The Chinese animal zodiac,十二生肖,In ancient times, in order to make people easily remember the years , our ancestors came up with an idea using the animals to represent the years.,Origin,A popular folk method which reflected the cyclical method of recording years are the Twelve Animal Signs. Every year is assigned an animal name or “sign“ according to a repeating cycle: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.,The Chinese animal signs are a 12-year cycle used for dating the years. They represent a cyclical concept of time, rather than the Western linear concept of time.,Rat,People born in the Year of the Rat are noted for their charm and attraction for the opposite sex. They work hard to achieve their goals, acquire possessions, and are likely to be perfectionists. They are basically thrifty with money. Rat people are easily angered and love to gossip. Their ambitions are big, and they are usually very successful. They are most compatible with people born in the years of the Dragon, Monkey, and Ox.,1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996,在鼠年出生的人都注意到自己的魅力和对异性的吸引力。他们努力实现自己的目标，获得的财产，都可能是完美主义者。他们基本上都是用钱节俭。鼠人很容易被激怒，爱八卦。他们的野心是很大的，他们通常是非常成功的。与龙，猴，牛的年出生的人是最兼容。,smell a rat 觉得可疑the rat race 激烈的竞争play cat and mouse with sb. 欲擒故纵，(像猫抓耗子似地)欺负(折磨、虐待)某人,People born in the Year of the Ox are patient, speak little, and inspire confidence in others. They tend, however, to be eccentric, and bigoted, and they anger easily. They have fierce tempers and although they speak little, when they do they are quite eloquent. Ox people are mentally and physically alert. Generally easy-going, they can be remarkably stubborn, and they hate to fail or be opposed. They are most compatible with Snake, Rooster, and Rat people.,1913年，1925年，1937年，1949年，1961年，1973年，1985年，1997年,OX,在牛年出生的人有足够的耐心，少说话，启发别人的信任。然而，他们往往是偏心，偏执，他们愤怒容易。他们有激烈的脾气，虽然他们很少说话，当他们这样做时，他们是有相当雄辩的。属牛的人是精神上和肉体上的警报。一般随和，他们可以是非常顽固的，他们讨厌失败或反对。他们与数蛇，鸡，鼠的人是最兼容。,a bull in a china shop 经常闯祸的人，笨手笨脚的人take the bull by the horns 不畏艰险like a red rag to a bull 使愤怒till the cows come home 永远地，无限期地kill the fatted calf 热情款待，设宴欢迎,Tiger people are sensitive, given to deep thinking, capable of great sympathy. They can be extremely short-tempered, however. Other people have great respect for them, but sometimes tiger people come into conflict with older people or those in authority. sometimes Tiger people cannot make up their minds, which can result in a poor, hasty decision or a sound decision arrived at too late. They are suspicious of others, but they are courageous and powerful. Tigers are most compatible with Horses, Dragons, and Dogs.,Tiger,属虎的人是敏感的，深入思考，能够极大的同情。他们可以是脾气极好的。但是，其他人都对他们非常尊重，但有时虎人老年人会与当权者发生冲突。有时属虎的人不能下定决心，这可能会导致在一个贫穷的，草率的决定，或为时已晚抵达健全决策。他们怀疑别人，但他们是勇敢和强大。老虎最兼容的是马，龙，狗。,paper tiger 貌似强大而实质虚弱的敌人ride the tiger 表示以非常不 确定或危险的方式生活,1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998,Hare,People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper.,They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog.,在兔年出生的人能言善道，才华横溢，雄心勃勃。他们是良性的，保留，口感极佳。数兔的人值得钦佩，信任，往往是财政幸运。他们是喜欢八卦，但委婉和一般样。很少发脾气。他们非常聪明和业务兢兢业业，从来没有回合同。他们将做好的赌徒，他们选择正确的事情不可思议的礼物。然而，他们很少赌博，因为他们是保守的和明智的。他们与那些出生在多年的羊，猪，狗是最兼容。,start a hare 在讨论中提出枝节问题make a hare of sb. 愚弄某人First catch your hare. 勿谋之过早（意指：不要过于乐观）。You cannot run with the hare and hunt with hound.不能两面讨好（意指：不要耍两面派）。,People born in the Year of the Dragon are healthy, energetic, excitable, short-tempered, and stubborn. They are also honest, sensitive, brave, and they inspire confidence and trust. Dragon people are the most eccentric of any in the eastern zodiac. They neither borrow money nor make flowery speeches, but they tend to be soft-hearted which sometimes gives others an advantage over them. They are compatible with Rats, Snakes, Monkeys, and Roosters.,Dragon,在龙年出生的人的健康，精力充沛，脾气好，倔强。他们也诚实，敏感，勇敢，值得信任。他们既不借钱也不花言巧语，但他们往往是心软，有时给别人超出他们自己的优势。他们与老鼠，蛇，猴子，雄鸡兼容。,dragons teeth ：相互争斗的根源；排列或多层的楔形反坦克混克混凝土障碍物。the old Dragon：魔鬼,但在外国语言中，赞扬龙的词语非常之少，且含有贬义。如“dragon”指凶暴的人，严厉的人，凶恶严格的监护人，凶恶的老妇人等。以dragon组成的词组也多含贬义,Snake,People born in the Year of the Snake are deep. They say little and possess great wisdom. They never have to worry about money; they are financially fortunate. Snake people are often quite vain, selfish, and a bit stingy. Yet they have tremendous sympathy for others and try to help those less fortunate. Snake people tend to overdo, since they have doubts about other peoples judgment and prefer to rely on themselves.,