四大发明，是指中国古代对世界具有很大影响的四种发明，是中国古代劳动人民的重要创造，是指造纸术、指南针、火药和印刷术。我们“骄傲”的跟外国人介绍这些发明，那么你会用英语介绍吗？

The Four Great Inventions of ancient China are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical significance and serve as symbols of Chinese advanced science and technology.

中国四大发明因其历史上的重大意义而在中国文化中备受歌颂，并成为中国古代先进科技的象征。

The Four Great Inventions are: Compass, Gunpowder, Papermaking and Printing.

四大发明是指南针、火药、造纸术和印刷术。

These four inventions had an enormous impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.

四大发明对中国文明和世界文明具有深远影响。

Before the invention of paper, bones, tortoise shells, and bamboo slips were all used as writing surfaces, but as Chinese civilization developed they proved themselves unsuitable because of their bulk and weight.

在造纸术发明之前，人们在骨头、龟壳和竹片上面写字。随着中国文明进步，这些大而笨重的材料不再适合作为书写载体。

Hemp fiber and silk were used to make paper but the quality was far from satisfactory.

麻纤维和丝绸被用来造纸，但其质量未能令人满意。

In 105 A.D. Cai Lun, a eunuch during the Eastern Han Dynasty, invented paper from worn fishnet, bark and cloth.

公元 105年，东汉宦官蔡伦，用旧渔网、树皮和布片来造纸。

These raw materials could be easily found at a much lower cost so large quantities of paper could be produced.

这些造纸材料价格低廉，极易获取，造纸量因此大增。

Later, the technique of papermaking was introduced to other parts of the world, such as Korea, Japan and Europe.

之后，造纸术被传到世界其他地区，例如韩国、日本、欧洲。

Inspired by engraved name seals, Chinese people invented fixed-type engraved printing around 600 A.D.

受到雕刻印章的启示，中国人在公元 600 年左右发明了活字印刷。

During the reign of Emperor Ren Zong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng invented moveable, reusable clay type after numerous tests.

在宋仁宗皇帝统治的北宋年间，毕昇在无数次实践后发明了可移动并可重复使用的胶泥制作而成的活字。

Single types were made and picked out for printing certain books.

每种活字都可以通过依次排好顺序做成印版，然后用于印刷特定书籍。

These types could be used again and again for different books.

这些活字能够重复利用，可以做成不同的印版来印刷各种不同的书。

During the Warring States Period, a device called Si Nan became the forerunner of the compass.

战国时期有一种叫“司南”的小装置，这便是后来指南针的前身。

Si Nan was a ladle-like magnet on a plate with the handle of the ladle pointing to the south.

司南是一种把长柄汤勺似的磁铁放在一个盘子上方而形成的小装置，长柄汤勺的柄指向南方。

In the 11th century, tiny needles made of magnetized steel were invented.

到 11 世纪，人们发明了用磁铁制成的细针。

One end of the needle points north while the other points south.

用细小的磁铁针做成的装置使得指针的一端指向北方，另一端指向南方。

The compass was created.

此时，真正意义上的罗盘被制造出来了。

In Chinese, gunpowder is called huoyao, meaning flaming medicine.

在中国，火药的意思是“燃烧的药品”。

Unlike paper and printing, the birth of gunpowder was quite accidental.

与造纸术和印刷术不同，火药的发明是偶然的。

It was first invented inadvertently by alchemists while attempting to make an elixir of immortality.

当炼金师在尝试炼制长生不老药时，无意间发明了火药。

It was a mixture of sulphur, saltpeter, and charcoal.

火药是硫磺、硝石和木炭的混合物。

At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in military affairs.

在唐朝末期，火药被用于军事战争之中。

During the Song and Yuan dynasties, frequent wars spurred the development of cannons, and fire-arrows shot from bamboo tubes.

宋元时期，连年战乱促进大炮和火箭(从竹筒中射出点火的箭支)的发明。

In the 12th and 13th centuries, gunpowder spread to the Arab countries, then Greece, other European countries, and finally all over the world.

12—13世纪，火药被传到阿拉伯国家、希腊及欧洲其他国家，最后传遍世界。

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