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Three Cheers for Cherry Blossoms! 春日赏樱趣

课文朗读

课文讲解 

繁體中文譯本

Spring is in the air! As a warm breeze blows, birds twitter away in the trees. People shed their jackets and head outside to rejoice in the retreat of winter. In Japan though, spring hasn’t truly arrived until the sakura, or cherry blossom trees, start to bloom.

春天来了！温暖的微风轻拂，鸟儿也在枝头上啁啾叫着。人们脱下了外套走出户外，为冬天的远离感到欣喜不已。不过在日本，要等到樱花开始绽放，春天才能算是真正到来。

The sakura flower is not limited to the shores of Japan, but nowhere else is it so well-loved. When the Japanese think of cherry blossoms, the first thing that comes to mind is the tradition of “hanami,” literally “flower viewing.” As parks and streets across Japan are transformed by the blooming blossoms, people gather under the trees to take advantage of the picturesque scenes. Families, friends, and colleagues get together to eat, drink, and be merry, with parks full of the sound of laughing and chattering. At many popular sites, advance reservations are generally needed to secure a picnic spot, and it’s not unusual for most spots to be filled by 8 a.m.

樱花并非日本限定，不过没有一个地方这么热爱花。日本人一想到樱花，在脑海中浮现的第一件事情就是名为「花见」的传统，字面上来看就是赏花的意思。全日本的公园和街道上都因盛开的花朵改变了面貌，人们此时也在树下聚集，好好运用这优美如画的景致。家人、朋友和同事们聚在一起吃喝享乐，公园里充满着笑声和聊天的声音。在很多著名的赏樱景点，要抢到野餐地点通常要预占位置，而早上8点以前位置就被占满的情况可说是稀松平常。

The custom of hanami has existed in Japan for over a thousand years, since the Nara period in the 8th century. Unlike nowadays, however, it was not originally an activity for the masses. The Imperial Court, influenced by similar traditions in China, took to holding feasts under the blossoms, and short poems, or haiku, were written in praise of the beauty of these delicate flowers. By the Edo Period in the 17th century, the rest of Japanese society had joined in the fun. As long as the sakura keep blooming every spring, the hanami tradition will no doubt keep flourishing.

赏樱的习俗已经在日本流传超过千年之久，从公元8世纪的奈良时代就开始了。然而不同于现今的是，赏樱原本并非平民百姓的活动。受到中国类似传统的影响，日本皇室开始在花丛下举办盛宴，并且创作名为俳句的短诗来吟咏赞扬这些娇弱花朵之美。到了17世纪的江户时代，日本社会其余的成员也开始一起同欢。只要樱花每年春天持续绽放，那么赏樱的传统就一定会持续兴盛茁壮。

Vocabulary

单词发音

shed [ʃɛd] v. 脱

rejoice [rɪˋdʒɔɪs] v. 庆祝，欢乐

blossom [ˋblɑsəm] n.（尤指果树的）花

bloom [blum] v. 开花

limit to 局限于…,

come to mind 出现于某人的脑海中 to enter or appear in your thoughts

chatter [ˋtʃætɚ] v. 聊天; 闲谈; 唠叨

reservation [͵rɛzɚˋveʃən] n. 预订

secure [sɪˋkjʊr] v. 弄到，获得

masses [ˋmæsɪz] n. 平民；群众

imperial [ɪmˋpɪrɪəl] adj. 皇帝（或女皇）的

in praise of 为赞扬

delicate [ˋdɛləkət] adj. 易碎的；娇贵的

flourish [ˋflɝɪʃ] v.（植物等）茂盛，繁茂

More Information

单词发音

three cheers for 为…三欢呼 three shouts of hurrah given in unison by a group to honor someone or celebrate something

twitter [ˋtwɪtɚ] v.（鸟等）吱吱叫，啁啾

picturesque [͵pɪktʃəˋrɛsk] adj. 图画般的，美丽的

haiku [ˋhaɪku] n.（日本）三行俳句诗

课文朗读

课文讲解

Dependent on temperature, the blooming of the cherry blossoms varies by date from year to year. The milder the climate, the earlier the blossoms appear, starting off in the south of the country and spreading up to the north. For most parts of Japan, the cherry blossom season takes place around the end of March and the beginning of April, while on the northern island of Hokkaido the blossoms can bloom as late as May. Until recently, the daily weather report in Japan at this time of the year even included a segment tracking the progress of the cherry blossom front.

取决于气温的不同，樱花的开花时间每年也落在不同的日期。在气候越温和的地方，花朵就越早绽放，从南方开始到3月底到4月初左右，而北方北海道的樱花则晚至5月才绽放。一直到最近，每年这段时间日本的天气日报都还会有特别片段，追踪「樱前线」的推移进度。

Apart from being appreciated for their aesthetic value, the cherry blossoms hold a deeper meaning for most Japanese. As they generally stay in bloom for just around a week, the blossoms are seen as symbolizing the beautiful yet fleeting nature of life. The moment when the petals begin to fall from the trees is inevitable, just like death, and brings about a slightly wistful mood.

樱花除了因其美学价值而受到欣赏以外，对大部分日本人来说还具有深层涵义。因为它们通常盛开的时间只为期一周左右，所以花朵被视为人生美丽却短暂的象征。花瓣开始从树上落下的那一刻和死亡一样无法避免，而且也带来淡淡伤感惆怅的氛围。

While in bloom, the petals are commonly white in color with a tinge of pink, although there are other varieties, including pure white, dark pink, and yellow. The trees themselves also vary in size and shape, with one of the most beautiful being the weeping cherry tree, whose drooping branches almost touch the ground.

樱花盛开时，花瓣通常都是白色带着一丝丝粉红，不过也有其他种类的樱花，包括纯白、深粉红和黄色。樱花树本身也有不同的大小及形状，其中一种最美的要属垂樱，低垂的枝枒几乎要碰到地面。

Cherry blossoms are generally best viewed in the daytime, although in some places the trees are lit up in the evening, producing the amazing spectacle for “yozakura,” or nighttime hanami. Whichever way you choose to view the blossoms, the hanami experience is certainly one to treasure.

樱花一般而言在白天欣赏最美，不过有些地方会在傍晚点亮树丛，为夜晚赏樱的活动制造令人惊艳的「夜樱」美景。不论你选择何种方式欣赏樱花，赏花的经验一定值得你细细珍藏。

−by David Vickers

Vocabulary

单词发音

be dependent on 随…而定

temperature [ˋtɛmprətʃɚ] n. 温度，气温

vary [ˋvɛrɪ] v. 变化; 使不同

mild [maɪld] adj. 温暖的，暖和的

start off 开始; 出发

segment [ˋsɛgmənt] n. 片段, 部分

aesthetic [ɛsˋθɛtɪk] adj. 美学的

petal [ˋpɛt!] n. 花瓣

inevitable [ɪnˋɛvətəb!] adj. 不可避免的；必然（发生）的

bring about 引起, 造成

wistful [ˋwɪstfəl] adj. 〔尤指因心爱之物不复存在而〕惆怅的; 思念的; 依依不舍的

tinge [tɪndʒ] n. 淡淡的色调; 些许

light up 照亮; 点燃

More Information

单词发音

front [frʌnt] n.【气】锋

fleeting [ˋflitɪŋ] adj. 转瞬间的；短暂的

weeping [ˋwipɪŋ] adj. 有垂枝的

droop [drup] v. 低垂，下垂

treasure [ˋtrɛʒɚ] v. 珍藏，珍视

Reading Questions

1. Which of the following is NOT true about the cherry blossoms?

A. They grow only in Japan.

B. They signify the end of winter.

C. They are loved most by the Japanese.

D. They are usually white with a touch of pink.

2. What do we know about the hanami tradition?

A. It has been observed for nearly 1,000 years.

B. The tradition has its roots in China.

C. The tradition will probably die out soon.

D. Today, only the highest people in society may practice the tradition.

3. How do the Japanese mark hanami season nowadays?

A. By writing haiku.

B. By meditating alone.

C. By watching the weather report.

D. By getting together with loved ones.

4. Why do cherry blossoms hold a deep meaning for the Japanese?

A. They represent how quickly life passes.

B. They remind them to be thankful for spring.

C. They symbolize Japan’s beautiful countryside.

D. They are long-lasting, just like Japanese traditions.

HANAMI / TOKYO 2010

Answer