The Four Great Inventions of ancient China are celebrated in Chinese culture for their historical significance and serve as symbols of Chinese advanced science and technology.
中國四大發明因其歷史上的重大意義而在中國文化中備受歌頌，並成為中國古代先進科技的象徵。
The Four Great Inventions are: Compass, Gunpowder, Papermaking and Printing.
四大發明是指南針、火藥、造紙術和印刷術。
These four inventions had an enormous impact on the development of Chinese civilization and a far-ranging global impact.
四大發明對中國文明和世界文明具有深遠影響。
Before the invention of paper, bones, tortoise shells, and bamboo slips were all used as writing surfaces, but as Chinese civilization developed they proved themselves unsuitable because of their bulk and weight.
在造紙術發明之前，人們在骨頭、龜殼和竹片上面寫字。隨著中國文明進步，這些大而笨重的材料不再適合作為書寫載體。
Hemp fiber and silk were used to make paper but the quality was far from satisfactory.
麻纖維和絲綢被用來造紙，但其質量未能令人滿意。
In 105 A.D. Cai Lun, a eunuch during the Eastern Han Dynasty, invented paper from worn fishnet, bark and cloth.公元 105年，東漢宦官蔡倫，用舊漁網、樹皮和布片來造紙。
These raw materials could be easily found at a much lower cost so large quantities of paper could be produced.
這些造紙材料價格低廉，極易獲取，造紙量因此大增。
Later, the technique of papermaking was introduced to other parts of the world, such as Korea, Japan and Europe.
之後，造紙術被傳到世界其他地區，例如韓國、日本、歐洲。
Inspired by engraved name seals, Chinese people invented fixed-type engraved printing around 600 A.D.
受到雕刻印章的啟示，中國人在公元 600 年左右發明了活字印刷。
During the reign of Emperor Ren Zong of the Northern Song Dynasty, Bi Sheng invented moveable, reusable clay type after numerous tests.
在宋仁宗皇帝統治的北宋年間，畢昇在無數次實踐後發明了可移動並可重複使用的膠泥製作而成的活字。
Single types were made and picked out for printing certain books.
每種活字都可以通過依次排好順序做成印版，然後用於印刷特定書籍。
These types could be used again and again for different books.
這些活字能夠重複利用，可以做成不同的印版來印刷各種不同的書。
During the Warring States Period, a device called Si Nan became the forerunner of the compass.
戰國時期有一種叫「司南」的小裝置，這便是後來指南針的前身。
Si Nan was a ladle-like magnet on a plate with the handle of the ladle pointing to the south.
司南是一種把長柄湯勺似的磁鐵放在一個盤子上方而形成的小裝置，長柄湯勺的柄指向南方。
In the 11th century, tiny needles made of magnetized steel were invented.
到 11 世紀，人們發明了用磁鐵製成的細針。
One end of the needle points north while the other points south.
用細小的磁鐵針做成的裝置使得指針的一端指向北方，另一端指向南方。
The compass was created.
此時，真正意義上的羅盤被製造出來了。
In Chinese, gunpowder is called huoyao, meaning flaming medicine.
在中國，火藥的意思是「燃燒的藥品」。
Unlike paper and printing, the birth of gunpowder was quite accidental.
與造紙術和印刷術不同，火藥的發明是偶然的。
It was first invented inadvertently by alchemists while attempting to make an elixir of immortality.
當鍊金師在嘗試煉製長生不老藥時，無意間發明了火藥。
It was a mixture of sulphur, saltpeter, and charcoal.
火藥是硫磺、硝石和木炭的混合物。
At the end of the Tang Dynasty, gunpowder was being used in military affairs.
在唐朝末期，火藥被用於軍事戰爭之中。
During the Song and Yuan dynasties, frequent wars spurred the development of cannons, and fire-arrows shot from bamboo tubes.
宋元時期，連年戰亂促進大炮和火箭(從竹筒中射出點火的箭支)的發明。
In the 12th and 13th centuries, gunpowder spread to the Arab countries, then Greece, other European countries, and finally all over the world.
12—13世紀，火藥被傳到阿拉伯國家、希臘及歐洲其他國家，最後傳遍世界。