清明节一般翻译为"Tomb Sweeping festival"或者"Tomb-sweeping Day"，扫墓节或扫墓日。这个翻译着重强调了清明节的重要习俗“扫墓”。这种说法的好处是，老外一听就能大概明白这个节日的背后含义。
也有人把清明节翻译为"All Souls'Day"，这是一种站在对方文化角度考虑做出的翻译。因为"All Souls'Day"在西方是确实存在的节日，一般称为“万灵日”。这是一个宗教节日，在有的教派里甚至不止一天。教会会在这一天为那些去世后无法进入天堂的信徒祈祷，希望他们早日进入天堂。其基本意义和清明节相似，也是祭奠死者的节日。
另外再谈到作为节气的清明，它被译为"Clear and Bright"，清洁和明亮。我们也不难发现，这种译法强调的是清明时节的气候状况，和其他节气的翻译出发点一致。比如立夏被译为"Summer begins"、小寒、大寒分别被译为"Slight cold"和"Great cold"。
我们人耳熟能详的一首关于清明的诗就是：
《清明》
----杜牧
清明时节雨纷纷，
路上行人欲断魂。
借问酒家何处有，
牧童遥指杏花村。
杜牧《清明》英文翻译版本
1.许渊冲译
A drizzling rain falls like tears on the Mourning Day
The mourner's heart is going to break on his way. Where can a wineshop be found to drown his sad hours?
A cowherd points to a cot 'mid apricot flowers.
2.吴伟雄译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Mourning Day,
The mourner travels with his heart lost in dismay. When asked for a wineshop to kill his gloomy time, A cowboy points at Almond Hamlet far away.
3.万昌盛、王僴中译
The ceaseless drizzle drips all the dismal day,
So broken-hearted fares the traveler on the way.When asked where could be found at avern bower,
Acow boy points to yonder village of the apricot flower.
4.杨宪益、戴乃迭译
It drizzles endless during the rainy season in spring,
Travelers along the road look gloomy and miserable.When I ask a shepherd boy where I can find a tavern,
He points at a distant hamlet nestling amidst apricot blossoms.
5.吴钧陶译
It drizzles thick and fast on the Pure Brightness Day,
I travel with my heart lost in dismay."Is there a public house somewhere, cowboy?"
He points at Apricot Village faraway.
6.蔡廷干译
The rain falls thick and fast on All Souls' Day,
The men and women sadly move along the way.They ask where wineshops can be found or where to rest ----
And there the herdboy's fingers Almond-Town suggest.
7.孙大雨译
Upon theClear-and-Bright Feast of spring, the rain drizzleth down in spray.
Pedestrians on countryside ways, in gloom are pinning away.
When asked "Where a tavern fair for rest, is hereabouts to befound",
The shepherd boy the Apricot Bloom Vill, doth point to afar and say.
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