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Spring Festival Words / p N6 J, G2 J/ j9 ]. ?) d! I
Greeting Season:
3 U) k- t7 K' h( Y 春节 The Spring Festival
0 e U) w8 S8 L9 K& L! U/ X 农历 lunar calendar
4 y2 ^' R/ ?9 V1 O% c8 w4 g 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
7 O" K) k. u0 |2 ` 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year G: C. M3 {0 ?) ]2 o
初一 the beginning of New Year : }2 j; |# z% B0 }1 p, Z, i
元宵节 The Lantern Festival % P$ p- a& @8 @" t$ X1 ^. A8 B
Customs:
R+ ]/ d9 G1 A. k) j7 W 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 5 x" f5 x( \7 Y' i& R% d
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
4 |4 ~: P- d- _! N# u. C2 u! ` 春联 Spring Festival couplets ( G, e3 f0 s" [* r& b
剪纸 paper-cuts
% ?2 v* O- n% i2 o& E" g 年画 New Year paintings + E' W; ^% |$ n/ q7 `! z
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
% l2 ]: i- N7 g3 x8 [. ^/ g 敬酒 propose a toast
- P( f, j* ^7 y3 o. D 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
% Z7 C: H1 _( C+ [! H" Y8 t( l 烟花 fireworks 2 `3 c# p) w& f5 Y3 K
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
- x) ` f+ U" N" X( L" {8 r 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
1 K: B! [# C- U, P2 R 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 2 z, @6 K5 z3 E: E3 u
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
2 \2 }& n) J6 L( c 戏曲 traditional opera " C0 L+ D- b6 d1 Q% y: Q9 g8 I
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" s2 b& o/ T p9 K( a' X 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* P5 z! i3 ` {8 |' Q/ ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns / T8 y+ d! z! Z& a; Y* j2 ?
守岁 staying-up : N. k( h, B+ `7 f' o, Q
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 F6 J i- e3 d1 |6 ? K 禁忌 taboo & b) D0 R6 [) }. y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 s l* U: A3 K1 m3 G; o3 n 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
5 T6 [9 b' K- L u8 r# Y- a& c% N 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % R) |: T- l$ s6 N
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
2 n: L! U3 `2 o, W& i1 A 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 8 Q, p$ g9 {: d8 X5 S0 D
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 P5 }6 k2 C: y# [, U3 ~) ]
Blessing: # b( @6 v2 e- j4 a( B# A$ K
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
1 f+ D% }6 Z9 o$ Z* ^; J Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
3 X# c1 ^* c8 w; f8 r Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - ~% c4 Y% {: o7 @3 v1 b9 j0 |
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* H1 ?+ `! |0 w+ } 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 1 t% x9 A- Z; Z) g' c* C' D# l; ~
Food names: 4 v- j' H8 z+ W; p4 q
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
1 X. S" a# `. V/ ], f 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 7 y: m: h! G# Z5 N/ J
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve , K. Z. s" i7 \
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 2 c* b1 N0 C8 ^: `" {3 b
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
& ~$ \/ @/ \5 C 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
+ e( |0 l2 b& Y& F 糖果盘 candy tray: % K; |, Y, O4 P/ n+ f4 J6 i; l: @
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune . i) d5 ?, y! p& p
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health * I- S. E7 Z8 F$ ]. V4 j/ I/ C! z& ?
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 8 m: s; g$ G/ c+ J: I5 L
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 9 m) m0 m; d; N6 { ?
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
6 v$ ^, U1 H2 n! A3 l 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
% i( ]8 t- O( ~6 D% |7 G 红枣 red dates - prosperity * T' ?" {) {7 l* l) L
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00