十二生肖(the twelve Chinese Zodiacs)是中国传统文化的重要组成部分，它们源于自然界的11种动物和一个民族图腾(totem)。十二生肖代表动物的性格特点各不相同。到了龙年或虎年，人们常说“生龙活虎”;马年人们会说“马到成功”;猪在中国人的眼里是“宝”的意思;牛是勤劳(diligence )的象征，这一点在鲁迅的诗句“俯首甘为孺子牛”中有着完美的体现。

　　参考翻译：

　　The twelve Chinese Zodiacs, including eleven animals in the nature and a national totem, play an important role in the Chinese traditional culture. The twelve symbolic animals have their own characteristics. In the Year of Dragon or the Year of Tiger, people will say shenglonghuohu-full of vim and vigor; in the Year of Horse, people will say madaochenggong—to gain an immediate success. In Chinese eyes, pig is a "treasure". Ox is a symbol of diligence, which is well presented in the verse by Lu Xun一an outstanding writer in China, “head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children”.

　　1.生龙活虎、马到成功:中国成语在翻译时可以先译为拼音，再进一步解释其内涵。“生龙活虎”即“精力充沛，活力四射”，可译为vim and vigor; “马到成功”即“快速获得成功”可译为gain an immediate success。

　　2.牛:生肖中的“牛”用ox来表达，而不用如cattle, cow, bull等其他表示“牛” 的词。

　　3.俯首甘为孺子牛:可直译为Head bowed, like a willing ox I serve the children;或者根据其表达的“愿意为弱小服务的精神”译为modesty combined with the spirit of willingly serving the young and weak。同时，译文要简略给出鲁迅的身份，以使译文内容更为周全。