南京大屠杀死难者国家公祭仪式举行 China holds annual memorial for Nanjing Massacre victims

Chinese President Xi Jinping has attended(参加) the state memorial ceremony(仪式) in the eastern city of Nanjing(南京) to mark the 80th anniversary of the Nanjing Massacre. 

National flags(国旗) flew at half-mast and one minute's silence(默哀) was observed during the ceremony on Wednesday to remember(纪念) the hundreds of thousands of victims(死难者) killed in the six weeks following the Japanese invasion(侵略) of the then Chinese capital on December 13, 1937.

In a keynote speech at the ceremony, Yu Zhengsheng(俞正声), the chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, reiterated(重申) China's commitment to peaceful(和平的) development(发展).

"War is like a mirror. It keeps reminding us the preciousness of peace," said Yu. "Only by remembering the history(历史) can we build a better future(未来)."

战争是一面镜子,能够让人更好认识和平的珍贵。

In February 2014, China's top legislature designated December 13 as a national memorial day(国家公祭日) for the victims.

词汇 Words:

[hé píng] 和平 peace
[qīn luè] 侵略 invasion
[lì shǐ] 历史 history
[wèi lái] 未来 future
[cān jiā] 参加 attend
[jì niàn] 纪念 remember
[chóng shēn] 重申 reiterate
[fā zhǎn] 发展 development

重点词汇 Key word:

和平 <名词 n.> peace

E.g. 

• Hépíng shì bù kě kàngjù de qūshì。
  和平是不可抗拒的趋势。
  Peace is an irresistible trend.

• Tā lì quàn tāmen bùyào fàngqì duì hépíng de nǔlì。
  他力劝他们不要放弃对和平的努力。
  He urged them not to give up on peace efforts.