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Lesson Thirty-four Twelve Zodiac Signs

m��i k��:	Mĕi g�� zh��ng gu�� r��n d��u yŏu z�� jĭ de sh�� xi��ng ma?
��ˣ�	ÿ��й��˶��Լ��
Mike:	Does every Chinese have his or her own animal sign?

l�� li:	Du��. Sh��ng xi��o sh�� zh��ng gu�� chu��n tŏng w��n hu�� de zh��ng y��o z�� ch��ng b�� f��n.
��	�ԡ��Ф��й��ͳ�Ļ��Ҫ��ɲ��֡�
Lili:	Yes. The zodiac is an important part of traditional Chinese culture.

m��i k��:	Sh��ng xi��o zhĭ de sh�� nă sh�� r zhŏng d��ng w��?
��ˣ�	��Фָ��ʮ��ֶ��
Mike:	What are the 12 animals of the zodiac?

l�� li:	T�� men sh�� sh��, ni��, h��, t��, l��ng, sh��, mă, y��ng, h��u, j��, gŏu, zh��.
��	��ţ��á��ߡ��򡢺��
Lili:	They are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and boar.

m��i k��:	J��n ni��n sh�� sh��n me ni��n?
��ˣ�	��ʲô�ꣿ
Mike:	What year is this year?

l�� li:	J��n ni��n sh�� h��u ni��n.
��	��Ǻ��ꡣ
Lili:	This year is the Year of the Monkey.

m��i k��:	N�� me m��ng ni��n ji�� sh�� j�� ni��n le?
��ˣ�	��ô��Ǽ��?
Mike:	So next year is the Year of the Rooster, isn��t it?

l�� li:	Du��. J�� ni��n shĭ y�� r l��ng l��ng w�� ni��n ��r yu�� ji�� r�� ch��n ji��.
��	�ԡ��ʼ��2005��2��9�մ��ڡ�
Lili:	Yes. It will start with the Spring Festival on February 9, 2005.

m��i k��:	Nĭ sh�� sh�� j�� de ma?
��ˣ�	��
Mike:	Were you born in the Year of the Rooster?

l�� li:	B�� sh��. Wŏ sh�� h��u. J��n ni��n sh�� wŏ de bĕn m��ng ni��n.
��	��ǡ����ҵı��ꡣ
Lili:	No. I was born in the Year of the Monkey. This year is my animal year.

m��i k��:	Wŏ bĭ nĭ d�� liăng su��, wŏ y��ng g��i sh�� sh��
��ˣ�	�ұ��꣬��Ӧ��
Mike:	I am two years older than you, do I was born in the Year of��?

l�� li:	Nĭ y��ng g��i sh�� sh�� mă.
��	��Ӧ��
Lili:	You were born in the Year of the Horse.

The Chinese zodiac, or shengxiao, is composed of 12 animals, each of which symbolizes a lunar year. Benmingnian means the year of the animal in which one is born. It is a traditional way to calculate one's age. Shengxiao is also the source of many traditional customs and newer trends, and the animals are popular images that are seen everywhere.