Elaborate fireworks displays lighted up the skies in Washington, New York and other U.S. cities Sunday night, as the nation marked its birth 234 years ago.
周日，美国欢庆第234个独立日，精心准备的烟火表演照亮了华盛顿、纽约以及美国其他城市的夜空。
The July 4 Independence Day holiday commemorates the occasion in 1776 when the 13 original colonies declared independence from Britain during the American Revolutionary War.
1776年，在美国独立战争中，13块原英国殖民地宣布从英国独立。7月4日美国独立日就是为了纪念这一事件。
In Washington, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted about 1,200 military personnel and their families at the White House for a barbecue, concert and view of the fireworks.
华盛顿，美国总统奥巴马在白宫邀请1，200名军职人员及其家属赴宴，参加音乐会，观赏焰火。
Throughout the country, Americans attended barbecues, parades and other events as they observed Independence Day. Festivities took place in such cities as Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, and in Washington.
全美市民通过酒宴，游行以及其他庆祝活动来纪念美国独立日。费城（1776年7月4日，独立宣言在费城和华盛顿被通过）也举行了欢庆活动。
In the nation's capital, actors portraying America's founders re-enacted the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
在华盛顿，演员们扮演美国的开国元勋，再现了签署独立宣言的那一幕。
In Mount Vernon, Virginia, home of the first U.S. president, George Washington, organizers hosted a wreath-laying at Washington's tomb and a naturalization ceremony for about 100 new U.S. citizens.
在美国第一任总统乔治华盛顿的家乡，弗吉尼亚州的弗农山，在组织者的带领下，人们在华盛顿的墓前敬献花圈，并为大约100名新入籍的美国市民举行了入籍仪式。
President Obama issued an Independence Day statement saying the tenacity, resolve and courage of the nation's founders, in the face of seemingly impossible odds, became the bedrock of the country.
美国总统奥巴马就独立日发表了讲话，他说，正式凭借着韧性，决心和勇气，开国者们抓住了看似渺茫的机会，为美国的崛起奠定了坚实的基础。
The president also paid tribute to the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who are serving around the world or have given their lives in the line of duty.
此外，奥巴马还对在世界各地服役的，以及在执行任务中牺牲的军人们表示敬意。
Notes:
American Revolutionary War: 美国革命战争（又作Revolutionary War，或者American Revolution）。即美国独立战争（American War of Independence）。
pay tribute to: 对 ... 表示赞赏或敬意
in the line of duty: 在执勤时