中国古代没有钟表，人们根据生活经验和环境变化将每天分为12个时辰，这12个时辰由十二种不同动物来表示。比如子鼠，子时是23:00-00:59，这是老鼠最活跃的时间；寅虎，寅时是指03:00–04：59，这是老虎最凶猛的时刻；酉鸡，酉时是指17:00-18:59，这是鸡归巢的时间。
Zhōngguó gǔdài méiyǒu zhōngbiǎo, rénmen gēnjù shēnghuó jīngyàn hé huánjìng biànhuà jiāng měitiān fèn wèi 12 gè shíchén, zhè 12 gè shíchén yóu shí’èr zhǒng bùtóng dòngwù lái biǎoshì. Bǐrú zǐ shǔ, zǐ shí shì 23:00-00:59, Zhè shì lǎoshǔ zuì huóyuè de shíjiān; yín hǔ, yínshí shì zhǐ 03:00–04:59, Zhè shì lǎohǔ zuì xiōngměng de shíkè; yǒu jī, yǒushí shì zhǐ 17:00-18:59, Zhè shì jī guī cháo de shíjiān.
人们又将不同年份依次由这十二种动物来表示，这就是十二生肖。生肖就是你出生的年份所对应的这种动物。而中国人常常认为生肖能反映出一个人的性格，甚至命运。
Rénmen yòu jiāng bùtóng niánfèn yīcì yóu zhè shí’èr zhǒng dòngwù lái biǎoshì, zhè jiùshì shí’èr shēngxiào. Shēngxiào jiùshì nǐ chūshēng de niánfèn suǒ duìyìng de zhè zhǒng dòngwù. Ér zhōngguó rén chángcháng rènwéi shēngxiào néng fǎnyìng chū yīgè rén dì xìnggé, shènzhì mìngyùn.
上古时代，掌管天下水系的水灵兴风作乱
In ancient times, the water god was arbitrary , intrusive disturbing
它发起滔天洪水，危害人间
It Initiated floods, endangering people
一时间，生灵涂炭，民不聊生
For a moment, life was ruined, and the people were dying
玉帝率领二郎神和十二元辰
The heaven Emperor led Erlang Shen and the twelve animals
启动天地时盘，扭转乾坤
Started the world hour indicator , turned the world around
老鼠 Mouse
牛 OX
老虎 Tiger
兔 Rabbit
龙 Dragon
蛇 Snake
马 Horse
羊 Sheep
猴 Monkey
鸡 Chicken
狗 Dog
猪 Pig
时盘转动，天地变色
The hour indicator turned, the world changed
洪水退去，天下太平
The flood receded and the world became peace
玉帝论功行赏，封十二元辰为十二生肖
The Heaven Emperor rewarded according to deserts,canonized the 12 animals as the Zodiac
子鼠,丑牛,寅虎,卯兔,辰龙，巳蛇，午马，未羊，申猴，酉鸡，戌狗，亥猪
Zi Mouse, Chou Ox, Yin Tiger, Mao Rabbit, Chen Dragon, Si Snake, Wu Horse, Wei Sheep, Shen Monkey, You Chicken, Xu Dog, Hai Pig
从此十二生肖各司其职，守护人间
Since then, the 12 zodiac has performed its duties and guarded the world
知识点
Nián 年 Year
Yvè 月 Month
Rì 日 Day
Shí jiān 时 间 time
Shí chén 时 辰
One of the 12 two-hour periods into which the day was traditionally divided
一年有十二个月，一日有十二个时辰
Each year has 12 months ;Each day has 12 Shichen
Shēng xiào 生肖
Shǔ xiàng 属相 The Chinese Zodiac
Huà hǔ bù chéng fǎn lèi quǎn 画虎不成反类犬
set out to be tigers but end up as dogs — fail to achieve what one set out to do
Tiān lóng nán dòu dì tóu shé 天龙难斗地头蛇
It means ‘even a ferocious dragon will be no match for the snake in its old haunts’
Hǎo mǎ bù chī huí tóu cǎo 好马不吃回头草
a good horse never goes back to graze the grass left behind—a true man never backtracks
Dǎ gǒu yào kàn zhǔ rén miàn 打狗要看主人面
before you beat a dog,find out who’s its master
