你知道生肖的英文怎么说吗？
询问对方的属相/生肖（zodiac/Chinese zodiac）的英文表达如下：
你属什么？
What's your Chinese zodiac/animal sign?
What animal sign were you born under?
我属龙。
I was born in the year of the Dragon.
My Chinese zodiac/animal sign is Dragon.
可用“the year of the +生肖的英文” 表示自己的生肖。
十二生肖对应的英文是鼠(rat)、牛(ox)、虎(tiger)、兔(rabbit)、龙(dragon)、蛇(snake)、马(horse)、羊(goat)、猴(monkey)、鸡(rooster)、狗(dog)、猪(pig)。
十二生肖的产生，有着天文学的背景，在原始时代，先民们体验着寒暑交替的循环往复。有观天者发现月亮盈亏周期可以用来丈量岁的长短，发现十二次月圆为一岁，这一发现，是初期历法最精度的成果之一，十二便视为传达天意的“天大之数”。天干需地支为伴，日月相对，天地相对，就非十二莫属了。
Chinese zodiac are based on the Chinese lunar calendar. Chinese New Year’s Day changes every year in the western calendar. There are 12 zodiac signs represented by animals, and every year there is a different one. After twelve years, the cycle repeats itself.
鼠（Rat）
Those born in the year of the rat are instinctive, alert and sharp.
The rat's wit enabled it to win The Great Race against all the other animals of the Chinese zodiac. They are very sociable and popular with others but can be stubborn and picky at times.
那些出生在老鼠之年的人是本能的、警觉的和敏锐的。老鼠的智慧使它赢得了与中国十二生肖中所有其他动物的伟大比赛。他们很善于交际，很受别人的欢迎，但有时也会很固执和挑剔。
在汉语中，含有“鼠”的成语多带有贬义。
鼠目寸光：形容眼光短，见识浅。
贼眉鼠眼：形容神情鬼鬼祟祟。
胆小如鼠：胆子小得像老鼠一样。形容非常胆小。
在英语中，rat还可表示“讨厌的人；卑鄙的小人；骗子”。
rat on sb. 泄露秘密
smell a rat 怀疑事情不妙；感觉情况不对
like rats leaving a sinking ship 比喻一遇到危险就争先寻求安全或一看见困难便躲得老远
牛（Ox）
The ox came second in The Great Race against all the other animals so is quite highly regarded in Chinese culture. It was (and still is, in rural parts of China) a very important animal used in farming and symbolises hard work, honesty and simplicity. Those born under the year of the ox always take the time to think before acting and are not easily swayed in their decisions.
牛在与所有其他动物的竞赛中排名第二，因此在中国文化中很受重视。它曾经（现在仍然是，在中国农村地区）是非常重要的农业动物，象征着辛勤工作、诚实和简单。牛年出生的人总是在行动之前花很多时间思考，并且不容易动摇他们的决定。
牛在我国传统文化里代表着勤劳、任劳任怨、无私奉献的精神。
九牛一毛：比喻极大的数量中微不足道的一部分。
初生牛犊不怕虎：比喻勇敢大胆、敢作敢为的青年人。
英语中表示“牛”的单词还有cow、bull。cow指的是奶牛、母牛；bull指的是未阉割的公牛，而ox泛指牛。
虎（Tiger）
Those born under the tiger are confident, independent and brave.
They are a symbol of power and have been compared to emperors. Tigers find it easy to win the trust of others.
虎年出生的人自信、独立、勇敢。他们是权力的象征，被比作皇帝。老虎很容易赢得别人的信任。
如虎添翼：比喻得到了有力的帮助，势力更加强大。
不入虎穴，焉得虎子：比喻不亲历险境就不能获得成功。
英语中，tiger除了表示“老虎”，还可表示a fierce or audacious person，即“凶暴的人”。
ride the tiger 骑虎难下
兔（Rabbit）
The rabbit is seen as a tender and loving creature. The Chinese moon goddess Chang'e had a rabbit for a pet as it is such an approachable and friendly animal. Rabbit people are romantic and sensitive with a very mild temperament. They are sometimes timid and may miss certain opportunities because of this.
兔子被视为一种温柔而有爱心的生物。中国月亮女神嫦娥养了一只兔子作为宠物，因为它是一种平易近人且友好的动物。属兔的人浪漫而敏感，气质非常温和。他们有时胆小，也可能会因此而错过某些机会。
兔子比较敏捷，成语“动如脱兔”用来形容人行动灵活。
rabbit on 闲扯，没完没了地说废话
龙（Dragon）
The dragon is a very popular symbol for the Chinese as they regard themselves as descendants of the dragon. This magical creature represents divine power, honour and luck. Emperors would call themselves
'dragon'. Dragon people are intellectual, excitable and frank but can sometimes be a bit arrogant or impatient.
龙是中国人非常喜爱的象征，因为他们认为自己是龙的后裔。这个神奇的生物代表着神圣的力量、荣誉和运气。皇帝会称自己为皇帝“龙”。属龙的人是聪明的、易激动和坦率的，但有时可能有点傲慢或不耐烦。
龙是中国神话中的生物，在中国文化里象征着神圣，象征着吉祥，通常与“龙”有关的成语都含有褒义。
而西方文化中的龙dragon，是有翼有爪、且会喷火的动物，是邪恶的象征。dragon也常用来比喻“悍妇”，dragon组成的短语也多是贬义。
dragon's teeth 相互争斗的根源
蛇（Snake）
Snakes can be seen as cunning and sly but they are also wise and witty. For some people, finding a snake in their court is seen as a sign of good luck. People born in the year of the snake are calm, humorous and can be gifted in art and literature (the artist Picasso was born in the year of the snake). Suspicion and jealousy can be a weakness for some snakes.
蛇可以被视为狡猾和狡猾，但它们也是聪明和机智的。对于某些人来说，在他们的宫廷里找到一条蛇被视为好运的标志。蛇年出生的人冷静、幽默，在艺术和文学方面都有天赋（艺术家毕加索出生在蛇年）。怀疑和嫉妒可能是蛇的弱点。
snake作名词时表示“蛇”，作动词时表示“蛇行；蜿蜒伸展”。
snake在英语中常表达贬义，a snake通常指那些冷酷阴险、虚假卑鄙的人。
马（Horse）
Horses are enthusiastic and full of energy.
The Chinese people favour the horse as it represents a way of life where one improves oneself constantly and passionately throughout life. They are thought to be dynamic and generous but this can become a problem as it leads to them spending too much money! Horse people are very popular with lots of friends.
马热情洋溢，精力充沛。中国人喜欢马，因为它代表了一种生活方式，一生都在不断地、热情地提高自己。他们被认为是充满活力和慷慨的，但这可能会成为一个问题，因为会导致他们花太多钱！属马的人很受朋友的欢迎。
马在西方文化里非常受欢迎，用horse组成的谚语非常多。
a dark horse 黑马，深藏不露的人
hold your horses 且慢；请三思
put the cart before the horse 本末倒置
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink. 牵马到河易，逼马饮水难。
羊（Goat）
The goat is important to people as its coat has been used for clothing and to make writing brushes since ancient times. People born in the year of the goat are sensitive, clever and Rind-hearted. They are mostly quiet people and are very economical but sometimes need to be less hesitant.
羊对人们很重要，因为它的皮毛自古以来就被用于衣服和制作毛笔。羊年出生的人敏感、聪明、热心肠。他们大多是喜欢安静的人，非常节俭，但有时会有点犹豫不决。
关于生肖“羊”的英文一直有争议，因为它有两种翻译，一个是sheep（绵羊），一个是goat（山羊）。民俗学家认为，汉族地区将山羊作为家畜更常见，而文化专家却认为，绵羊更符合中国人温顺的形象。
sheep除了表示“羊”，还可表示“盲从者”。
get sb's goat 使某人非常恼怒
As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb. 与其偷羊羔被绞死，不如偷只羊。比喻一不做，二不休。
猴（Monkey）
Those born in the year of the monkey are very energetic, upbeat and love having fun. They like being active and are said to be compatible with people born under the year of the rat or dragon. They are also good listeners.
猴年出生的人精力充沛，乐观，喜欢玩乐。它们非常活跃，据说与鼠年或龙年出生的人非常融洽。他们也是很好的倾听者。
我们知道，猴子非常调皮活泼，十二生肖中的猴代表聪明、灵巧好动，而英语中的monkey除了表示“猴子”，还可表示“捣蛋鬼；调皮的孩子”。
make a monkey (out) of sb. 捉弄某人
鸡（Rooster）
Those born in the year of the rooster are very punctual, just like an actual rooster that crows and wakes people up in the morning. They are bright, ambitious and pretty or handsome people. They can sometimes be very enthusiastic about things before getting easily bored. The rooster is a Chinese symbol for ridding the world of evil spirits.
鸡年出生的人非常准时，就像一只真正的公鸡，早上打鸣叫醒人们。他们是聪明、野心勃勃、漂亮或英俊的人。他们有时会在容易感到无聊之前对事情非常热情。公鸡是中国的象征，用于消除世界上的邪恶。
说到“鸡”，很多同学会问为什么不用chicken，而用rooster？chicken指的是鸡肉和小鸡仔，rooster指“雄鸡；公鸡”，更能代表中国人的形象。
Don't be a chicken. 别害怕。
狗（Dog）
Those born in the year of the dog are loyal, decisive and sincere (the Chinese also see the dog as man's best friend). The dog is seen as a very positive symbol and means that good fortune will come. The Chinese god Erlang has a loyal wolfhound who helps him to capture monsters in legends.
狗年出生的人忠诚、果断、真诚（中国人也把狗看作人最好的朋友）。狗被视为一个非常积极的象征，意味着好运会到来。中国神二郎有一只忠诚的猎狼犬，帮助他捕捉传说中的怪物。
英语中带有dog的谚语和俚语非常多。
a lucky dog 幸运儿
a dog's life 悲惨的生活
It rains cats and dogs. 下倾盆大雨。
Every dog has his/its day. 人人皆有得意时。
猪（Pig）
The pig is seen as a well-behaved, considerate and optimistic animal. People born in the year of the pig are said to have very pure hearts and be very generous.
They easily forgive the mistakes of others but can sometimes be a little lazy and short-tempered.
猪被视为一种乖巧、体贴和乐观的动物。据说猪年出生的人心很纯洁，也很慷慨。他们很容易原谅别人的错误，但有时也会有点懒惰和脾气暴躁。
在英语中，pig常表达贬义，可表示“贪婪（或肮脏）的人；令人讨厌的人”。
Don't be such a pig! 不要那么讨厌嘛！
Pigs might fly. 猪会飞，表示不相信某事会发生。
make a pig's ear of sth. 把事情办砸
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