Now the VOA Special English program WORDS AND THEIR STORIES. I'm Rich Kleinfeldt. Today we tell about the word fireworks.
现在是美国之音慢速英语词汇掌故节目。我是Rich Kleinfeldt。今天我们讲解焰火（fireworks）这个词。
The expression fireworks gets its meaning from the fireworks that people shoot into the sky when they are celebrating a great event. Rockets explode to fill the dark, night sky with bright reds and blues, with yellows and greens and whites.
Fireworks这个词语来自人们庆祝盛事时向空中燃放的焰火。火箭式焰火在空中爆炸，用各种颜色把夜空装扮的五彩缤纷。
The expression also means a great show of noisy anger, or something exciting. For example, a defense lawyer in a court trial may become very emotional in arguing with the government lawyer about evidence affecting the accused. The judge finally stops the loud argument and calls the two lawyers forward. He tells them, "I want no more of these fireworks in my courtroom."
这个词汇还用于表示愤怒或激动情绪的迸发。例如，在庭审中，辩护律师可能情绪激动地与政府律师就影响被告的证据辩论。法官最后会制止他们的喧闹辩论，并让两位律师上前，对他们说：“不要在我的法庭上再次争吵。”
Another kind of fireworks can be any event or activity that is especially exciting. One such event is falling in love. If anything can produce fireworks, it is a sweetheart's kiss or the touch of a lover's hand. Often movie or television cartoons show fireworks to represent the excitement of a kiss.
另一种“焰火”的意思代表特别激动的事件或活动。坠入爱河就是其中一例。爱人之间的甜蜜一吻或两手相牵就能产生火花。通常电影或电视动画片用焰火渲染接吻时的激情。
People use the expression fireworks throughout the year. But if you live in the United States and want to see real fireworks, the best time of the year is about now. The Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States. Americans traditionally celebrate their nation's freedom with giant public parties and fireworks at night.
人们常年使用焰火这个表达。但如果你生活在美国，今年想要看到真正焰火的最好时机就是现在。7月4日是美国独立日。根据传统，美国人会在晚上举办盛大聚会和燃放焰火来庆祝国家的独立。
In Washington, for example, large crowds gather near the Washington Monument to listen to music and watch a huge fireworks show. In other cities and smaller towns, local people listen to band concerts and watch fireworks explode in a dark sky.
例如在华盛顿，大量群众聚集在华盛顿纪念碑附近，听音乐，观看大型焰火晚会。在其他城市和小镇里，当地居民听乐队表演，或观看焰火在夜空中绽放。
Many other countries around the world also enjoy the tradition of exploding fireworks on special days. In Australia, the city of Sydney begins each new year with a fireworks show at midnight. China is the birthplace of fireworks. Large fireworks shows were held often during earlier times in China. Now, people use small fireworks to help celebrate weddings and birthdays.
世界上很多国家也有在特殊节日燃放焰火的传统。在澳大利亚，悉尼在午夜以一场焰火晚会迎接新年。中国是焰火的发源地，很早以前中国就经常举办大型焰火晚会。现在，人们使用小型焰火来庆祝结婚或生日。
France also has a great fireworks tradition. A large fireworks show always takes place on Bastille day which celebrates the beginning of the French Revolution. The French city of Cannes holds an international fireworks competition each year in July and August.
法国也有燃放焰火的传统。巴士底日那天会有一场大型焰火晚会来庆祝法国大革命的开始。法国城市戛纳每年7、8月都会举行一场世界焰火比赛。
In India, people have been using fireworks for more than five hundred years. A great Indian fireworks show takes place during the religious celebration of Diwali, every autumn.
在印度，人们燃放焰火已有500多年历史。每年印度宗教节日排灯日（Diwali）期间会举行大型印度焰火晚会。
Fireworks shows are popular around the world. But if I do not end this program right now, there will be fireworks from my producer.
焰火晚会在全球都很受欢迎。但如果我不立马结束这期节目，我的制作人就得火大了。