中國國畫的根源可以追溯到新石器時(shí)代的陶器（Neolithic pottery），比如魚、青蛙、鹿、鳥、花、樹葉的形狀。最早的中國漢字是象形文字（pictograph）。由于相似的工具被使用于最早期的繪畫和書寫，繪畫被認(rèn)為是與書法（calligraphy）有著相同的起源。這樣一來，中國國畫就有著一種非凡的特征，也就是說，詩意和書法被印刻（inscribe）在畫中，從而三者合為一體，給人們一種更加強(qiáng)烈的美的享受。
The roots of Chinese painting can be traced back to paintings on Neolithic pottery, such as figures of fish, frogs, deer, birds, flowers and tree leaves. The earliest Chinese characters were pictographs. Since similar tools were used for the earliest painting and writing, painting is said to have the same origin as calligraphy. Thus, Chinese painting has an outstanding characteristic, that is to say, poetry or calligraphy are inscribed on paintings so that the three are integrated, giving people a keener enjoyment of beauty.
1. 第一句中，“追溯到”還可以譯為date back to 或go back to。
2. 第三句中，“被使用于”含被動(dòng)含義，且此處表達(dá)過去的情況，故譯為were used for；“被認(rèn)為是”還可以譯為is deemed to或is considered to。
3. 第四句中，“這樣一來”還可以譯為therefore；“也就是說”還可以譯為in other words；“三者合為一體”應(yīng)該使用被動(dòng)語態(tài)結(jié)構(gòu)，可譯為the three are integrated；“給人們一種更加強(qiáng)烈的美的享受”為結(jié)果狀語，故用現(xiàn)在分詞結(jié)構(gòu)作狀語，可譯為giving people a keener enjoyment of beauty。
