VOA慢速英語(yǔ):Fireworks

Now the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. Today we tell about the word fireworks.

現(xiàn)在是美國(guó)之音慢速英語(yǔ)詞匯掌故節(jié)目。我是Rich Kleinfeldt。今天我們講解焰火(fireworks)這個(gè)詞。

The expression fireworks gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.

Fireworks這個(gè)詞語(yǔ)來(lái)自人們慶祝盛事時(shí)向空中燃放的焰火?；鸺窖婊鹪诳罩斜ǎ酶鞣N顏色把夜空裝扮的五彩繽紛。

The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."

這個(gè)詞匯還用于表示憤怒或激動(dòng)情緒的迸發(fā)。例如，在庭審中，辯護(hù)律師可能情緒激動(dòng)地與政府律師就影響被告的證據(jù)辯論。法官最后會(huì)制止他們的喧鬧辯論，并讓兩位律師上前，對(duì)他們說(shuō)：“不要在我的法庭上再次爭(zhēng)吵。”

Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.

另一種“焰火”的意思代表特別激動(dòng)的事件或活動(dòng)。墜入愛河就是其中一例。愛人之間的甜蜜一吻或兩手相牽就能產(chǎn)生火花。通常電影或電視動(dòng)畫片用焰火渲染接吻時(shí)的激情。

People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks, the best time of the year is about now. The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.

人們常年使用焰火這個(gè)表達(dá)。但如果你生活在美國(guó)，今年想要看到真正焰火的最好時(shí)機(jī)就是現(xiàn)在。7月4日是美國(guó)獨(dú)立日。根據(jù)傳統(tǒng)，美國(guó)人會(huì)在晚上舉辦盛大聚會(huì)和燃放焰火來(lái)慶祝國(guó)家的獨(dú)立。

In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.

例如在華盛頓，大量群眾聚集在華盛頓紀(jì)念碑附近，聽音樂，觀看大型焰火晚會(huì)。在其他城市和小鎮(zhèn)里，當(dāng)?shù)鼐用衤牁逢?duì)表演，或觀看焰火在夜空中綻放。

Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight. China is the birthplace of fireworks. Large fireworks shows were held often during earlier times in China. Now, people use small fireworks to help celebrate weddings and birthdays.

世界上很多國(guó)家也有在特殊節(jié)日燃放焰火的傳統(tǒng)。在澳大利亞，悉尼在午夜以一場(chǎng)焰火晚會(huì)迎接新年。中國(guó)是焰火的發(fā)源地，很早以前中國(guó)就經(jīng)常舉辦大型焰火晚會(huì)。現(xiàn)在，人們使用小型焰火來(lái)慶祝結(jié)婚或生日。

France also has a great fireworks tradition. A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.

法國(guó)也有燃放焰火的傳統(tǒng)。巴士底日那天會(huì)有一場(chǎng)大型焰火晚會(huì)來(lái)慶祝法國(guó)大革命的開始。法國(guó)城市戛納每年7、8月都會(huì)舉行一場(chǎng)世界焰火比賽。

In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years. A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali, every autumn.

在印度，人們?nèi)挤叛婊鹨延?00多年歷史。每年印度宗教節(jié)日排燈日(Diwali)期間會(huì)舉行大型印度焰火晚會(huì)。

Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.

焰火晚會(huì)在全球都很受歡迎。但如果我不立馬結(jié)束這期節(jié)目，我的制作人就得火大了。