|
Spring Festival Words
2 I+ I( A/ J# O# z8 g Greeting Season:
' M8 o1 @! y1 b4 m& _$ P 春节 The Spring Festival - h! n6 P, y5 P& x, A5 F u$ x
农历 lunar calendar 5 k$ Z% j- v0 Z3 [+ Z) v
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar " j+ \3 o% m7 ~# P
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
/ i- X+ @1 J2 w4 Q$ Q 初一 the beginning of New Year 2 n9 t& Z' r& }$ G& X
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
- n2 L, u( C3 A$ P Customs:
. e, G& {; i+ D 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 X/ ^1 i2 s% L: S, ]. P
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : v$ ~ y" [5 x7 L
春联 Spring Festival couplets
# U1 {7 n& P9 Y0 z/ ?2 D2 S0 d 剪纸 paper-cuts
! Y4 c6 }1 d5 O W 年画 New Year paintings 7 a! |7 U$ a0 Q3 `. v
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping * [7 m! e3 b" w3 }, {" _' X# b) O( V
敬酒 propose a toast
& _' g/ Q1 F- M; s* s 灯笼 lantern: a portable light , G7 f# D! \ }0 F8 k7 h& W2 y& Q
烟花 fireworks
4 D2 P* V$ ]. `; e/ V* w 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' V/ e& m; l: q& ]+ e8 G( p9 }
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: t4 |0 ?% x0 G 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; t8 g5 n$ r( {) I$ x, K( c" Y
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
4 k, |( x4 G. |0 @2 c* \ 戏曲 traditional opera
3 Z i; u1 q0 y7 B' R$ y 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville - H/ R8 {* c. B% ^9 K0 `: Z6 C
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns |! j$ m7 R/ U8 v {; Z+ x
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
) _% O8 t* d& W$ I# K" p, [' q 守岁 staying-up
5 _, w/ S' O b; }1 `/ G+ {3 a 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
5 ]( _) ?" b6 q( U$ f" P. ]1 v 禁忌 taboo
* V8 B1 X2 w. ^) g- ?& U# v 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ! J K% h7 V# s: ~' ]
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 0 ?# x" |; h4 M2 U" x$ ?
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: Z$ S* S5 r7 }6 u 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 $ y U, I: x% o1 O3 a- o l* f
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
. C% T1 p. K {/ A. M 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( w$ I: R- T9 j3 ?
Blessing:
% ^; M. J5 b7 j- a* B Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
6 [6 s6 h0 d' c# G0 C7 s W Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 _% ?& }% t1 J
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 2 i' B+ S) C% Q" T, ]& N% @
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! , l' D5 Y3 I) [
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 6 v5 E- e$ h+ |9 k
Food names:
4 k" m/ ^0 I$ p# m8 z( }& b$ E 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
& A: u- q) S: D- T 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
4 {9 H! u1 p" U: G) O7 Q. p 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve - g$ u! E5 A% v; |
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
+ L& x1 Y1 H) ~ @/ M 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 9 _4 i' f1 n8 K! n
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 8 O# l6 j5 z# y6 M
糖果盘 candy tray: ) [1 M6 D* T7 E6 J
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
1 s. r4 [% S8 Z2 I! J# O 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
' m9 O+ m# A" ?2 [ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
2 W8 S; e% _5 R- `' x 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
+ n y; F8 G4 N% G2 E 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 7 P8 Z. l. L' Y" }/ l# P
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship - {, A9 m2 c6 ^9 t- s: U8 ^
红枣 red dates - prosperity
% n9 ~1 ]8 i% U" E. C4 { 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00