作者：双语君

本文来源：中国日报双语新闻（Chinadaily_Mobile)

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7月6日是二十四节气中的小暑，暑天已至，伏天将到。三伏天是一年中气温最高且又潮湿、闷热的时段。7月15日“入伏”后，全国多地将会进入持续高温模式，所谓“热在三伏”，民间也有“小暑大暑、上蒸下煮”之说。

（图源：视觉中国）

高温天气，不仅会带来精神疲惫、口渴多汗、胸闷气短等症状，还会造成情绪的起伏变化。保持情绪稳定平和、心情愉悦尤为重要。精神饱满向上，气机才更加宣畅。

节气

The Twenty-four Solar Terms

二十四节气的简称，是中国传统农历中特有的现象。节气的命名反映了季节、物候、气候三方面的变化。反映季节变化的是立春、春分、立夏、夏至、立秋、秋分、立冬、冬至八个节气；反映物候变化的是惊蛰、清明、小满、芒种四个节气；反映气候变化的有雨水、谷雨、小暑、大暑、处暑、白露、寒露、霜降、小雪、大雪、小寒、大寒十二个节气。二十四节气在秦汉时期就已形成，两千多年来，既有辅助农业生产的实际功效，也成为中国人所特有的时间观念。

“The twenty-four solar terms” is a unique phenomenon on the traditional lunar calendar. The solar terms are so named that they represent the changes in season, phenology and climate. The eight solar terms that reflect seasonal changes are Beginning of Spring, Vernal Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumnal Equinox, Beginning of Winter and Winter Solstice; the four solar terms that represent phenological changes are Waking of Insects, Fresh Green, Lesser Fullness and Grain in Ear; and the 12 solar terms that indicate the changes in climate are Rain Water, Grain Rain, Lesser Heat, Greater Heat, End of Heat, White Dew, Cold Dew, First Frost, Light Snow, Heavy Snow, Lesser Cold and Greater Cold. First established in the Qin and Han dynasties, the 24 solar periods have not only facilitated agricultural production but also reflected Chinese people’s perception of time in the past more than two thousand years.

▌引例

微雨众卉新，一雷惊蛰始。田家几日闲，耕种从此起。（韦应物《观田家》）

Drizzles refresh all forms of greenery, and thunder startles hibernators awake. Farmers hardly have time to relax, and tilling the soil starts now. (Wei Yingwu:Watching Farmers Working in Fields in Spring)

情

Qing

“情”有三种不同含义：其一，泛指人的情感、欲望。“情”受外物感动而发，是人的自然本能，不是后天习得的。其二，特指人的某些情感、欲望，通常被规定为好、恶、喜、怒、哀、乐等六者，或喜、怒、哀、惧、爱、恶、欲等七者。其三，指情实或实情。

The term has three different meanings. First, it means human emotions and desires, referring to the natural and instinctive reaction to external circumstances, not a learned response. Second, it refers to specific human emotions and desires, commonly known as the six human emotions: love, hatred, happiness, anger, sadness, and joy, or as the seven human emotions: happiness, anger, sadness, fear, love, hatred, and desire. Third, it means the true state of affairs, or actual situation.

▌引例

何谓人情？喜、怒、哀、惧、爱、恶、欲，七者弗学而能。（《礼记·礼运》）

What are human emotions? They are happiness, anger, sadness, fear, love, hatred, and desire that arise instinctively.  (The Book of Rites)

 常快活便是功夫

To Stay Constantly Joyful is a True Attainment.

经常保持快乐愉悦的心态就是修养身心的功夫。这是明代王阳明（1472—1529）提出的观点。在王阳明看来，人应经常保持快活之心。即便经受身体的病痛、人生的苦难或外来的谩骂侮辱等，也不可有所动摇，要始终保持良好积极的心态。无论何种境遇都能保持快乐愉悦的心态，根本上取决于个人的定力和修为。

Always keeping oneself joyful is the way to cultivate one’s mind and character. This proposition was advanced by the Ming-dynasty philosopher Wang Yangming (1472-1529), who believed that one should maintain a joyful mood and always stay positive. Even when suffering from illness, enduring hardships, or facing slanders and insults, one should never let go such an attitude. The ability to remain joyful in all circumstances is ultimately determined by one’s self-control and personal cultivation. 

▌引例

九川卧病虔州。先生云：“病物亦难格，觉得如何？”对曰：“功夫甚难。”先生曰：“常快活便是功夫。（《传习录》卷下）

Chen Jiuchuan fell sick in Qianzhou and was bedridden. Master Wang (Yangming) said to him, “‘Illness’ is something that is difficult to analyze and examine. What is your view?” Jiuchuan responded, “It is indeed difficult to endure.” The master said, “To stay joyful is the right approach to cultivate one’s ability.” (Records of Great Learning)

气

Qi

独立于主观意识之外的物质实体，是构成一切有形之物的原始物质材料，同时也是生命和精神得以发生和存在的基础。此外，某些思想家还为“气”赋予了道德属性。“气”没有具体的形状，永远处于运动变化之中。“气”的凝聚意味着事物的生成，“气”的消散意味着事物的消亡。“气”贯通于所有有形之物的内外。

Qi (vital force) has a material existence independent of subjective consciousness and is the basic element of all physical beings. It is also the basis for the birth and existence of life and spirit. In addition, some thinkers have given a moral attribute to qi. Qi is in constant motion and change, and has no specific shape. Its concentration gives birth to a thing and its evaporation signals the end of that thing. Qi permeates all physical beings and their surroundings.

▌引例

通天下一气耳。（《庄子·知北游》）

It is qi that permeates everything under heaven.  (Zhuangzi)

来源 | 中国日报双语新闻公众号

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