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Spring Festival Words % Y/ ?9 V$ z( R0 k$ B
Greeting Season:
# d4 s J h0 z! T 春节 The Spring Festival
6 c& ]- \9 |: p4 B8 @1 q& M 农历 lunar calendar
* y* d* l4 H4 n. Q. @ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar " N: K% G3 t; z$ g$ h
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + f. g, y# N9 k4 o* U
初一 the beginning of New Year " L$ |7 _: X3 | U$ i0 L
元宵节 The Lantern Festival / ?( c, R, v+ U5 W2 m( \; ^- t3 M
Customs:
) h; {2 W: @6 M 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival + b0 @ W8 j( h7 f* c/ J/ k
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
/ w$ D( W0 t9 T0 E8 j 春联 Spring Festival couplets # O3 N% R! @0 s: r6 ^2 c, _
剪纸 paper-cuts
0 T6 P! z$ x) y P 年画 New Year paintings 2 j# z# I" {; N
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping : E( K9 p* t, N. F& n( Z+ q
敬酒 propose a toast / J1 x3 |7 }6 E. F
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
" x- `; ]. A& X& I) \ 烟花 fireworks
; @4 e% P6 P6 R" y# L& {+ \% G( c 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) : e I" _3 i+ N/ Y# W5 P+ u
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: {. R2 N" D9 A4 q1 M0 d 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% v# ^* |: d: }$ z% Q0 g 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 5 I/ I1 A' Y- L& U; L& h' p
戏曲 traditional opera * _ Z: y/ D# k& K+ E2 T; L( B
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" a8 {7 D; G1 C: W$ ^ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 F' ?) \7 o8 w- I6 R6 ?+ L
灯会 exhibit of lanterns , B9 Z! d' I( l% g
守岁 staying-up 1 d2 H+ _7 h; I0 g
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 8 g4 B, f0 J! x9 i- Q
禁忌 taboo ; `# Y% o, D2 { a
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 9 n" y, ~" i. Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ]" L- c* ]" r% O! P5 a7 `
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, d+ `5 L# P/ q Culture Note: In the old days, New Year's money was given in the form of one hundred copper coins strung together on a red string and symbolized the hope that one would live to be a hundred years old. Today, money is placed inside red envelopes in denominations considered auspicious and given to represent luck and wealth 7 X/ v8 L3 ~6 u% B
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year . t6 c8 V# k [/ o7 |
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning * U; D7 U: c: U: J
Blessing:
3 f1 O: m2 X/ _0 Q; T* c Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity " [/ N! x7 p7 A/ I; n
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace - I; r5 k5 w7 {5 S
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 E. Y7 c& q$ |# J/ X
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! : o% Z& C/ j) b( l& D5 O
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ; X% \: M1 _0 F
Food names:
9 \* w: F2 n: w {( Q- T9 r 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
+ b! ]$ y6 p/ q. ^0 I 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
' ^$ S% v0 ^2 h( {7 [1 `, u8 o 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
9 V1 z! ~8 d$ \/ @' p( N 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
( u2 l5 L8 v* @ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
& y/ G2 T7 ^; A5 |. j, z 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
* H1 s% M/ w, w! {& Q8 o 糖果盘 candy tray:
; v) ^: R* f9 W- ]; D5 e 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, g6 R r! n$ I3 C( _ F 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
( `7 A" u( d: f3 T 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
. `8 b" y H K& @$ c; w 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
- T% }. Z$ R( q2 ^0 G 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 w: W4 O9 F& _% S4 d4 B 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - a7 D" i3 d1 J" c2 K& ], @: J. R4 R
红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 b/ t" M, S1 ?# z
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00