the unmissable lead actors of every performance, have already taken positions under the audience's gaze.
他的九只鸬鹚则作为每场必到的主要演员,在众目睽睽之下早早就位。

During this period, the Chinese people look back on the times past and send their most prosperous wishes for the days to come.
中国人在这个时节,怀念逝去的往昔,也为生者送上最美好的祝愿。

The cycles of time have turned, and life seems as if unchanged.
时光轮回间,生活仿若依旧。


EP 16 Autumn Equinox 秋分

thoroughfare 大道, 通路
hinterland 内陆,腹地,内地
oasis(沙漠中)绿洲;令人快慰的地方/时刻;乐土,乐事
scarce 缺乏的,不足的,稀少的
drought-resistent 抗旱的
salt-resistent 抗盐的
copious 大量的,充裕的,丰富的
stationmaster站长
yarn 纱线;(尤指夸张或编造的)故事
tenacity 顽强,执着,韧性,坚持
caravan 旅行拖车;(供居住用的)大棚马测和;(尤指穿越沙漠的)旅行队,车队
trundle (使缓慢、轰鸣地)移动,滚动;沉重缓慢地走
reservoir 水库,蓄水池;(大量的)储备,储藏
world-beating 世界级规模
lucrative 赚大钱的,获利多的
graze (牛羊)吃草;放牧;擦伤,擦破;轻擦,轻蹭

holding the ears of grain  持穗
standing eggs on end 竖蛋
bring in 赚钱,生产,收获;引入(新的人或事物)
bundles of 许多,大量
rhyming couplet 对联;押韵对句
saline-alkali area 盐碱地带
poplar tress 胡杨
medcinal herb 药用植物
camel sharp 骆驼刺
tow-humped Bactrian camel 双峰骆驼
The Crescent village 月牙村

The Autumn Equinox is midway through Autumn and marks the beginning of the deepest Autumn.
秋分是秋季的中分点,标志着深秋的开始。

The most obvious change is in the color of trees. They're so vivid that they could be in an oil painting
最明显的变化在树木的颜色上,它们绚丽斑斓,如油画里的风景。

The insects thta woke up in the third solar term Jingzhe, are either dying or looking for a safe place to survive the winter.
第三个节气惊蛰醒来的小生灵们,有的奄奄一息,有的正在努力寻找安全的地方过冬。

I came over here for Mid-Autumn to explore deep into the hinterland of China and take in this incredible desert oasis.
赶在中秋时节,我深入中国内陆腹地,探寻这片沙漠的绿洲。

Massive wealth flowed along the Silk Road to China as well.
海量的财富也沿着丝绸之路流向中国。

China at that time was of the chief trading nations of the the world. Now, Dunhuang has lost its pivotal position in global trade. But this GoBi  Desert is still a sacred place for Chinese people yearning for a distant past.
那时的中国站在世界贸易的制高点。如今,敦煌早已失去当年全球贸易的是枢纽功功能,但这片大漠戈壁仍是中国人心生向往的圣地。

When days and nights are just as long, hard work just goes on and on.
日光夜色两均长,秋分时节加紧忙。

Cropping cycles are the farmer's number one concern, so the solar terms are extraodinary clear on planning.
茬茬相接的农事在节气的规划下格外清晰。

This development is in line with national envionmental protection policy.
现在随着咱们这个与之环保低碳的国家政策的推行。

……and how ancient civilizations across China adapted to local conditions.
以及中国古人因地制宜的智慧

When the first batch of cotton seeds and many other precious materials were loaded onto the back of a camel and driven along the endless Silk Road, human civilizaiton opened a whole other chapter.
当第一批棉花种子和其他许多珍贵的物资一起经由骆驼的背负,沿着漫漫丝绸之路来到中国时, 人类文明交流打开了全新的篇章。

The Cresent village got its name because it's located next to an oasis that's shaped like a crescent. The magic of this crescent moon oasis is that it's been surrounded by desert for thousands of yeas but has never dried up.
月牙村因为靠近一道形状像月牙的泉而得名。这弯月牙泉的神奇之处在于它被沙漠包围千年却永不干涸。

It's hard to imagine how determined people had to be to travel here over 2000 years ago. Treading these sands swept paths carrying the most incredibel goods, encountering hardship and obstacles, traveling from grotto to grotto. They brought riches to Dunhuang and made this place to do business at the Autumn Equinox solar term.
很难想象两千多年前的商旅有着怎样的决心,踏着这漫漫黄沙携带着精美绝伦的货物,跨越艰难险阻来往于石窟石堡,险隘雄关,他们为敦煌带来了繁盛,也为敦煌的秋分带来了生意盎然。

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