牛年即将到来，祝愿每一位网友牛年更牛。英语中“牛”对应的单词有好几个，比如大家熟悉的cow, bull, ox, buffalo. “牛年”英语一般翻译为the year of the ox.qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

为什么呢？Charlie Shifflett这样解释：qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

“Westerners respect the ox for its strength and hardworking spirit. However, bulls are generally viewed negatively, thanks to their aggressive nature. Cows are considered the “cutest of the three”. In fact, in the US, people often decorate their homes with pictures of cows. The animal is associated with the comfort and quiet of a country home.”qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

“西方人对牛ox是很敬重的，因为它的强健和勤劳！不过，bull这个词一般就有些否定的意义在里面，如“盛气凌人”，但也要“归功”于它们的“积 极进取的”的个性。而奶牛cow被视为三个中最可爱的、最讨人喜欢的一个。事实上，在美国，人们常用奶牛图片来装饰屋子，她们总是和宁静舒适的乡村生活联 系在一起。”qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

这里还要与大家分享两个单词：bully 和 coward。这两个单词都来自牛，一个来自公牛bull，一个来来自母牛cow. bully 做动词指“持强凌弱”、“欺负他人”的意思，作名词表示这样的人，很显然带有贬义。而coward表示“懦夫”、“胆小鬼”，派生词有cowardly 形容词“胆小的”；cowardice 名词“懦弱”。看来公牛bull 和母牛 cow 都有一定的贬义，所以牛年翻译为the year of the ox 就显得比较妥当了。qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

网友提问：“我属牛, 你属什么？”英语怎么说？qti中国英语学习网

I was born in the year of the ox, and how about you?qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网
与“牛”相关的单词或表达方式：qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

bull公牛, cow母牛, 水牛 buffalo, bison 野牛,yak牦牛, calf 小牛, beef牛肉,veal小牛肉, steak牛排, cowboy牛仔,cowherd牛郎, bullfrog牛蛙, snail蜗牛, milk牛奶, dairy牛奶厂, bull fighting 斗牛, bulldog斗牛犬, brag吹牛, jeans牛仔裤, mad cow disease 疯牛病, psoriasis牛皮癣, a workhorse老黄牛（埋头苦干者), a bull market(股票等）牛市,  a big shot 牛人。。。qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

补充阅读：qti中国英语学习网

十二生肖（the 12 zodiac animals or Chinese Zoadic） 的英语分别表示为：rat / ox / tiger / rabbit / dragon / snake / horse / sheep / monkey / rooster / dog / pig。这些单词我想大家都认识，其中需要与大家说明的是“鸡”的翻译，并没有用大家熟悉的“cock”而用的是大家相对陌生的“rooster”. 原因在于，“cock” 在英语里面有“男性生殖器官”的意思。所以一定要慎用这个单词。qti中国英语学习网
qti中国英语学习网
qti中国英语学习网
qti中国英语学习网
延伸阅读：必须谨慎使用的另类英语 （少儿不宜，谨慎进入）qti中国英语学习网
qti中国英语学习网
qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

qti中国英语学习网

以下摘自维基百科，看看不同属相对应的性格特征吧。准不准没关系，关键是我们可以学到很多描绘性格特征的形容词。如遇生词，查阅 www.chadanci.com.qti中国英语学习网

In Chinese astrology the zodiac of twelve animal signs represents twelve different types of personality. The zodiac traditionally begins with the sign of the Rat, and there are many stories about the Origins of the Chinese Zodiac which explain why this is so.The following are the twelve zodiac signs in order and their characteristics.qti中国英语学习网

1. Rat: Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, vindictive, mendacious, venal, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming.
   
   

    

2. Ox: Dependable, calm, methodical, patient, hardworking, ambitious, conventional, steady, modest, logical, resolute, tenacious. Can be stubborn, narrow-minded, materialistic, rigid, demanding.
   
   

    

3. Tiger: Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish.
   
   

    

4. Rabbit: Gracious, kind, sensitive, soft-spoken, amiable, elegant, reserved, cautious, artistic, thorough, tender, self-assured, astute, compassionate, flexible. Can be moody, detached, superficial, self-indulgent, opportunistic, lazy.qti中国英语学习网
   兔年出生的人：高尚，友善，敏感，轻言细语，和蔼可亲，优雅，含蓄，谨慎，艺术家气质，机敏，富有同情心，灵活；也可能喜怒无常，事不关己，流于肤浅，放纵自我，投机取巧，懒惰成性qti中国英语学习网
   (说明：本人属兔所以特别翻译一下。）
   
   

    

5. Dragon: Magnanimous, stately, vigorous, strong, self-assured, proud, noble, direct, dignified, zealous, fiery, passionate, decisive, pioneering, ambitious, generous, loyal. Can be arrogant, imperious, tyrannical, demanding, eccentric, grandiloquent and extremely bombastic, prejudiced, dogmatic, over-bearing, violent, impetuous, brash, horny.
   
   

    

6. Snake: Deep thinker, wise, mystic, graceful, soft-spoken, sensual, creative, prudent, shrewd, ambitious, elegant, cautious, responsible, calm, strong, constant, purposeful. Can be loner, bad communicator, possessive, hedonistic, self-doubting, distrustful, mendacious.
   
   

    

7. Horse: Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, arrogant, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn.
   
   

    

8. Ram: Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, creative, gentle, compassionate, understanding, mothering, determined, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be moody, indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer, wise.
   
   

    

9. Monkey: Inventor, motivator, improviser, quick-witted, inquisitive, flexible, innovative, problem solver, self-assured, sociable, polite, dignified, competitive, objective, factual, intellectual. Can be egotistical, vain, selfish, reckless, snobbish, deceptive, manipulative, cunning, jealous, suspicious.
   
   

    

10. Rooster: Acute, neat, meticulous, organized, self-assured, decisive, conservative, critical, perfectionist, alert, zealous, practical, scientific, responsible. Can be over zealous and critical, puritanical, egotistical, abrasive, opinionated.
    
    

     

11. Dog: Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amicable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
    
    

     

12. Pig: Honest, simple, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naive, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.