龍、狗、兔、牛犯太歲
There are many popular Lunar New Year traditions practiced in Taiwanese society, like cleaning one’s house, wearing red clothing and giving red envelopes containing money to others.
台灣社會有許多流行的農曆新年傳統，像是打掃家裡、穿紅色衣服和給別人紅包等。
be popular among...受～歡迎tradition(n.)傳統practice(v.)經常做containing包含=which contains
However, one widely practiced custom in particular — lighting “special lamps to ‘pacify’ the year’s guardian deity” — is directly informed by Chinese astrology.
然而，特別受到中國占星學影響的一項廣泛實踐的習俗是點亮「特別的燈以『安撫』當年的守護神」。
custom(n.)習俗customary(adj.)習慣的;慣常的in particular特別是=particularly=especiallypacify(v.)使平靜、平息、安撫deity(n.)神祇deify(v.)使神化
In Taoist and Taiwanese popular beliefs, the Chinese zodiac animal sign of an individual’s birth year not only assigns them “specific characteristics and fates” at birth but can also play a role in their decision-making and personal practices.
在道教和台灣民間信仰中，個人出生年份的生肖不僅在出生時賦予他們「特定的特質和命運」，還可能在他們的決策和個人行為中發揮作用。
zodiac animal sign生肖assign(v.)賦予;指定characteristic(n.)人格特質fate(n.)命運play a role in...在某方面發揮作用、影響
Therefore, those who believe in astrology may take special measures to prepare for Lunar New Year and ensure that they do not face extra challenges and obstacles due to their zodiac sign offending the new year’s Tai Sui.
因此，相信占星學的人可能會採取特殊措施，為農曆新年做好準備，確保他們不會因為生肖犯太歲而面臨額外的挑戰和障礙。
believe in sth.相信=subscribe to sth.take measures採取措施ensure(v.)確保obstacle(n.)障礙overcome(v.)克服offend(v.)冒犯offensive(adj.)冒犯的
In Chinese astrology, Tai Sui is a “powerful deity who presides over the affairs of the world in each lunar year.”
在中國占星學中，太歲是一位「每年農曆年主持天下大事的強大神祇」。
preside over 主持、負責
In addition to bringing potential bad luck to those born under the year’s specific animal sign, Tai Sui can also “clash with” other signs based on numerous astrological factors.
除了會給該年特定生肖的人帶來厄運外，太歲還會根據眾多占星上的因素與其他生肖「相衝」。
in addition to~除了～之外clash with~與～衝突、抵觸=conflict with~based on~奠基於、根據
In 2024, for instance, four signs — Dragon, Dog, Rabbit and Ox — may “offend” the year’s Tai Sui.
例如，在2024年，龍、狗、兔和牛這四個生肖可能會「觸犯」這一年的太歲。
for instance例如=for example
As a result, people with these zodiac signs may take part in a special ritual for protection.
因此，這些生肖的人可能會參加特殊的守護儀式。
take part in參加=participate inritual(n.)儀式、例行公事
For many in Taiwan, this means going to a temple and lighting a Tai Sui lamp for a small fee before the new year begins as a way to ward off bad luck and stay safe.
對許多台灣人來說，這意味著在新的一年開始之前，要去廟宇花點錢點盞光明燈，以驅除厄運保平安。
fee(n.)費用fare(n.)車資ward off 避開
Beyond being a religious practice, this custom of lighting lamps has been observed as an important Taiwanese Lunar New Year tradition in some families based on members’ shared cultural beliefs in astrology.
除了宗教習俗外，點光明燈的習俗在一些家庭中也被視為重要的台灣農曆新年傳統，因此家庭成員對占星學有著共同的文化信仰。
beyond(prep.)除了～之外=in addition toobserve(v.)遵守;奉行、慶祝shared(adj.)共有的cultural beliefs文化信仰