清明節又叫踏青節，是我國重要的傳統節日。從二十四節氣上講，它又是節氣之一。它是唯一一個節日和節氣並存的日子，可見古人對這一天的重視程度。今天實用英語語法就把跟清明節有關的知識給大家普及一下：
清明節起源
Qing Ming is popularly associated with Jie Zi Tui, who lived in Shanxi province in 600 B.C. Legend has it that Jie saved his starving lord's life by serving a piece of his own leg. When the lord succeeded in becoming the ruler of a small principality, he invited his faithful follower to join him. However, Jie declined his invitation, preferring to lead a hermit's life with his mother in the mountains.
談到清明節，有點歷史知識的人，都會聯想到歷史人物介子推。據歷史記載，在兩千多年以前的春秋時代，晉國公子重耳逃亡在外，生活艱苦，跟隨他的介子推不惜從自己的腿上割下一塊肉讓他充飢。後來，重耳回到晉國，作了國君(即晉文公，春秋五霸之一)，大事封賞所有跟隨他流亡在外的隨從，惟獨介子推拒絕接受封賞，他帶了母親隱居綿山。
Believing that he could force Jie out by burning the mountain, the lord ordered his men to set the forest on fire. To his consternation, Jie chose to remain where he was and was burnt to death. To commemorate Jie, the lord ordered all fires in every home to be put out on the anniversary of Jie's death. Thus began the "cold food feast", a day when no food could be cooked since no fire could be lit.
晉文公無計可施，只好放火燒山，他想，介子推孝順母親，一定會帶著老母出來。誰知這場大火卻把介子推母子燒死了。為了紀念介子推，晉文公下令每年的這一天，禁止生火，家家戶戶只能吃生冷的食物，這就是寒食節的來源。
The "cold food" festival occurs on the eve of Qing Ming and is often considered as part of the Qing Ming festival. As time passes, the Qing Ming festival replaced the "cold food" festival. Whatever practice is observed，the basic observation of Qing Ming is to remember one's elders by making a special effort to visit their graves, ashes or ancestral tablets. To make the visit even more meaningful, some time should be spent to remind the younger members of the family of the lives and contributions of their ancestors, and the story of Jie Zi Zhui who choose death over capitulation.
寒食節是在清明節的前一天，古人常把寒食節的活動延續到清明，久而久之，清明取代了寒食節。拜介子推的習俗也變成了清明掃墓的習俗了。無論以何種形式紀念，為了使紀念祖先的儀式更有意義，我們應該讓年輕一代的家庭成員瞭解先人過去的奮鬥歷史，當然，還要學習介子推寧死不屈的氣節。
清明的具體日期在仲春和暮春之交，大約農曆4月4、5、6日之間。此時，天氣轉暖，大地回春，萬物復甦，一片生機盎然，家家門口插柳條，祭掃墳墓和郊外踏青。農諺中也有"清明忙種粟"的說法。
作為中國人，對於這些從小看大的習俗我們當然不會陌生，可如果問你“清明”用英文怎麼講、你就未必知道了吧!
首先我們要清楚的是：作為節日的清明節、和作為節氣的清明節，它們的英文說法是不同的。
作為節日的清明節一般翻譯為"Tomb Sweeping festival"或者"Tomb-sweeping Day"，掃墓節或掃墓日。這個翻譯著重強調了清明節的重要習俗“掃墓”。這種說法的好處是，老外一聽就能大概明白這個節日的背後含義。
也有人把清明節翻譯為"All Souls'Day"，這是一種站在對方文化角度考慮做出的翻譯。因為"All Souls'Day"在西方是確實存在的節日，一般稱為“萬靈日”。這是一個宗教節日，在有的教派裡甚至不止一天。教會會在這一天為那些去世後無法進入天堂的信徒祈禱，希望他們早日進入天堂。其基本意義和清明節相似，也是祭奠死者的節日。
另外再談到作為節氣的清明，它被譯為"Clear and Bright"，清潔和明亮。我們也不難發現，這種譯法強調的是清明時節的氣候狀況，和其他節氣的翻譯出發點一致。比如立夏被譯為"Summer begins"、小寒、大寒分別被譯為"Slight cold"和"Great cold"。
杜牧《清明》英文翻譯版本
1.許淵衝譯
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way. Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
2.吳偉雄譯
It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,
The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay. When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time, A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.
3.萬昌盛、王僴中譯
The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,
So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.When asked where could be found at avern bower,
Acow boy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.
4.楊憲益、戴乃迭譯
It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,
Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,
He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.
5.吳鈞陶譯
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,
I travel with my heart lost in dismay."Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
6.蔡廷幹譯
The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,
The men and women sadly move along the way.They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest --
And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.
7.孫大雨譯
Upon theClear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.
Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to befound",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.
清明節是一個特殊的日子，在這一天生者為他們死去的親朋獻上敬意。(Tomb-Sweeping Day falls on April 4th or 5th. This is a special day for the living to show their love and respect for dead friends and relatives.)
每逢清明時節，中國人會去掃墓祭祖，在祖先墳前獻上祭品、鮮花，燒些紙錢。有的人還會寫悼文，緬懷逝去的親人。
說到“紙錢”，英語中是怎麼表述的呢?大家可能第一時間想到的就是paper money。不過字面上它是“紙錢”的意思，實際上paper money的意思是“紙質貨幣”，與metal money(金屬貨幣)相對應，不是燒給死者的紙錢噢!那麼，燒給死者的“紙錢”怎麼表達呢?可以用joss paper或hell bank notes表示。
除了傳統的祭祀方式，近年來，“綠色祭掃”逐漸成為人們掃墓的一種新趨勢。不僅經濟環保，還避免了燒紙錢等傳統方式帶來的火災隱患。“綠色祭掃”的方式有很多，如網上祭掃(online tomb-sweeping)和網絡紀念館(Internet memorial)等。
清明節相關英文詞彙
day of sacrifice 祭祀節日
offer sacrifices to ancestors 祭祖/上供
condolence 哀悼之情
hell note/joss paper 紙錢
funeral supplies/products 殯葬用品
funeral services 殯葬服務業
mortician 殯儀業者
burn incense 焚香
tomb-sweeping 掃墓
tomb sweeper 掃墓的人
kite flying 放風箏
spring outing 踏青
god's lantern 神燈
memorial tablet 紀念碑
willow branches inserted on each gate 門旁插柳
cremation urn 骨灰盒
mourning ceremony 哀悼儀式
inhumation 土葬
cremation 火葬
sea-burial 海葬
boat-coffin burial 船棺葬
tree burial 樹葬
celestial burial 天葬
flower burials 花葬
filial piety 孝順 孝心
Day of the Dead(亡靈節，墨西哥傳統節日，人們通過守靈、上供等方式祭奠逝去的親人。)
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