2017专八汉译英真题: 过年
(translated by alexcwlin; edited by Adam Lam)

(我小的时候特别盼望过年，往往是一过了腊月，就开始掰着指头数日子。对于我们这种焦急的心态，大人们总是发出深沉的感叹，好像他们不但不喜欢过年，而且还惧怕过年。他们的态度令当时的我们感到失望和困惑，现在我完全理解了。)

我想长辈们之所以对过年感慨良多，
I suppose there are good reasons why elders have mixed emotions in crossing into a new year.
一是因为过年意味着一笔开支，
For one, the Chinese New Year means they have to spend a good chunk of money each.
二是飞速流逝的时间对他们构成巨大压力。
Another reason is the fleeting time is a load on their mind.
小孩子可以兴奋地说：过年了，我又长大了一岁；
Little kids can say with exuberance: “It’s New Year. I’m a year older.”
而老人们则叹息：嗨，又老了一岁。
But older folks just sigh in resignation: “Oh my, I have aged another year.”
过年意味着小孩子正在向自己生命过程中的辉煌时期进步，
Passing the New Year denotes little children are marching forward triumphantly in the course of their lives.
而对于大人，则意味着正向衰朽的残念滑落。
Yet to adults, that signifies they are fading further in regret.