指南針
中國(guó)是舉世公認(rèn)的發(fā)明指南針(compass)的國(guó)家。最初的指南針叫做司南(Sinan, a south-pointing ladle ),出現(xiàn)在戰(zhàn)國(guó)時(shí)期。一般在指南針上標(biāo)有東南西北四個(gè)方位,并且還有刻度。北對(duì)應(yīng)零度,刻度隨順時(shí)針方向而增加。作為中國(guó)古代的四大發(fā)明之一,指南針對(duì)人們的生活,尤其是航海業(yè)的發(fā)展,起到了重要的作用。指南針對(duì)西方世界也產(chǎn)生了顯著的影響,這些國(guó)家由此開始了大規(guī)模的海外冒險(xiǎn)活動(dòng)。
參考翻譯:
The Compass
China is universally acknowledged as the countrywhere the compass was invented. The compass,originally called Sinan, a south-pointing ladle,appeared during the Warring States Period.Generally, the directions of north, east, west and south are shown on the compass, and so arethe angle markings in degrees. North corresponds to zero degree, and the degrees increaseclockwise. As one of the four great inventions of ancient China, the compass played animportant role in people’s life, especially in maritime undertakings. It also had a significantinfluence on the western world, as thereafter those countries began large-scale overseasadventures.