生肖(Chinese zodiac sign)也称属相,是中国民间计算年龄的方法,也是一种十分古老的纪年法。十二生肖,即:
鼠 Rat/Mouse
牛 Ox
虎 Tiger
兔 Rabbit
龙 Dragon
蛇 Snake
马 Horse
羊 Sheep
猴 Monkey
鸡 Rooster
狗 Dog
猪 Boar/Pig
如果要说“我属羊”,那就是:I was born in/under the Year of the Sheep。介词用 in 或 under 都可以。
正因为有生肖纪年的习俗,于是在我们这里有了“本命年”的概念。那“羊年是我的本命年”英语怎么说呢?
Since I am a Sheep in the Chinese horoscope, this is my year.
在英语里,“本命年” 的地道说法是year of fate或者animal year, 此外也可以看到把“本命年”翻译为 birth year和 big year的。
所以“今年是我的本命年”用英语来说就是:
This year is my year of fate.
This year is my animal year.
This year is my birth year.
This year is my big year.
羊羊们大声说出自己的本命年吧!