“The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.”
Benjamin Disraeli quotes
Mandarin Chinese How to say – Memorial Day is a day to pay respect for the soldiers who died in the service for the country.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Memorial-day.mp3|titles=Memorial day]
纪念日是对为国服务而牺牲的军人献上敬意的一天。
jìniànrì shì duì wèi guó fúwù ér xīshēng de jūnrén xiànshàng jìngyì de yītiān。
jìniànrì （ 纪念 jìniàn, verb, remember; 日 rì, noun, day; together it means Memorial Day) shì ( 是 verb, is) duì (对 preposition, toward) wèi (为preposition, for) guó (国 noun, nation or country) fúwù (服务 verb, serve) ér (而 transition word, and or and then) xīshēng (牺牲 verb, sacrifice) de (的 particle to connect the attributive and the noun it modifies) jūnrén (军人 noun, soldier) xiàn (献 verb, offer) shàng (上 preposition, up) jìng (敬 noun, respect) yì (意 noun, thoughts) de (的 connecting particle) yī (一 number, one) tiān (天 noun, day)。
Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day was officially proclaimed by General John Logan on May 5, 1868 and was observed on May 30 with flowers placed on the graves of soldiers who were buried at Arlington Cemetery.
In 1971, President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday on the last Monday in May. Till now, cities in the United States hold their own ceremonies on the last Monday in May to remember and to pay respect to the men and women who died in the service for the country.
Besides honor those Americans served in the forces, Memorial Day is also a day for personal remembrance. Families honor the memories of their loved ones who already passed away. People attend church services, visit cemetery, place flowers on graves or silent tribute mark the day with solemnity. Memorial Day is a day of reflection, and it is also a three-day weekend to signify the beginning of summer.
How to celebrate Memorial Day?
Though Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, a time to enjoy the company of family and friends, and the occasion to celebrate the nation’s freedom. If you happen to be an American citizen, you can decorate your backyard in red, white and blue and invite relatives, friends, neighbors or co-workers to spend the day celebrating and remembering.
Next, let’s learn about some Chinese idioms about remembrance or unforgettable memory.
[audio:http://www.chinesetolearn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Memorial-day1.mp3|titles=Memorial day]
1 感今怀昔
gǎn jīn huái Xī
gǎn (verb, feel) jīn (noun, the present) huái (verb, remember) Xī (noun, the past)
Feel about the present and remember the past.
How to say this idiom?
海啸过后，他回到被海水冲走的家的地方。他不禁感今怀昔，泪水盈眶。
hǎixiào guò hòu , tā huídào bèi hǎishuǐ chōngzǒude jiā de dìfang . tā bù wán zhěng de gǎn jīn Huái Xī , lèishuǐ yíng kuàng。
After the tsunami, he returned to the place of his old home washed away by the sea water. He could not help but sense the present poignantly while remembering the past and his eyes were filled with tears.
2 念念不忘
niàn niàn bù wàng
niàn (verb, think or remember) niàn (verb, think or remember) bù (negate word, not) wàng (verb, forget)
To keep in mind constantly.
Sample usage:
她的最好朋友一年前搬家到别州，至今她还是对他念念不忘。
tā de zuì hǎo péngyou yī nián qián bānjiā dào bié zhōu , zhìjīn tā hái shì duì tā niànniànbùwàng .
Her best friend moved to other state one year ago, till now she still keeps him in her mind constantly.
3 恋恋不舍
liàn liàn bú shě
liàn (verb, love or yearn for) liàn (verb, love or yearn for) bú (negate word, not) shě (verb, give up or abandon)
Reluctant to part.
Sample usage:
这个小孩恋恋不舍地走出迪士尼世界。
zhège xiǎohái liànliàn búshě dì zǒu chū dí shì ní shìjiè .
This kid reluctantly walked out of Disney World.
4 铭记在心
míng jì zài xīn
míng (verb, engrave) jì(verb, remember) zài (preposition, at) xīn (noun, heart)
Engraved (the memory) and remember in heart.
Sample usage:
她对她自己犯的错误铭记在心。
tā duì tā zìjǐ fàn de cuòwù míngjì zài xīn .
She engraved her own mistake in the heart.
5 刻骨铭心
kè gǔ míng xīn
kè (verb, to carve) gǔ (noun, bone) míng (verb, engrave) xīn (noun, heart)
Carved in bones and engraved in the heart.
or
Etched in one’s memory.
Sample usage:
她有一段刻骨铭心的爱情。
tā yǒu yī duàn kè gǔ míng xīn de àiqíng
She has an unforgettable love which was engraved in her heart and carved in her bone.
6 永世不忘
yǒng shì bù wàng
yǒng (adjective, forever) shì(noun, generations) bù (negate word, not) wàng (verb, forget)
Won’t forget even after forever generation.
Sample usage:
她对他给她的恩惠永世不忘。
tā duì tā gěi tā de ēnhuì yǒngshì bù wàng .
She won’t ever forget the mercy he gave to her even after forever generations.
Wish you have a fabulous Memorial Day under the sun!
Remembrance (Communion Song)