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Spring Festival Words + @9 J$ r7 [9 p- | E
Greeting Season:
( N) }7 A+ ^ D3 I 春节 The Spring Festival
4 f5 x- v5 X0 [6 u, _+ d 农历 lunar calendar
A+ r5 {3 j! r, s& t 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
5 x. G5 @( X' Z0 W. c I2 Y) U 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + v; V3 g' l1 \, g
初一 the beginning of New Year @$ t4 C2 U% d
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
" y2 U; \( _& j; ?$ J0 E3 M J9 H3 q Customs:
/ b% ?8 I- @. k) n* h$ Z. H 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
& O) u' L" j" P w# X 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
7 a/ I* Q0 f% K" |+ G+ p) N% d% F) D; ~ 春联 Spring Festival couplets
' h( @; o5 j9 ^' \9 o' T. G 剪纸 paper-cuts : c5 ~- m/ g6 j2 u
年画 New Year paintings ! V' @' r% S* j
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 U9 ? b1 p4 e0 J9 X/ } 敬酒 propose a toast 4 ^# o5 T9 q% ]8 y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light " w, Q6 \3 G& p
烟花 fireworks 7 `9 L; B' h1 j- ]; p- P |" R5 G
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
4 u! n" Y/ D" C5 c7 V 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
" Z+ b# p+ H3 q( s& [& u 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
3 p! }* I( A; S3 _4 J. N 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
, h1 K. l0 [" W' W6 D! b P 戏曲 traditional opera
4 ]$ F/ T& o# r: _% N+ s$ @ 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 O1 K4 r* y) |9 x- u
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
2 M9 n/ N4 ]: y" d( c1 `, f 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 7 @8 z; `( J, N. m# J: _; W
守岁 staying-up / [5 N I' f0 V. d- G1 f r) R
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# Y2 {2 I9 P+ b* w 禁忌 taboo
: `4 I! P1 h C( Q% u0 ] 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 S% i+ c% Q8 u0 }
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors , i/ T0 o, E8 Q/ h0 V& s2 R
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( C/ p2 F) Q( L' d8 E" w) A5 }( b 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
3 z* f% M6 \, m0 O 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ e" r7 P, c7 ]( }( X 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ A# g8 ?6 `: a Blessing:
- ~/ D: S& _& N Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
* D3 i& M; ~/ ]6 B9 O Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! _7 k4 `$ g2 m7 m2 B( b" D9 I* _1 E$ W! L Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go * D# c4 O/ J( h5 b
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ( h1 L* C& y( N# k' {
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ r1 I- H% @# C# a, b+ Q Food names:
) P* o2 j8 V! e, d5 v6 t 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 Q8 P: X! A* w 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
2 t8 E1 X" j8 N* v 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve + _/ L- V3 o* t6 a& E
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
c" g3 u( U9 e+ C& F. {8 U9 M 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
7 Y+ c, D7 i* o4 v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
0 J* y3 j" S0 P; ], B 糖果盘 candy tray: ; R6 I; }* ^: p/ W! n1 e/ O
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
/ u- Q4 m" n) w4 u" K 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
9 i/ O" s) C# M% P' y; P( [ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 Q# v$ w4 k# V 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
& X: K9 J4 Z1 e0 J9 ?0 [7 f 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
& F/ U0 z$ Q/ s& ]6 g6 |$ O 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
9 Y' P/ z) r) R1 _7 Z0 | 红枣 red dates - prosperity
* ~$ C9 ~1 T+ _! R 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00