风筝,又称纸鸢,最早的风筝是由古代哲学家墨翟制造的。风筝开始时是传递信息的工具, 后来民间开始用纸来裱糊风筝, 放风筝成为人们喜爱的户外活动。传统的中国风筝，常有吉祥塞意的图案, 体现了人们健康向上的进取精神和对美好幸福的追求。
The kite was originally invented for military purposes风筝开始时是为军事目的而发明的。
Theyre designed with many different shapes and forms.风筝被设计成不同的形状和图案。
Traditionally, kite flying was believed to be good for peoples health.
传统认为, 放风筝有益于入们的身体健康。
Origin起源
The kite, orginally called Zhiyuan, is said to have been invented by a famous Chinese philosopher ( 哲学家 ). Motse, 2,300 years ago for military purposes kites, were used in the military to make a signal and test the wind.
◇阅读参考: 风筝,又叫纸鸢,是中国古代著名哲学家墨子,于2300多年前为军事目的而发明的。风筝在军事中主要用来传递信号和测量风向。
Development发展
Kite flying was not available to the general population until the invention of paper kites. It also spread to other parts of the world like Europe. Some say the invention of the kite gave man the idea to fly and led to the invention of the airplane.
◇阅读参考: 直到纸风筝发明之后, 放风筝才成为民间流行的活动。风筝后来传播到欧洲等国家。一些人说风筝启发了人类制造飞机上天翱翔的想法。
Craftsmanship工艺
Kite making is a traditional Chinese folk handicraft (工艺). They are framed by thin bamboos and then pasted with paper or silk. The best kites are said to be made in Tianjin, Beijing and Weifang. Their fine craftsmanship, vivid
appearance and good balance set them apart from other kites.
◇阅读参考:风筝制作是中国的传统民间工艺。风筝是用小竹子做框架, 然后用纸或丝绸糊起来的。据说天津、北京、潍坊的风筝最有名,这些风筝的工艺、外观、平衡度都是非常出众。
They appear many new patterns (图案) of kites with characters painted on them in recent years, while traditional ones are with pictures of animals, insects (昆虫), and fishes.
◇阅读参考: 今年来,风筝的图案有许多新的特点,而传统的风筝是以动物、昆虫、鱼作为图案的。
用英语介绍中国,模拟对话
A: Today is sunny and a bit windy.
B: Good weather for kite flying, isnt it?
A:今天是晴天,微风。
B:放风筝的好天气,不是吗?
A: Look,somebody is flying a kite.
B: Yeah! That dragon-shaped kite flies quite high.
A:看,有人在放风筝。
B:是呀!那龙形风筝飞得真高。
A: Do you know how to fly a kite?
B: Very simple. Hold the string and just run, then you can fly it
A:你会放风筝吗?
B:很简单。拿着细绳跑,你就能把它飞起来了。