中國十二生肖（zodiac signs)

 這是一個真實的故事。

This is a true story.

在一場外賓聚會場合

In a gathering of forgiven guest

一位外賓懷疑中國生肖的意義

One forgien doubt what is the meaning

Of Chinese zodiac signs.

都是豬、狗、鼠

Those are pigs ,dogs,mouse.

不像我們，是金牛座、獅子座、仙女座

Unlike us，those are Taurus,Leo,andromeda

真不知道您們祖先是怎麼想的.

Really don't know what expectation of your ancestors have for us.

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當聽完這句話

After listening this sentence,

在場有一位優雅的中國人站起來

There is a elegant Chinese person stood ,

和平地跟這些外賓解釋

Peacefully explain for these forgien guest,

中國的祖先是很務實的

Chinese own ancestors are tangible.

我們的十二生肖是兩兩相對的，六道輪迴

Our 12 zodiac sign  are paired with each other

六道輪迴

Six paths of reincarnation.

它體現了祖先對我們的期待和要求

It embodied the expectation and requirement of our Chinese ancestor.

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第一組是老鼠和牛

The first group is mice and cows.

老鼠代表智慧

The mice represent the wisdom.

牛代表勤勞

The cows represent the diligence.

智慧和勤勞是缺一不可的

The wisdom and diligence are dispensible.

光有智慧但不勤勞

Only wisdom but no diligence

那就是耍小聰明

That is play tricks.

若只是勤勞，但不思考

If just diligence but  not thinking ,

那是愚蠢

That's foolishness.

所以兩者必須結合

So it must combined both wisdom and diligence.

這也是我們祖先對我們最重要的要求

This the most important requirement of our ancestors 

Through the history.

所以排在第一位

So this group ranks as first.

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第二組是老虎和兔子

The second group are tiger and rabbits.

老虎代表勇氣

The tiger represent the braveragy.

兔子代表謹慎

The rabbit represent the caution.

勇猛和謹慎結合

The combination of bravery and prudence 

才能做到膽大心細

Could implement bold and meticulous.

只有勇猛沒有謹慎

Only bravery without produce 

那是魯莽

That's recklessness.

一味地謹慎

Blindly caution 

那是膽怯

That's cowardice.

這也是很重要的一組

This is also important group.

所以它列為第二

So it ranks as second.

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第三組是龍和蛇

 The third group is dragon and snakes.

龍代表剛

The dragon represent strength.

蛇代表柔

The snake represent softness.

所謂剛者易折.

It is so called hard is easy to break.

柔無主見

The softness is no opinion.

所以必須剛柔並濟

So it must be both hard and soft.

這是我們歷代的祖訓.

This is the motto throughout the history.

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接下來是馬和羊

Next is horse and sheep.

馬代表勇往直前

Horse represent courage to move forward.

羊代表和順

Sheep represent harmony.

如果一個人一味地勇往直前

If one person blindly moving forward,

忽略其他人的感受

Ignoring other feeling.

那肯定會和周遭發生碰撞

It definitely be bumps bumps around.

最終不一定會達到目標

It may not be reach utilmate goal.

相反地，若一但人一味地去迎和別人

On the contrary, If one blindly seek to reconcile.

他可能連方向都沒有

Maybe  he have even no direction.

最後還是會失敗

In the end, he will fail.

勇往直前的決心

一定和和順緊密地結合

The unwaving determination must be closely 

Combined with harmony and smoothness.

這也是祖先們對我們的第四項要求

This is the forth requirement for us Chinese people.

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接下來是猴子和鷄

Next are monkeys and chicken.

猴子代表靈活

Monkeys represent flexible.

鷄代表穩定

Chicken represent stability.

𩆜活和穩定要緊密結合在一起

Flexible and stability must be closely intertwined.

如果您光有靈活但沒有穩定性

If you just has flexible but no stability，

實施再好的方案

Implementing with best plan,

最後可能沒有結果

In the end it should be no result.

相反地，如果光有穩定而沒有靈活性

On the contrary,If you are stability but not flexible.

那就會像一潭死水,或是一堆癈鐵

It will be stagnant pool and a piece of scrap iron.

也不會有今天的好日子

We will not be  good life either.

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最後一組是狗和豬

The last group are dogs and pigs.

狗代表忠誠

Dogs represent loyalty.

豬代表隨和

Pigs represent easygoing.

如果一個人太忠誠而不隨和的話

If someone is loyal but not easygoing,

就會被別人排斥

He will be rejected by others.

如果太隨和而沒忠誠的話

If someone is easygoing but not loyalty,

就會失去原則.

He will not be principle.

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解釋完這十二生肖的期望後，

After explaining these 6 paths of reincarnation,

他反問外賓

He asked the foreign in reverse,

不知道金牛座、獅子座、仙女座

您們的祖先對您們的期望又是什麼？

I don't what expectation of tarsus,Leo,andromeda

 do your ancestor wish?

希望您們能不吝指教

Hope for not hesitate to ask for advice

結果全場鴉雀無聲

The result is complete silence throughout the room.

沒人敢回答

No one dare to answer.

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