折柳

A

你知道吗？今天是清明节，我们要去给祖先扫墓，还要折柳枝。

Nǐ zhīdào ma？Jīntiān shì qīngmíngjié，wǒmen yào qù gěi zǔxiān sàomù，hái yào zhé liǔzhī。

Do you know? Today is Tomb-Sweeping Day, and we're going to visit our ancestors' graves and break willow branches.

B

折柳枝？这是什么习俗？

Zhé liǔzhī？Zhè shì shénme xísú？

Break willow branches? What's that custom?

A

这是一个古老的习俗，代表着对逝者的思念和对未来的希望。柳枝具有生命力，象征着重生。

Zhè shì yīgè gǔlǎo de xísú，dàibiǎo zhe duì shìzhě de sīniàn hé duì wèilái de xīwàng。Liǔzhī jùyǒu shēngmìnglì，xiàngzhēngzhe chóngshēng。

It's an ancient custom representing remembrance for the deceased and hope for the future. Willow branches, with their vitality, symbolize rebirth.

B

听起来很有意义。那你们是怎么折柳枝的呢？

Tīng qǐlái hěn yǒuyìyì。Nà nǐmen shì zěnme zhé liǔzhī de ne？

Sounds meaningful. How do you break the willow branches?

A

我们通常会选择一些比较柔软的柳枝，然后轻轻地折断，小心翼翼的，不能弄断。折好后，我们会把柳枝插在墓碑旁，或者带回家里。

Wǒmen tōngcháng huì xuǎnzé yīxiē bǐjiào róuruǎn de liǔzhī，ránhòu qīngqīng de zhēduàn，xiǎoxīnxiàoxīn de，bùnéng nòngduàn。Zhē hǎo hòu，wǒmen huì bǎ liǔzhī chā zài mùbēi páng，huòzhě dài huí jiā lǐ。

We usually choose softer willow branches and gently break them, carefully, without breaking them. After breaking, we insert the branches next to the tombstone or bring them home.

B

原来如此。那你们折柳枝的时候还会说些什么话吗？

Yuánlái rúcǐ。Nà nǐmen zhé liǔzhī de shíhòu hái huì shuō xiē shénme huà ma？

I see. Do you say anything when you break the branches?

A

我们会默默地念叨着对祖先的思念，希望他们一切安好。有时候也会和家人朋友一起聊聊以前和逝者相处的点点滴滴。

Wǒmen huì mòmò de niàndāo zhe duì zǔxiān de sīniàn，xīwàng tāmen yīqiè ānhǎo。Yǒushíhòu yě huì hé jiārén péngyǒu yīqǐ liáoliáo yǐqián hé shìzhě xiāngchǔ de diǎndiǎn dīdī。

We silently express our thoughts for our ancestors, hoping they are well. Sometimes we also chat with family and friends about our memories of the deceased.