Mandarin Ducks鴛鴦

肖雅琪

Mandarin ducks are the special symbol of love andmarriage2 in South East Asia， especially in China，Japan and South Korea.

The notion3 that Mandarin ducks symbolize loveand marriage dates back many centuries.

Pairs of Mandarin ducks are often seen swimmingclose together. It is told the Mandarin ducks stay faithful4 to their mates5 throughout their lifetime.

These Mandarin ducks are very peaceful. They get along without fighting andlive in perfect harmony. Their love for each other is so deep that if one of themdies or disappears， the other left behind will be devastated6. Without his/her matethe remaining Mandarin duck will have no will power to live anymore and death issoon inevitable.

A well-known Chinese saying“two Mandarin ducks playing in water”means“aloving couple”.

為什么鴛鴦象征愛情

在東南亞，尤其是在中國、日本和韓國，鴛鴦是愛情和婚姻的特殊象征。

鴛鴦象征愛情和婚姻的觀念可以追溯到幾個世紀以前。

人們經常看到成對的鴛鴦在一起游泳。據說鴛鴦一生都忠于配偶。

這些鴛鴦非常安靜。它們沒有爭吵，相處得很融洽。它們對彼此的愛如此之深，以至于如果其中一只死亡或消失，留下的另一只將傷心欲絕。沒有配偶，剩下的鴛鴦將不再有生存下去的意志力，死亡很快就不可避免。

中國一個著名的說法“鴛鴦戲水”的意思是“一對恩愛的夫妻”。

A gift filled?with love

Images8 of Mandarin ducks are very common on weddingcards. They are also used on greeting cards of all kinds toexpress love and best wishes. Many believe that putting theseMandarin ducks in your home will help protect the relationshipbetween partners.

Mandarin duck figurines9 or paintings are always favoritewedding gifts. They are the surest way to express your bestwishes to a happy couple.

充滿愛的禮物

鴛鴦的形象在婚禮卡片上很常見。它們也被用在各種賀卡上，以表達愛和美好的祝福。許多人認為，把這些鴛鴦放在家里將有助于保護伴侶之間的關系。

鴛鴦的雕像或畫作常常是最受歡迎的結婚禮物。它們是向一對幸福夫婦表達你最美好祝愿的最可靠的方式。

Notes

1. symbolize. 象征

2. marriage. 結婚；婚姻

3. notion. 概念；想法

4. faithful. 忠誠的；忠貞的

5. mate . 配偶；伴侶

6. devastate. 毀壞；破壞；使傷心欲絕

7. inevitable . 必然發生的

8. image .形象