Introduction to the Four Great Inventions
中国有四大发明改变了世界。
China has four great inventions that changed the world.
这四个发明是纸、印刷、指南针和火药。
These four inventions are paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder.
Paper: The First Great Invention
纸在汉代大约两千多年前被发明了。
Paper was invented during the Han Dynasty more than two thousand years ago.
纸之前，人们在竹子和丝绸上写字，这些很重很贵。
Before paper, people wrote on bamboo and silk, which were very heavy and expensive.
Printing: The Second Great Invention
印刷技术被开发来印刷书籍和更广泛地传播知识。
Printing technology was developed to print books and spread knowledge more widely.
有了印刷，很多人可以读同一本书，所以知识传播得很快。
With printing, many people could read the same book, so knowledge spread very quickly.
The Compass: The Third Great Invention
指南针帮助水手在海上导航和探索世界。
The compass helped sailors navigate the ocean and explore the world.
没有指南针，船找不到穿过大海的方向。
Without the compass, ships could not find their way across the vast sea.
Gunpowder: The Fourth Great Invention
火药是为了烟火和庆祝而被发明的，不是先被用来做武器。
Gunpowder was invented for fireworks and celebrations, not for weapons first.
这四大发明说明古代中国很先进很有创意。
These four great inventions show that ancient China was very advanced and creative.