用法学习: 1. gentrification [ˌdʒentrɪfɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n] 贵族化 the process by which an area of a city where poor people live becomes an area where middle-class people live, as they buy the houses and repair them. The process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying 伴随着 the influx of 涌入 middle class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces 挤出去 earlier usually poorer residents. Gentrification is a trend in urban neighborhoods, which results in increased property values and the displacing of lower-income families and small businesses. This is a common and widespread controversial topic in urban planning. It refers to shifts in an urban community lifestyle and an increasing share of wealthier residents and/or businesses and increasing property values. Gentrification is typically the result of increased interest in a certain environment. Early "gentrifiers" may belong to low income artists or boheme ( n. [boɛ:m] bohemian adj. ) communities, which increase the attractiveness and flair of a certain quarter. Further steps are increased investments in a community and the related infrastructure by real estate development businesses, local government, or community activists and resulting economic development, increased attraction of business and lower crime rates. In addition to these potential benefits, gentrification can lead to population migration 人口迁徙. In a community undergoing gentrification, the average income increases. Poorer pre-gentrification residents who are unable to pay increased rents or property taxes may find it necessary to relocate. 2. après After. Usage notes: Often hyphenated to its referent, following conventions of English multi-word–modifier hyphenation. après-ski [ˌæpreɪ ˈski:]: social activities that take place after you have spent the day skiing. Such activities or events that occur after skiing. Après-ski (French: after skiing) refers to any form of entertainment, nightlife or social events that occur specifically at ski resorts. These add to the enjoyment of resort-goers
and provide something to do besides skiing and snowboarding. The
culture originated in the Alps, where it is most popular and where
skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still
wearing all their ski gear. People that browse ski resort & hotel
websites will commonly seek mention of the quality of après-ski in the
area, and such information is often found. It is therefore seen as an important factor for skiers to consider before booking a holiday.
The concept is similar to the nineteenth hole in golf. Though the word
'ski' is a derivation of the Old Norse 'skíð' via Norwegian, the choice
of French is likely attributed to the early popularity of such
activities in the French Alps, with which it was then linked. Time-out 面壁思过( I want to be in time-out. ) (also known as social exclusion) is a form of behavioural modification that involves temporarily separating a child from an environment where unacceptable behavior occurred. This is decided according to the cultural standards and values of the time and place where the misbehavior has occurred with the goal of extinction of the offending behavior. It is an educational and parenting technique recommended by some pediatricians and developmental psychologists as an effective form of child discipline. Often a corner (hence the common term corner time) or a similar space where the child is to stand or sit during time-outs is designated. This form of discipline is especially popular in North America. In the UK, the punishment is often known as the naughty chair or naughty step.
This term became popular in the US thanks to two reality TV series,
Supernanny and Nanny 911. 3. On the other side was a small Co-op
supermarket (The Co-operative Food, commonly referred to as the Co-op (and stylised as "The co-operative food" since 2013), is a brand devised for the grocery business of the consumer co-operative movement
in the United Kingdom. The brand is commonly understood to represent
one supermarket business though this is not true as it is used by over
15 different co-operative societies which operate over 4,000 outlets.
Successor to Co-op Welcome and a range of regional formats, the latest
version of the brand was introduced in 2008 with a significant
advertising campaign. Customers of many of the larger UK co-operative
societies can earn an annual share of the profits at any of "The
Co-operative Food" branded stores in proportion to purchases through The
Co-operative Membership scheme. In 2015 The Co-operative Food was voted
"best overall convenience store chain" at the CTP Awards. Consumer cooperatives are enterprises owned by consumers and managed democratically 民主式管理 which aim at fulfilling the needs and aspirations of their members. They operate within the market system, independently of the state, as a form of mutual aid, oriented toward service rather than pecuniary profit ( [pɪˈkjuniˌeri] relating to or consisting of money. pecuniary losses. ). Consumers' cooperatives often take the form of retail outlets
owned and operated by their consumers, such as food co-ops. However,
there are many types of consumers' cooperatives, operating in areas such
as health care, insurance, housing, utilities and personal finance
(including credit unions). In some countries, consumers' cooperatives
are known as cooperative retail societies or retail co-ops, though they should not be confused with retailers' cooperatives, whose members are retailers rather than consumers.), which was my closest shop. Getting to it was an almost-daily very short journey on foot. I don't drive, by which I mean I can drive, but I wisely choose not to 明智的选择不去做某事 (wise I. a wise person is able to make good choices and decisions because they have a lot of experience. Sally is a wise and cautious woman. the wise old men of the village. a. 明智的. a wise action or decision is sensible and shows that you have good judgment. Moving out of your old apartment was wise. Buying those shares was a wise move. a wise decision: You made a wise decision when you chose to study Spanish. wise to do something: I don't think it's wise to teach your children at home. worldly-wise 世故的 a worldly-wise person has a lot of experience and knowledge of life. wise to something conscious of something that is happening, especially something bad. The police are finally getting wise to how drug dealers work. penny wise, pound foolish not willing to spend small amounts of money, but likely to spend large amounts in a stupid way. wise beyond your years 比年龄成熟 with more knowledge and experience than most people have at your age. wise up informal to learn or understand the truth about something, or to tell someone the truth about something. When are they going to wise up to 意识到, 明白 the fact that people aren't interested? it/someone /would/might be wise to do something used for suggesting what should be done. It might be wise to keep an eye on your son. You'd be wise to pay more attention. it is wise to check something/it is worth checking something: It would be wise to check the availability of seats before going to the concert.). 4. 宾馆潜规则: This is an hour earlier than checkout time at most hotels around the world, and some are happy to let you stay until noon. It is in the hotel's best interest if guests depart as early as possible so that housekeeping staff can move quickly from one room to the next without having to skip those that are occupied and return to service them later. According to one manager of a large Australian city hotel, most housekeeping staff are rostered on at about 9am, although a skeleton staff is on call (
The minimum number of employees needed to operate a business during a
vacation, weekend, or other period when people do not normally work, or
full staffing is not necessary. The minimum number of employees needed
to operate a business during a vacation, weekend, or other period when
people do not normally work, or full staffing is not necessary. ) at all times in case of emergencies. If too many guests delay their departure there is a possibility that housekeeping staff will not be able to service all their allocated rooms before their shift finishes, in which case they will need to be paid overtime and in Australia staff overtime costs are relatively high. Another reason for an early checkout is that it gives the hotel the freedom to charge guests an additional fee for a late checkout, or to regard it as a privilege to be awarded to a favoured few,
along with free internet or a welcome fruit basket. If you want a late
checkout your request is more likely to be successful if you can demonstrate loyalty. For example, at Melbourne-based Art Series Hotels, top-tier Black Membership guests can check out as late as 6pm, along with a swag of ( A large number or amount: Howard has promised me a swag of goodies. ) other privileges. 5. Kobe beef refers to beef from the Tajima strain of Wagyu cattle 奶牛, 肉牛(cows and bulls kept by farmers for their milk or meat. A group of cattle is called a herd. cattle grid 牛栏 a set of metal bars fixed over a hole in the ground that cows, sheep etc cannot cross. The American word is cattle guard. cattle prod a stick that can give an electric shock, used for making an animal move in a particular direction.), raised in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture according to rules as set out by the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association. The meat is a delicacy renowned for its flavor, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. Kobe beef can be prepared as steak, sukiyaki, shabu shabu, sashimi, and teppanyaki. vivacious [vɪˈveɪʃəs] lively and attractive. a vivacious and charming lady. a vivacious personality. The
community is mourning the deaths of the "vivacious, sensational and
beautiful" children and have told of their shock at the father's actions. "They
are absolutely doting parents," an unnamed neighbour told the
Advertiser. "I tell everyone how blessed those children were to have
such wonderful parents. I could not fault them in anyway. One punch accident: Police initially charged Renata and Maxwell with grievous bodily harm over the incident, but those were upgraded to unlawful striking causing death after Mr Miller died. Renata and Maxwell were remanded in custody following brief appearances in the Brisbane Magistrates Court yesterday and are set to reappear in court later today.
女子无德: The
also copped a tongue lashing ( tongue-lashing 严厉批评, 教训, 斥责 a loud or severe scolding. If you give someone a tongue-lashing, you speak angrily to that person about something that they have done wrong. an occasion when you speak angrily to someone because they have done something wrong: He got a real tongue lashing after the game. "the incensed boss gave him a tongue-lashing". ) from a female police officer who lectured
the pair about respecting Thai culture. The investigation was sparked by
Thailand's "morality" crackdown, where police are on the warpath 宣战
against scantily clad Western tourists flouting their bodies in public
places. 有洁癖的浣熊: Raccoon have incredibly
strict personal hygiene habits. They always wash their hands and face
before and after dinner (which is more than I can say for some people)
and they always clean their food before eating, known as dousing ( douse I. to cover something or someone with a liquid, especially water or fuel. II. to make a fire stop burning by pouring water over it. douse/smother/extinguish the flames 浇灭 (=stop a fire burning): Bryan smothered the flames with his coat. ). But in this case of this unfortunate masked bandit ( a thief who attacks travellers, usually with other thieves. one-armed bandit a slot machine.), having such high standards 高标准 might not be such a good thing… Posted
to Vine, this short footage taken from a Japanese game show captures
the moment when a raccoon (or tanuki, in Japan) realises that they've
made a very big mistake after attempting to wash fairy floss ( Cotton
candy 棉花糖 (U.S., India, Canada), candy floss (UK, Pakistan, Ireland, New
Zealand, India, South Africa, Canada), or tooth floss (South Africa),
and Fairy Floss (Australia) is a form of spun sugar. According to the
New York Times, the confection "is almost 99.999 percent sugar, with
dashes of flavoring and food coloring." Made by
heating sugar and spinning the liquified sugar out through tiny holes
where it re-solidifies 凝固 in minutely ( [maɪˈnjuːtli] I. 事无巨细的. very carefully and with a lot of attention to detail. a minutely detailed report. II. 细微的, 微小的. in a very slight or small way. He turned up the volume minutely. ) thin strands of "sugar glass," the
final cotton candy contains mostly air; with a typical serving weighing
approximately 1 ounce or 30 grams. Often served at
fairs, circuses, carnivals, and Japanese festivals, cotton candy is sold
on paper batons, large toothpicks or in plastic bags. Food
coloring can be used to change the natural white color, and numerous
flavorings are available to change the taste.)
before eating it. The image of old mate left nothing
but sticky paws and the taste of disappointment has gone viral, looped
more than 9 million times on Vine and YouTube by sympathetic viewers
around the world. Earlier this week, the world was captivated and heartbroken by a raccoon who tried to wash its fairy floss in a puddle, only to watch its precious snack dissolve into nothing. But the devastating tale has a triumphant ending: the full scene from the Japanese game show has now emerged, and it reveals the raccoon did get to snack on sweet cotton candy after eventually overcoming the instinct to wash its food. Hug the person next to you in celebration of this glorious victory! Sidenote: WTF, Japan?! Taunting 捉弄, 戏弄 a poor raccoon with fairy floss?!?! We know you have a thing for admirably messed-up game shows, and normally we love you for it, but this time you've gone too far. 澳明星新作: The
47-year-old guest stars as the owner of a gay bar in an episode of the
Medieval musical series Galavant. The character played by her real-life
boyfriend Joshua Sasse wanders in accidentally. Passion ensues. The pair met on the set of the show last
September and have since taken their loved-up act around the world.
Joshua, 28, recently told Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O that he didn't
even know who she was at first, which must have really upped his keeper
status for the beloved pop star. This isn't the first
time their PDA has been caught on camera. 中国瀑布秒变冰柱: Stunning photographs have captured rare shots of Taihang Mountain's waterfalls frozen over due to an icy drop in temperatures. The
mesmerising images, which were taken in the Hebei Province of northern
China, reveal that the usually cascading waters that attract tourists
from all of the world annually, have been suspended in icy shards 冰渣 ( shard 碎片 a sharp piece of broken glass, metal, or other hard substance. ) by the
cold. The collection of images show that the
mountain's waterfalls, which usually fill the area with the sound of
loud thunderous clashes, have transformed into thousands of icicles. Impressed visitors are flocking to see the natural phenomenon, which was reportedly last documented in 2012. Taihang's
mountain range encompasses 250 miles from north to south and runs
through three of the country's provinces. It extends over 250 miles and
has an average elevation of 4,900 to 6,600 ft - with its principal peak,
Xiao Wutaishan, standing at 9,455ft. Weather in the country's freezing Hebei Province ranges at temperatures between one and -12 degrees during the winter months. 家电巨头陷入麻烦: Troubled
electronics retailer Dick Smith has been placed in voluntary
administration after failing to secure a funds injection from its banks.
The company blamed its financial woes on worse-than-expected sales and
cash generation in December, continuing the weak trend from previous
months. "Whilst confident on the long-term viability of
the company, the directors have been unsuccessful in obtaining the
necessary support of its banking syndicate to see it through this
period," chairman Rob Murray said in a statement on Tuesday. The
company explored alternative funding, but concluded this would not be
secured in time to order the required inventory during the next four to
six weeks, he said. The announcement comes a day after
Dick Smith shares were put in a trading halt, a move that revived
investor fears about the company whose share price has tumbled 84 per
cent since last May. The shares have now been suspended from trading. The
retailer first warned in October that full year profit could fall as
much as 15 per cent to between $37 million and $43 million, as it
stepped up discounting and advertising to restore sales growth. However, the sales slump continued into November, resulting in the company having to dump its profit forecast a few weeks later. The
retailer was forced to launch a firesale in early December to clear
unwanted stock that cost it about $60 million in writedowns. Shares in the company have been battered in recent months, wiping out hundreds of millions in market value. Dick Smith shares closed at 35.5 cents on the last trading day in 2015. Retail
giant Woolworths received $94 million after selling Dick Smith Holdings
to private equity firm Anchorage Capital Partners in 2012. A year later, Anchorage floated the company on the Australian share market at $2.20 a share, valuing it at $520 million. 悉尼NYE庆祝纷乱: Then there were the toilet queues. "People pissing anywhere they could because you only had the bare minimum ( bare minimum The smallest possible quantity or the least fulfilling, but still adequate, condition that is required, acceptable, or suitable for some purpose.) portable toilets," Jason Littlewood said. Several partygoers described missing out on time with relatives
from overseas due to the long lines. "The music was also bloody
horrible!" Chris Lee said. "The speakers closest to the Opera House kept cutting out and you were playing the same Bieber song over and over again." Other descriptions of the event included "highway robbery", "a broken promise", "a total shambles" and "just awful". The site's view 场地的景色 appeared to be one aspect 其中一方面 of the night that lived up to expectations. For the first time, Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks will be ushered in with a vast and proud Aboriginal Welcome to Country ceremony, putting local Gadigal, Wangal and Gamaragal traditions front and centre 核心地位, 最重要的位置 ( Prominently; at the forefront. In the most prominent position: standing front and center here today are our bravest heroes. You couldn't miss John-he was front and center in that presentation. This expression alludes to the best and usually most expensive seats in a theater. ) in global new year celebrations. Hours before the start of the city's $7 million party to ring in 2016, lord mayor Clover Moore revealed closely guarded 守口如瓶的 plans
to turn the Sydney Harbour Bridge into a giant canvas, using new
technologies to present the world's oldest dance form in honour of
Australia's First Nations culture, land and peoples.
关于plaster: 1. Plaster, stucco or render 石灰, 砂灰, 砂浆(墙面上刷墙前在砖之外喷的砂浆层) is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. It is manufactured as a dry powder and is mixed with water to form a paste when used. The reaction with water liberates heat through crystallization and the hydrated plaster then hardens. Plaster can be relatively easily worked with metal tools or even sandpaper. These characteristics make plaster suitable for a finishing, rather than a load-bearing material. Stucco is another term, often (and in these articles) used for plaster that is worked in some way to produce relief decoration, rather than flat surfaces, and also for formulations designed for exterior use, which normally requires a protective coating of paint that is regularly maintained. The term plaster can refer to gypsum plaster (also known as plaster of Paris), lime plaster, or cement plaster. 2. An adhesive bandage 创可贴, also called a sticking plaster (or simply plaster) in British English, is a small medical dressing used for injuries not serious enough to require a full-size bandage. They are also known by the genericized trademarks Band-Aid (as "band-aid" or "band aid" in the US) or Elastoplast (in the UK). 3. balm I. Any soothing oil or lotion, especially an aromatic one. There is a balm in Gilead.... (Spiritual). Tiger Balm (Chinese: 虎標萬金油 is the trademark for a heat rub manufactured and distributed by Haw Par Healthcare in Singapore. II. (figuratively) Something soothing. Classical music is a sweet balm for our sorrows. 4. Tiger plaster patches虎牌膏药: One of the best stiff neck remedies, the warm pain relief patch is comfortable to wear, provides long lasting relief and developed with Tiger Balm's distinctive formulation. Tiger Balm Plaster (Warm) is a unique preparation that provides long lasting, soothing relief for stiff necks and muscular aches and pains. It is comfortable and an effective remedy for stiff neck and shoulders, back pains and muscular fatigue. Made from hydrogel technology and non-woven ventilated material, Tiger Balm Plaster (Warm) is comfortable to use with easy application that leaves no residue on skin, making it ideal for everyday use.
transfer VS transit VS transition: minimum connecting time 转机时间 (transfer time) (aviation, travel) The amount of time, agreed in advance between airlines and airport authorities, that is considered sufficient for a passenger to make a connection between an arriving flight and a departing flight. Also, at 8pm, there is not a lot of international arrivals so your transit time through customs, etc should be closer to 60 minutes rather than 90 minutes. transfer I. [INTRANSITIVE/ TRANSITIVE] to move from one job, office, or department to another in the same company or organization. transfer to: I'm transferring 转岗, 调职 to our Tokyo office next year. transfer someone from something to something: Helen was transferred from marketing to sales. a. [TRANSITIVE] to move someone or something from one place to another. transfer someone/something to something 转移: Wait until the cakes cool before transferring them to a plate. Our tour group was transferred to the hotel by bus. b. [INTRANSITIVE] to stop studying at one school or university and go to another. transfer to 转学: The children will transfer to a news chool in September. c. [TRANSITIVE] 转款. 转钱. to move money from one account or bank to another. I need to transfer £500 to my daughter's account. d. 转会. [TRANSITIVE] BRITISH to sell a professional sports player to another team. Ferdinand was transferred to Leeds for £18 million. e. [INTRANSITIVE/TRANSITIVE] 转机. to move from one bus, vehicle, plane, or boat to another as part of a longer journey. We're being transferred to another plane in Amsterdam. II. [TRANSITIVE] to stop giving your time or support to one person or thing and give it to another. The time came to transfer their attention from study to practical life. III. 转电话. [TRANSITIVE] to let someone speak to another person by changing telephone lines for them. Please hold the line while I transfer you. IV. 过户. [TRANSITIVE] to officially arrange for someone else to become the owner of something. They are transferring the deeds to the new owner. V. [TRANSITIVE] to copy information or images from one place or object to another. I want you to transfer the files onto a disk. transfer power/authority/responsibility 转给. 转让权利, 转出责任 to officially arrange for someone else to be in charge of something. We have transferred all of the administrative responsibilities to our central office. transition I. the process of changing from one situation, form, or state to another. a transition period. a transition from something to something 过渡, 转变: It's not always a smooth transition from high school to college. make the transition (=change from one situation, etc. to another): He's finding it difficult to make the transition 转变为父亲, 角色转变 to parenthood. in transition 巨变中: The author gives an interesting description of a society in transition. transition between: The transition between winter and spring lasts only a few weeks. v. [intransitive/transitive] to change from one situation, form, or state to another, or to cause someone or something to do this. Dramatic changes in content and teaching methods are needed to ensure that students transitioning from high school to college are successful. We are in the process of transitioning our program, which includes reducing our staff. II. 变性中的. [intransitive] when a person who is changing their gender transitions, they have a medical operation to change from being a man to a woman or from a woman to a man. As part of the real life experience, transitioning employees start dressing at all times in clothes appropriate for his or her new gender identity. n. the process of changing from one situation, form, or state to another. a transition period. a transition from something to something: It's not always a smooth transition from high school to college. make the transition (=change from one situation, etc. to another): He's finding it difficult to make the transition to parenthood. in transition 转变中: The author gives an interesting description of a society in transition. transition between: The transition between winter and spring lasts only a few weeks. transit I. the activity or process of moving someone or something from one place to another. in transit 转运中: Our suitcases were damaged in transit. II. American a system of buses, trains, etc. that people use to travel around a particular city or area. We are working to improve the city's transit options. public transit (=operated by the local government instead of a private company): increased funding for public transit. mass transit 大众交通 (=all of the buses and trains in a particular area): New York's mass transit system is the oldest in the country.
流产治罪: A woman who took poison she bought on the internet to terminate her unborn son has been jailed. Natalie Towers, 24, of Adams Street, Shildon, County Durham, collapsed wailing in the dock at Newcastle Crown Court when she was sentenced to serve two years and six months behind bars. Mr Justice Jay said: "This offence does involve extinguishing life about to begin." He gave her credit 表扬, 称赞 for admitting the charge of administering poison with intent to procure a miscarriage while 32-34 weeks' pregnant at a previous hearing, but said an immediate custodial sentence had to be passed and it could not be suspended. Towers, who has a child from a previous pregnancy which she concealed, wept 哭泣 throughout the sentencing hearing. A reporting restriction preventing the unborn child from being identified by the media, which was previously in place, had been made in error, the court heard. Towers was living with her boyfriend in November last year when she bought and took a drug which caused strong contractions, the court heard. After she felt unwell she went to the bathroom and rang 999 to say she was having a miscarriage and told the call handler 接线员 she was bleeding. A first paramedic arrived to find Towers complaining of stomach pain but not appearing to be distressed or concerned, Sarah Mallett, prosecuting, said. Another paramedic arrived and when she went to look in the toilet, Towers said "It's dead, I know it's dead", the court heard. Strenuous efforts were made to resuscitate the baby([rɪˈsʌsɪˌteɪt] I. to make an unconscious person start to breathe again. II. 挽救. 复苏 to make something effective or successful again. the government’s efforts to resuscitate the economy. ), who has been named Luke, the judge was told. Tests later showed he was between 32 and 34 weeks gestation 妊娠 and his development was commensurate with ( [kəˈmenʃərət] 合适的. 相配的. intended to be suitable for the quality, status, or value of someone or something. a pay increase commensurate with job performance. ) that age. The cause of death was oxygen starvation 缺氧, 氧气不足, the court was told. Towers spoke to a police officer at hospital and appeared calm and unemotional but was worried she might be jailed, Miss Mallett said. A few hours later she spoke to another officer and was emotional when speaking about her health problems. She initially claimed she was unaware of her pregnancy and had not felt any movements, then confessed 坦白, 承认 she took tablets although "she didn't think she was that far along 月份深, 怀孕那么久", Miss Mallett said. After she was arrested, she told police she had Googled the drug and ordered it without reading up about it. In a later interview she said she thought she was a couple of months pregnant and had "no idea" how old the baby was, Miss Mallett said. Towers used the internet to buy the pills and researched how to delete her search history. The prosecuting barrister said it was a "very unusual case". Dan Cordey, defending, said: "She is remorseful, she greatly regrets her actions, she is a young lady, she was 23 at the time, now only 24, and that remorse and regret is something that will live with her for the rest of her life. "In her own words, she said 'When I look back I think it's awful, I hate myself, I hate it and I know it's my fault'." Mr Cordey said at the time she was suffering from "depressive episodes". He said she was emotionally unstable and had "a tendency to act without thinking". Mr Justice Jay said: "The case has nothing to do with the general immorality or otherwise of the termination of unborn foetuses. "The law in this country is quite clear, you must have been fully aware no doubt in line with your internet searches, it was open to you to seek termination at any stage before 24 weeks gestation." The judge said her baby at 32-34 weeks would have had a "very good chance of survival, but had no chance once you administered this drug". He said the offence was so serious that immediate custody 立即收监 was required.
日本的神社: Shinto (神道), also called kami-no-michi, is the ethnic religion of the people of Japan. It is defined as an action-centered religion, focused on ritual practices to be carried out diligently,
to establish a connection between present-day Japan and its ancient
past. Shinto today is a term that applies to the religion of public shrines devoted to the worship of a multitude of gods (kami), suited to various purposes such as war memorials and harvest festivals, and applies as well to various sectarian ( [sekˈteəriən] caused by disagreements among people from different religious groups. sectarian violence/killing/hatred etc 宗教仇杀: Sectarian violence poses a real threat to the stability of the country.) organizations. Practitioners express their diverse beliefs through a standard language and practice, adopting a similar style in dress and ritual, dating from around the time of the Nara and Heian periods. Shinto is the largest religion
in Japan, practiced by nearly 80% of the population, yet only a small
percentage of these identify themselves as "Shintoists" in surveys. This
is because "Shinto" has different meanings in Japan: most of the
Japanese attend Shinto shrines and beseech kami without belonging to an
institutional "Shinto" religion, and since there are no formal rituals to become a member of "folk Shinto", "Shinto membership" is often estimated counting those who join organised Shinto sects. A Shinto shrine (神社 jinja) is a structure whose main purpose is to house ("enshrine") one or more Shinto (神道) kami. Its most important building is used for the safekeeping of sacred objects, and not for worship. Although only one word ("shrine") is used in English, in Japanese Shinto shrines may carry any one of many different, non-equivalent names
like gongen, -gū, jinja, jingū, mori, myōjin, -sha, taisha, ubusuna or
yashiro. (For details, see the section Interpreting shrine names.) Miya (宮) indicates a shrine enshrining 供奉 ( to officially record something such as an idea or principle in a document so that it cannot be ignored. These fundamental freedoms are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. ) a special kami or a member of the Imperial household like the Empress, but there are many examples in which it is used simply as a tradition. During the period of state regulation, many -miya names were changed to jinja. Jingū (神宮) is a shrine of particularly high status that has a deep relationship with the Imperial household or enshrines an Emperor,
as for example in the case of the Ise Jingū 伊势神宫 and the Meiji
Jingū明治神宫. The name Jingū alone, however, can refer only to the Ise
Jingū, whose official name is just "Jingū". Jinja (神社) is the most
general name for shrine. Any place that owns a honden (本殿?) is a jinja. -gū (宮) indicates a shrine enshrining an imperial prince,
but there are many examples in which it is used simply as a tradition. A
taisha (大社)(the characters are also read ōyashiro) is literally a
"great shrine" that was classified as such under the old system of shrine ranking, the shakaku (社格), abolished in 1946. Many shrines carrying that shōgō adopted it only after the war. The arrival of Buddhism changed the situation, introducing to Japan the concept of the permanent shrine. A great number of Buddhist temples were built next to existing shrines in mixed complexes called jingū-ji (神宮寺 lit. shrine temple) to help priesthood deal with local kami, making those shrines permanent(原本是要20年重建的). Some time in their evolution, the word Miya (宮) meaning "palace" came into use, indicating that shrines had by then become the imposing structures of today. Once the first permanent shrines were built, Shinto revealed a strong tendency to resist architectural change 拒绝建筑结构变化, a tendency which manifested itself in the so-called Shikinen sengū-sai (式年遷宮祭), the tradition of rebuilding shrines faithfully at regular intervals adhering strictly to their original design. This custom is the reason ancient styles have been replicated through the centuries to the present day, remaining more or less intact. Ise Shrine, still rebuilt every 20 years, is its best extant example([ekˈstænt] 现存的. still existing, usually despite being very old.). The tradition of rebuilding shrines or temples is present in other religions, but in Shinto it has played a particularly significant role in preserving ancient architectural styles. Shrines weren't of course completely immune to change, and in fact show various influences, particularly that of Buddhism, a cultural import which provided much of Shinto architecture's vocabulary. A torii (鳥居, lit. bird abode, [ˈtɔəri.iː]) is a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of or within a Shinto shrine, where it symbolically marks the transition from the profane to the sacred( profane [prəˈfeɪn] adj. I. 亵渎的. 大不敬的. showing a lack of respect for God or religious objects, places, or beliefs. II. =secular. 世俗的. not relating to religion. v. to show a lack of respect for God or for a religious object, place, or belief. sacred [ˈseɪkrəd] I. connected with religion. a sacred holiday. II. considered to be holy or connected with God in a special way. Jerusalem is sacred to Christians, Muslims, and Jews. sacred ground. III. so important that you should not change, question, or criticize it. the sacred rules of the legal profession. We make jokes about everything – nothing is sacred没有什么是碰不得的. sacred cow something that many people think is too important to change, question, or criticize. tread on sacred/dangerous ground 没事找事 to do something that is likely to cause a problem or upset some people. If you criticize his mother you're treading on dangerous ground. ) (see Sacred-profane dichotomy). The presence of a torii at the entrance is usually the simplest way to identify Shinto shrines,
and a small torii icon represents them on Japanese road maps. They are
however a common sight at Japanese Buddhist temples too, where they stand at the entrance of the temple's own shrine, called chinjusha (鎮守社, tutelary god shrine) and are usually very small. Gion (祇園(qi), ぎおん) is a district of Kyoto, Japan, originally developed in the Middle Ages, in front of Yasaka Shrine. The district was built to accommodate the needs of travelers and visitors to the shrine. It eventually evolved to become one of the most exclusive and well-known geisha districts
in all of Japan. The geisha in the Gion district (and Kyoto generally)
do not refer to themselves as geisha; instead, Gion geisha use the local
term geiko. While the term geisha means "artist" or "person of the
arts", the more direct term geiko means essentially "a child of the
arts" or "a woman of art". Since early Japan, Inari 稻荷 was seen as the patron of business, and merchants and manufacturers
have traditionally worshipped Inari. Each of the torii at Fushimi Inari
Taisha is donated by a Japanese business. First and foremost, though,
Inari is the god of rice. Foxes (kitsune), regarded as the messengers,
are often found in Inari shrines. One attribute is a key (for the rice
granary) in their mouths. Unlike most Shinto shrines, Fushimi Inari
Taisha 京都伏見稻荷大社, in keeping with typical Inari shrines, has an open view of the main idol object (a mirror). Fox holding a key in its mouth, at the main gate of the Fushimi Inari shrine. Praying at shrines and temples: Japanese Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples are one type of sightseeing spot that attract a great deal of tourists from abroad. Shrines in the mountains with breathtaking scenery for each season and temples with a beautiful melding融合 of architectural structures and gardens in the traditional format are all bursting with ( I. 充盈, 满溢, 洋溢着. if you are bursting with something such as pride, energy, or love, you feel or have a lot of it. bursting with: He was bursting with excitement. The new teacher was enthusiastic and bursting with ideas. a. impatient because you want very much to do something. bursting to do something 急不可耐的, 等不及的: I'm absolutely bursting to tell you what's happened. II. if a place is bursting, it is very full. The bars were already bursting at 7 o'clock. be bursting/bulging at the seams 塞满了, 满满当当的 (=so full that there is no room for any more people or things) to be teeming with or crammed full of something. to be very full of people or things: The house was bursting at the seams with furniture. The camps are bursting at the seams with refugees. III. spoken feeling very strongly that you need to urinate. ) amazing things to see. And these are also places that have been treasured by the Japanese people since days of old. It is worth it to take a moment to learn the correct way to pray 参拜 and enjoy a casual trip to some of these wonderful places. First let's take a look at the differences between shrines and temples. Shrines are built to serve the Shinto religious tradition,
and are characterized by a "torii" gate at the entrance. Temples are
built to serve the Buddhist religious tradition, and are characterized
by a "sanmon山门, 三门" gate (
A sanmon (三門 or 山門?), also called sangedatsumon (三解脱門 gate of the three
liberations?) is the most important gate of a Japanese Zen Buddhist
temple, and is part of the Zen shichidō garan, the group of buildings
that forms the heart of a Zen Buddhist temple. It can be however often
found in temples of other denominations too. Most sanmon are 2- or 3-bay
nijūmon (a type of two-storied gate), but the name by itself does not
imply any specific architecture. ) at the entrance. Large sanmon gates at temples like the Todai-ji temple in Nara or the Senso-ji temple in Tokyo have impressive roofs and fierce temple guardian statues 门神 (niozo) in their columns. Shrines: 1) Pass through the torii gate. All shrines have a torii gate, even if they do not have a main sanctuary housing the spirit of a deity. A torii gate is the boundary line between holy ground and the secular [ˈsekjulə(r)] world. Passing through the torii gate signifies that you have stepped into the domain of the deity. Though awareness of torii etiquette has dwindled recently, bowing once in front of the torii gate is the correct procedure. Also, the center of the pathway entering into the shrine is set aside as the area where the deity passes. Avoiding this center space and walking to the side area of the pathway is one key to a polite visit. 2) Purify your hands and mouth at the "temizuya手水舎" water pavilion. The "temizuya" water pavilion consisting of a water basin and ladles 木勺 is not a place to drink water. It is there to perform "misogi," a ritual to purify the body and mind with water before proceeding to stand in front of the deity.
Originally this ritual was performed in the nude at special misogi
locations like the ocean or a river, but today the ritual has been simplified to rinsing your hands and mouth at the temizuya. Wash yourself with the idea of washing away impurities in your heart as well as from your physical self. ・First, scoop up 舀起 water in a ladle
with your right hand and pour water over your left hand. ・Next, hold
the ladle with your left hand and pour water over your right hand. ・In
your left hand, take some water that you have scooped with the ladle and
rinse your mouth. Never touch the ladle directly to your mouth.
・Lastly, using the remaining water, tip the ladle to rinse it off. *You only scoop up water one time, at the very first step of the process. 3) At the altar, bow twice, clap your hands twice, and then bow once to pray. ・Quietly throw in a "saisen賽銭" coin into the "saisenbako" offering box. The "saisen" coin is an offering 贡品, 供品 to the deity.
・Ring the bell to greet the deity. (If there is no bell, omit this
step). ・Bow twice. (2 bows). ・Clap your hands twice. This clap has the
same meaning as a hand clap to express happiness or appreciation. It expresses your joy of meeting with the deity and respect towards the deity. (2 claps). ・With your hands still together, express your feeling of gratitude in your mind without speaking. ・Bow one more time. (1 bow). *The number of bows and handclaps may differ at some shrines. Temples: Temples do not have any one procedure for visiting
that is as strict as shrines. If a temple has a temizuya, purify your
hands and mouth in the same way you would at a shrine and head to the
altar. If a temple has candles or incense, place one in the designated place, throw in a saisen offering, and join your hands in prayer silently. Do not clap your hands.
