VOA慢速英语206 美国政府为中国春节发售“吉利钱”分享到:（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2016-11-26 U.S. Government Sells Lucky Dollars for Chinese New Year 美国政府为中国春节发售“吉利钱”分享到:

The United States Department of the Treasury is selling “Lucky Money” for the Chinese New Year.

美国财政部正在为中国春节发售“吉利钱”。

The special one-dollar note comes with a series of numbers beginning with 8888. The number 8 is considered lucky in Chinese culture.

这种特制的一美元钞票，号码都是以8888开头的。在中国文化中，数字8被认为是吉利的。

The special U.S. dollar comes in a bright red envelope, with Chinese symbols or lettering. The envelope has a picture of a colorful bird: a rooster. That makes sense. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster.

这种特制的美元钞票放在亮红色信封里，钞票上有中国符号和汉字。信封上画着一只彩色的鸟：一只公鸡。那是有意义的。 因为2017年是鸡年。

The rooster is one of 12 signs connected with the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

鸡是中国农历12生肖之一。

The Lucky Money Collection went on sale recently. Sales will continue until the Lucky Money collectibles sell out, even if that comes before the Chinese New Year. In 2017, the New Year will begin on January 28.

吉利钱收藏品最近开始发售了。售完即止。即使在中国春节到来之前卖完了，那也得截止。2017年春节是在1月28日。

Selling Chinese New Year products is nothing new for the U.S. government.

对美国政府来说，发售中国春节产品不是什么新鲜事了。

Since the Year of the Dragon in 2000, the Treasury Department has sold Lucky Money collectibles.

自2000年（龙年）开始，财政部就已经开始发售吉利钱收藏品了。

“It’s extremely well received,” said Leonard Olijar. He is director of the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

“这种钱广受好评。”莱昂纳德·奥利加说。他是美国财政部铸印局主任。

He went on to say: “It’s our most successful cultural product that we have. We expect we’ll sell out in the first week of its release.”

他接着说：“这是我们拥有的最成功的文化产品。我们预计，发行一周之后就会卖光。”

Lydia Washington already has her Lucky Money. She believes it will bring her good luck.

蕾蒂雅·华盛顿已经买到了她的吉利钱。她认为这会给她带来好运。

“I mean, it’s pretty and shiny. What more can you ask? Lucky money products are awesome.”

“我是说，它很好看，闪着光泽。你能要求更多么？吉利钱产品总是很棒的。”

The Treasury Department said it is limiting sales this year to 88,888 lucky dollars. That makes sense for a product connected to the lucky number, 8

财政部表示，今年将限量发售88888张“吉利钱”钞票。这对“8”这个吉利数字来说，再合适不过了。

Each Chinese New Year product sells for $5.95.

每张中国春节产品卖5.95美元。

They are sold through this website: moneyfactorystore.gov.

通过moneyfactorystore.gov这个网站可以买到“吉利钱”。

Words in This Story

envelope - n. an enclosing cover for a letter, card or money

rooster - n. an adult male chicken

Lunar Calendar - n. a calendar based on cycles of the moon

awesome - adj. extremely good