2-3 花语

The Language of Flowers

　　

Every flower tells a story. A red rose given to a true love, a daisy peeking¹ out of a buttonhole, a bundle of violets handed demurely²¹ to a crush² each conveys a different sentiment³.

　　

Flowers, plants, and herbs have been used as symbols since antiquity³⁴, but the romantic custom of using flowers to converse⁴⁵ began to flourish in the 19th century. Courting⁶ couples used blooms to declare their affection even when the strict etiquette⁵ of the times prohibited them from speaking openly, a method of communicating that became nearly an art. An ill considered choice of blooms could leave a suitor’s⁷ amorous⁶⁸ intention misunderstood, whereas the right flower needed no explanation. If a lady was given a spray of red tulips, for instance, she knew her gentleman caller was smitten⁹. If the ardor⁷¹⁰ was returned, she might send him a bouquet⁸ of lilacs. But if she chose to respond with an arrangement of ivy⁹, he’d realize a romance probably would not blossom.

　　

The following is our guide to select the right blooms that speak for you.

 

Baby’s breath = Everlasting¹⁰ love

Calla lily = Magnificent beauty

Carnation¹¹ = Pure love

Carnation (pink) = Woman’s love

Cornflower = Delicacy¹²¹¹

Crocus = Cheerfulness

Daisy = Innocence¹³

Forget-me-not = Remember me

Fuchsia = Confiding¹⁴ love

Geranium = True friendship

Hyacinth = Sport and play

Iris¹⁵ = I have a message for you

Ivy = Friendship

Jasmine (pink) = I attach myself to you

Jasmine (white) = Amiability¹⁶¹²

Lilac = First emotions of love

Lily of the valley = Return of happiness

Mint = Virtue¹⁷

Orchid¹⁸ = Beauty

Pansy = You’re in my thoughts

Peony = Bashful

Primrose¹⁹ = Youth

Rose = Love

Rose (white) = I am worthy²⁰ of you

Rosemary = Remembrance

Snowdrop = Hope

Sweet William = Sensitivity

Tulip = Declaration of love

Tulip (pink) = Caring

Tulip (variegated) = Beautiful eyes

Violet (blue) = Faithfulness

 

注释：

1.demurely [di5mjuEli] adv. 庄重地，严肃地；装作害羞地

2.crush [krQF] n.〈口〉热恋的对象

3.sentiment [5sentimEnt] n. 感情，情绪；柔情

4.antiquity [An5tikwiti] n. （尤指中世纪前的）古代；古，古老

5.converse [kEn5vE:s] vi. 交谈，谈心；进行精神交流

6.court [kC:t] vt. 向…献殷勤；向……求爱（或求婚）；企图获得，追求

7.suitor [5sju:tE] n. 求婚者

8.amorous [5AmErEs] adj. 求爱的，表示爱情的，含情脉脉的

9.smite²¹ [smait] (p.p.smitten) vt. [常用被动语态]深深影响，打动，把……迷住

10.ardor [5B:dE] n.〈美〉=ardour （常指短暂、不稳定的）激情；情欲

11.delicacy [5delikEsi] n. 清秀；纤弱，娇弱

12.amiability [5eimjEbiliti] n. 和蔼可亲，令人愉悦

 

花语

 

　　一种花一个故事。红玫瑰献给真爱，雏菊从钮扣孔探出头来张望，一束紫罗兰庄严地递到梦中情人面前，不同的情感就这样得到传递。

　　早自古代，花朵、植物和香草就被用做象征物。但直到19世纪，用鲜花来交流情感的浪漫习俗才开始盛行。即便在礼教严格禁止男女之间公开表达情意的年代，谈情说爱的情侣们还是用鲜花来向对方示爱，这样的交流方式差不多成了一门艺术。如果花选择得不妥当，示爱者的满腔爱意就会遭到误解，而如果选择合适的花，就一切尽在不言中了。例如，如果一位女士收到一束红色郁金香，那么她知道送花的先生已经被她迷住了。如果她回赠他一束紫丁香，表明他的热诚得到了回应。但如果她回赠的是带有常春藤的花束，他该意识到这段罗曼史也许没有下文了。

下面是我们的一个“送花指南”，让你的心意得到恰如其分的表达。

 

满天星=天长地久的爱

马蹄莲=高贵之美

康乃馨=纯洁的爱

康乃馨（粉红色）=女人的爱

矢车菊=小鸟依人

藏红花=心情舒畅

雏菊=天真无邪

勿忘我=将我铭记

倒挂金钟=信赖的爱

天竺葵=真诚的友谊

风信子=运动玩耍

鸢尾=有话对你讲

常春藤=友谊

茉莉（粉红色）=我心属于你

茉莉（白色）=亲切可人

紫丁香=情窦初开

铃兰=幸福重现

薄荷=美德

兰花=美

三色堇=我牵挂你

牡丹=羞怯不安

玫瑰=爱

玫瑰（白色）=我值得你拥有

迷迭香=往事悠悠

雪花莲=希望

美国石竹=敏感

郁金香=爱的宣言

郁金香（粉红色）=关切

郁金香（杂色）=美丽双眸

紫罗兰（蓝色）=忠贞不二

 

1 peeking   

v.很快地看( peek的现在分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出

参考例句：

• I couldn't resist peeking in the drawer. 我不由得偷看了一下抽屉里面。
• They caught him peeking in through the keyhole. 他们发现他从钥匙孔里向里窥视。 来自辞典例句

2 demurely   

adv.装成端庄地，认真地

参考例句：

• "On the forehead, like a good brother,'she answered demurely. "吻前额，像个好哥哥那样，"她故作正经地回答说。 来自飘（部分）
• Punctuation is the way one bats one's eyes, lowers one's voice or blushes demurely. 标点就像人眨眨眼睛，低声细语，或伍犯作态。 来自名作英译部分

3 antiquity   

n.古老；高龄；古物，古迹

参考例句：

• The museum contains the remains of Chinese antiquity.博物馆藏有中国古代的遗物。
• There are many legends about the heroes of antiquity.有许多关于古代英雄的传说。

4 converse   

vi.谈话，谈天，闲聊；adv.相反的，相反

参考例句：

• He can converse in three languages.他可以用3种语言谈话。
• I wanted to appear friendly and approachable but I think I gave the converse impression.我想显得友好、平易近人些,却发觉给人的印象恰恰相反。

5 etiquette   

n.礼仪，礼节；规矩

参考例句：

• The rules of etiquette are not so strict nowadays.如今的礼仪规则已不那么严格了。
• According to etiquette,you should stand up to meet a guest.按照礼节你应该站起来接待客人。

6 amorous   

adj.多情的；有关爱情的

参考例句：

• They exchanged amorous glances and clearly made known their passions.二人眉来眼去，以目传情。
• She gave him an amorous look.她脉脉含情的看他一眼。

7 ardor   

n.热情，狂热

参考例句：

• His political ardor led him into many arguments.他的政治狂热使他多次卷入争论中。
• He took up his pursuit with ardor.他满腔热忱地从事工作。

8 bouquet   

n.花束，酒香

参考例句：

• This wine has a rich bouquet.这种葡萄酒有浓郁的香气。
• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。

9 ivy   

n.常青藤，常春藤

参考例句：

• Her wedding bouquet consisted of roses and ivy.她的婚礼花篮包括玫瑰和长春藤。
• The wall is covered all over with ivy.墙上爬满了常春藤。

10 everlasting   

adj.永恒的，持久的，无止境的

参考例句：

• These tyres are advertised as being everlasting.广告上说轮胎持久耐用。
• He believes in everlasting life after death.他相信死后有不朽的生命。

11 carnation   

n.康乃馨（一种花）

参考例句：

• He had a white carnation in his buttonhole.他在纽扣孔上佩了朵白色康乃馨。
• He was wearing a carnation in his lapel.他的翻领里别着一枝康乃馨。

12 delicacy   

n.精致，细微，微妙，精良；美味，佳肴

参考例句：

• We admired the delicacy of the craftsmanship.我们佩服工艺师精巧的手艺。
• He sensed the delicacy of the situation.他感觉到了形势的微妙。

13 innocence   

n.无罪；天真；无害

参考例句：

• There was a touching air of innocence about the boy.这个男孩有一种令人感动的天真神情。
• The accused man proved his innocence of the crime.被告人经证实无罪。

14 confiding   

adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等）

参考例句：

• The girl is of a confiding nature. 这女孩具有轻信别人的性格。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Celia, though confiding her opinion only to Andrew, disagreed. 西莉亚却不这么看，尽管她只向安德鲁吐露过。 来自辞典例句

15 iris   

n.虹膜，彩虹

参考例句：

• The opening of the iris is called the pupil.虹膜的开口处叫做瞳孔。
• This incredible human eye,complete with retina and iris,can be found in the Maldives.又是在马尔代夫，有这样一只难以置信的眼睛，连视网膜和虹膜都刻画齐全了。

16 amiability   

n.和蔼可亲的，亲切的，友善的

参考例句：

• His amiability condemns him to being a constant advisor to other people's troubles. 他那和蔼可亲的性格使他成为经常为他人排忧解难的开导者。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• I watched my master's face pass from amiability to sternness. 我瞧着老师的脸上从和蔼变成严峻。 来自辞典例句

17 virtue   

n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力

参考例句：

• He was considered to be a paragon of virtue.他被认为是品德尽善尽美的典范。
• You need to decorate your mind with virtue.你应该用德行美化心灵。

18 orchid   

n.兰花，淡紫色

参考例句：

• The orchid is a class of plant which I have never tried to grow.兰花这类植物我从来没种过。
• There are over 35 000 species of orchid distributed throughout the world.有35,000多种兰花分布在世界各地。

19 primrose   

n.樱草，最佳部分，

参考例句：

• She is in the primrose of her life.她正处在她一生的最盛期。
• The primrose is set off by its nest of green.一窝绿叶衬托着一朵樱草花。

20 worthy   

adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的

参考例句：

• I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
• There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。

21 smite   

v.重击；彻底击败；n.打；尝试；一点儿

参考例句：

• The wise know how to teach,the fool how to smite.智者知道如何教导，愚者知道怎样破坏。
• God will smite our enemies.上帝将击溃我们的敌人。