鼠年来临 听西方人解读12生肖

How the West views our party animals

It's time to welcome the Year of Mouse. Or is it 'rat'?

THE Chinese lunar new year is coming. But should we call it "The Year of the Rat" or "The Year of the Mouse"? ꯶쮫䮺龪芒⥇亁http://cet.hjenglish.com©版权所有沪江网亁⥇芒龪䮺쮫꯶And how does a westerner see each of the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac? 21st Century staff Charlie Shifflett answers these questions and more.

Rat: Chinese see rats as dirty, but they also think laoshu are smart and agile. Most people in the West, however, see little good in the creatures. Mice, on the other h렝Ⲑ潯떖㞹ꥧ뛡http://bulo.hjenglish.com/group.htm©版权所有沪江网뛡ꥧ㞹떖潯Ⲑ렝and, are more likeable. To be "quiet as a mouse" means to be pleasantly quiet. No one in their right mind wants to be called "a rat". The insult suggests that one is cunning, dishonest and selfish.

Ox: Westerners respect the ox for its strength and hardworking spirit. However, bulls are generally viewed negatively, thanks to their aggressive nature. Cows are considered the "cutest" of the three. In fact, in the US, people often decorate their homes with pictures of cows. The animal is associated with the comfort 㤈莘齚砌ﰔ䈾http://bulo.hjenglish.com/myfeed/©版权所有沪江网䈾ﰔ砌齚莘㤈and quiet of a country home.

Tiger: Simply put, if you see a tiger, you'd better run. In the West, a tiger may be a beautiful woman, or it may be handsome man. Calling someone a tiger means you understand that they can be dangerous. "Tiger" is also used to describe naughty little children. They look cute, but they are often up to mischief.

Rabbit: Many Chinese think the rabbit is cute 䐄ⵆ쁣삘튪�http://bulo.hjenglish.com/event/©版权所有沪江网�튪삘쁣ⵆ䐄and docile. However, few Americans can say the word rabbit without thinking of the clever cartoon character Bugs Bunny. Also, rabbits are known in the West as being extremely reproductive. They can produce three or four litters a year, with up to six rabbits in each.

Dragon: The dragon has come to be a political symbol associated with China. Many people see China as a great dragon: ancient and beautiful, but also mysterious and potentially dangerous. The famous song Puff, the Magic Dragon, written by Leonard Lipton 찀㠐ՠる晐퓼⋋歅http://www.yeshj.com/©版权所有沪江网歅⋋퓼晐るՠ㠐찀and Peter Yarrow, tells the story of one such creature.

Snake: The snake is often seen as a dangerous or wicked creature, though serpent is more often used in contexts discussing evil. The Western image of an evil serpent calls up the Bible's depiction of Satan as a serpent. In Genesis the serpent tempts the first woman Eve into disobeying God.

Horse: They are known for their beauty and strength. In the US, they may be kept as pets by people who can afford their upkeep and have enough l쪁棫쭃␚֕辱ዪｷhttp://bulo.hjenglish.com/podcast.htm©版权所有沪江网ｷዪ辱֕␚쭃棫쪁and for them to graze.

Sheep: Sheep are viewed docile and weak. They also carry the image of a "follower". In a church, a pastor is a "shepherd". The people in the church is his "flock". The word "sheep" has also been used to describe people who buy into the latest commercial fads. The words "goat" and "ram" are not often used ٖるﵢ䮈桌띤搷http://bulo.hjenglish.com/event/©版权所有沪江网搷띤桌䮈ﵢるٖand they have no special meaning.

Monkey: Throughout the world, monkeys are known to be clever, agile and more than a little impatient. You might also call someone who likes to joke around a "monkey". Nothing wrong with that. However, in the US, the word has also been used as a racist term that refers to African-Americans.

Rooster: To Chinese, a rooster is strong and proud. The chicken, on the other h뺣籟珻䶑阘犓http://bulo.hjenglish.com/q/©版权所有沪江网犓阘䶑珻籟뺣and, is viewed as weak, or even stupid. These definitions also apply in the West. For instance, you might call someone who is afraid to dive into a pool a "chicken". The word "hen", on the other hand, carries a motherly image of protection and comfort.

Dog: Dogs are called "man's best friend" in the West. That's why many Westerners refuse to eat them. In the US, an old TV show called Lassie reflect this respect for dogs. In every episode, Lassie, a white ୄെ犜椩犝�迄http://bulo.hjenglish.com/menu.htm©版权所有沪江网迄�犝椩犜െୄand brown collie, saves the day. However, as loved as dogs are, the word is sometimes used cruelly to refer to an ugly woman.

Boar: The word "boar" usually refers to a wild pig. These animals are often difficult to capture and extremely ugly. The word "pig" most often refers to the farm-raised animal. These have the reputation of being lazy and dirty. In English, the word can also refer to someone who eats a lot. Also, playboys are sometimes called "pigs" by women who see them as selfish 㲈㷿꜑ᢺ䯂৉�http://www.hjbbs.com/©版权所有沪江网�৉䯂ᢺ꜑㷿㲈and shallow.

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生词：
agile 敏捷的

boar 公猪, 野猪

Bugs Bunny 兔八哥，美国的卡通兔子人物

bull 公牛

collie 牧羊狗

cunning 狡猾的

docile 温顺的

fad 一时流行的狂热

follower 信徒,追随者

Genesis (圣经中的) 《创世纪》

litter (一)窝

mischief 恶作剧

olfactory bulbs 嗅球

ox 公牛

pastor 牧师

playboy 花花公子

Ratatouille 《小鼠大厨》

receptor 感受器

reproductive 生殖的

Satan 撒旦, 魔鬼

serpent 毒蛇

shepherd 牧羊人

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 《忍者神龟》

Tom and Jerry 《猫和老鼠》

upkeep 维持

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