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I travelled to downtown Beijing to discover how the Chinese zodiac works
我来到了北京的市中心来看看中国生肖是怎么回事
and how New Year shoppers are preparing for the Year of the Monkey.
还有春节买年货会怎么准备过猴年
It's a bit like December in Britain.
这有点儿像英国的12月
If I was to go to my hometown, the shops would be full of tinsel and snowmen,
如果我那时回到家乡，商店里肯定到处都是闪亮的装饰和雪人
people would be rushing around buying gifts, cards and decorations.
人们会急着去各处买礼物，卡片和装饰品
They would be doing it for one specific day, 25th of December, Christmas Day.
他们这样是为了一个特别的日子，12月25日圣诞节
But Chinese New Year falls on a different date each year.
不过中国的春节每年的日期都不一样
According to the lunar calendar it's dictated by the first new moon closest to the beginning of spring.
根据农历，春节的具体时间是最接近春天开始的第一个新月日
To help me understand how this works is cultural expert Yang Lihui.
民俗专家杨丽慧来帮我理解其中的道理
In China for New Year can start from the middle of January than to the end of February.
中国的春节那天会在是1月中旬到2月底其间的一天
And this lunar cycle repeats itself every 12 years.
这种农历的循环每12年重复一次
One animal represents each year, so totally 12 animals represent 12 years.
每种动物代表一年，一共12种动物代表12年
The animals include the horse, goat, tiger, rooster, dog, pig. And, of course, the monkey.
生肖里包括马，羊，虎，鸡，狗，猪。当然还有猴
I was born in March 1979, what does it make me?
我是在1979年3月出生，那我属什么?
You're zodiac animal is the goat.
那你是属羊的
Well, I eat a lot, so... I like the goat.
嗯，我吃过不少，所以…我喜欢羊
That means you are very gentle and very patient.
说明你非常温柔，非常有耐心
My wife won't tell me I'm patient!
我老婆肯定不会说我有耐心!
You are very persistent.
你非常固执
Depending on what animal you are, the new year ahead could bring good or bad news.
根据你具体属什么，要到来的春节带来的运道有好有坏
What will the year of the monkey bring?
猴年会怎么样呢?
The monkey year is usually believed to be really good
一般都认为猴年是特别好的一年
and every people have different ambitions and different dreams, they will all come true this year.
有着不同愿望和梦想的人们，这一年都会心想事成
A really positive year. A really good year.
这一年真好。非常好的一年
Life in China is changing fast,
中国的生活变化很快
but despite all this modernisation, at this time of year,
不过无论多么现代化，过年的时候
people still seem to care about the ancient philosophy of the Chinese Zodiac.
人们似乎仍然在乎中国古代生肖的思想体系
