1. Once upon a time 从前
例句:Once upon a time, long long ago, there was a man-eating monster called "Nian".
从前,很久很久以前,有一个吃人怪兽叫做“年兽”。
2. take on 承担,呈现,录用
例句:Year after year Nian returned, as this was a beast that was far too powerful for anyone to take on or defeat. Many had tried and all had perished.
年兽年年回来,因为它超级强大,任何人都无法对抗或击败它。
3. be rid of 消除
例句:After his meal, the passerby was touched by the old lady's generosity and decided to bestow a long hidden secret of how to be rid of the New Year beast.
饭后,这路人被老太太的慷慨所感动,决定送给她一个长年藏于心中、怎么除掉年兽的秘密。
4. take shelter from 躲避,躲藏在
例句:On New Year's eve, all the villagers would take their loved ones, old and young, deep into the mountains to take shelter from the beast.
在除夕夜,所有的村民会带上所爱的人,老老少少,到深山里去躲避怪兽。