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Spring Festival Words . d; ?$ J) K; n" Z. s
Greeting Season: 1 q% c& A3 f8 a3 @ S
春节 The Spring Festival
9 d+ d' R1 ]! d 农历 lunar calendar
7 S- E1 a, k. p: G3 B6 @3 B8 }$ a 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + ]2 z( I! @ Z. B' T. |" x' o# @
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 q7 Z0 I. V @% z4 u 初一 the beginning of New Year 3 v( C! s4 N# p, K7 a5 s, v0 I: R$ J! V
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ) R! L1 t5 y6 e# V' J, w# l
Customs: % f1 a& X' K1 D$ S# ?3 i8 e+ F/ i
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
) J: t! C; i; W8 P, X! C0 X6 K# L 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
7 a% D C% z9 d' E" |" t6 s# v6 C 春联 Spring Festival couplets
3 v: g. {. k/ L( n 剪纸 paper-cuts
" U4 ^1 k" y- l3 C/ I1 l4 I* X/ j 年画 New Year paintings
0 i4 W7 q9 B7 u/ } 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
" v. F0 g7 d) _) g) l- `+ B( I" ~ 敬酒 propose a toast 9 R$ F* p$ j" {3 ?: j
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 `8 r. Y9 r: {1 `& M. ^% u
烟花 fireworks
- j Q% q# ` _3 b 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 ^4 I8 C F5 Z 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) " }! @$ b6 T% n& Y4 B k
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
" Q* E' ?3 \/ R" [2 I/ o# d 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
: o, f7 g8 U, k# G Q N 戏曲 traditional opera - \+ J) v" F# B8 w$ I1 T
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
0 C$ Y/ x5 c* ?5 R 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 {3 C3 i4 |! N& }) D 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
7 y9 F- w: i5 _, D 守岁 staying-up % J3 p% ~7 @( D+ h7 Y; n2 P
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
: d9 ~" ~* R8 e+ U4 `4 K6 j# m9 H9 I 禁忌 taboo % `5 J }5 e5 p0 T- D6 ^
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' n& n! p% j( o A% R" h 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 2 r, y' b2 c3 p$ v9 [0 r
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ' z( G5 R$ G3 ?& D- P1 @
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 - J: f1 K( J# t5 j. D' m- ?
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 9 P9 B" E# R, j5 i* t! `1 O. _
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' Q4 c7 I4 V8 ]% a
Blessing:
: P, M' s2 l/ S# h Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
( _4 L, G0 A* B4 w) x Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
2 ]2 x6 g0 D$ x) s) q0 d Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go % U C/ N' Z1 ^% z0 j4 Q) ?% o' |
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . x1 k3 R4 W: U8 d; o
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
; j/ a7 R* m6 i9 | Food names: " N. x3 m8 ?0 _* o( o' N
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake % g' v1 a$ B, d+ H4 `
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; D3 Q# r2 j$ }, p# G8 I8 ^2 k
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve - k' S& M7 L2 b* r) O: x9 e8 ^
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli + U! h4 P; t) O4 h, ~ C
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings $ ?& V2 R2 a! B
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
6 s' p0 V+ G0 d2 Z& I g 糖果盘 candy tray:
5 V; {. k" R( h6 A; x( f' @ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
, }0 C4 b8 a i, Y& o: I9 } 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health / }7 G& D p; M7 [. F/ p
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ! A7 u; a( d+ c- G; J6 j
金桔 cumquat - prosperity : k5 ~6 D8 q& o) x
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' H1 }, A( G3 v4 P0 ]6 W% b* b, ]; {
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship & G& u% p5 f+ M
红枣 red dates - prosperity ! y' v2 u2 ~! m: x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00