石狮(stone lion)由石头刻成，是中国传统建筑中常见的装饰物。一般来说，石狮是指大门外的一对狮子;然而，他们的外表却不是我们所熟悉的狮子。也许中国古代的大多数中原人从未见过真正的狮子。据说，狮子是在汉朝时由西域(the Western Region)引入中国的。在中国文化中，狮子是神话中的形象，而非真正的动物。狮子被视为神兽(divine beast)。中国人认为它可以驱除邪灵。一般情况下，根据中国传统文化，石狮应该是一对。通常雌狮子的两爪之间会刻一只幼狮，而雄狮则是用一只爪子玩球。

　　参考翻译

　　Stone lions are carved out of stone, which is the common ornament in Chinese traditional architecture. Generally, stone lions refer to the paired lions out side the gate; however, their appearances are not thelions we are familiar with. Maybe most people in the central plains of ancient China had never seen areal lion. It is said lions were introduced into China in the Han Dynasty from the Western Region.InChinese culture, lion is a mythical figure rather than a real animal. Lion is regarded as the divine beast. Chinese people think that lions can drive away the evil spirits. Generally，it should be a pair of lionsaccording to Chinese traditional culture.The female lion is usually carved to have a child lion between herpaws，while the male lion is playing a ball with one paw.

　　翻译详解

　　1.由石头刻成:可译为is carved out of stone。注意这里介词out of的使用。

　　2.常见的装饰物:可译为common ornament。

　　3.—对狮子:可译为paired lions。还可以用a pair of lions表达。

　　4.不是我们所熟悉的狮子:“我们所熟悉的狮子”可用定语从句译为the lions we are familiar with，be familiarwith 意为“对...熟悉”。

　　5.引入:使用词组be introduced into表达。

　　6.驱除邪灵:可译为drive away the evil spirits。