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Spring Festival Words ( }% s. z! u6 u. X X9 A
Greeting Season:
. w P+ l9 J. r0 h k 春节 The Spring Festival 3 Y9 l9 x) i% f% \
农历 lunar calendar
0 ]1 B% G9 q+ C4 N7 E% B5 ]$ J 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 0 a: }, _' `7 b2 b3 |+ u
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . N; Z) m2 Q1 q/ e4 h, r. }8 }# D# f
初一 the beginning of New Year
n4 r# z# a5 w) p. p. W2 I 元宵节 The Lantern Festival . Q& s! W% K. @9 l0 u! W* J
Customs: ! e/ {, p. C0 T
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
+ [5 c" V0 C* z6 b* ~- k 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
1 n7 h" j2 Q% q& T6 ` a# r. Q 春联 Spring Festival couplets
: z+ q& n+ A; E* o" G) [) W 剪纸 paper-cuts
& j7 v9 q' } _, r( O 年画 New Year paintings
$ p9 k* d6 E5 U! N5 y) i 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
! |) z+ {6 Y& ~# M8 v) W 敬酒 propose a toast
! s. s7 a( w( k$ g 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 4 [- d: D% A, B3 N& l4 Y# ^
烟花 fireworks . t3 `5 R9 @$ w1 _, d4 x+ S
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
]/ b1 e& `0 b 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 w6 i7 |) _0 J, v/ y* E 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 0 P3 D$ \8 a% N! I8 w3 ?
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) , n: C" r1 w* z3 r" \' a
戏曲 traditional opera
4 v& ?1 _3 E d- @0 X' g. P$ a+ S 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* w. G3 }$ o4 G" H5 V9 \ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
$ y1 {) I& I0 o 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
. A. H; P; j8 [( q 守岁 staying-up 3 g% K% P z2 ? N! s5 {
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 6 _% C2 C) h2 p, o* I6 k
禁忌 taboo
) h$ I3 F! c( s6 M( j" `( L 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
& |5 c- Z9 P; w. s, y3 G 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & v, ^( \8 Z$ R2 r4 O/ O8 G7 h
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
3 M! u0 S! {/ a2 m& | 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
) W M& x, t0 C9 ^; E+ r 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
" m& ?9 u7 ~( V 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
- R8 H3 R0 _2 l1 s Blessing:
' n0 R7 u. m0 C: Q1 N, k Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity : j1 a. m+ V% `! j* I' ^. R
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace % Y3 ]% {" r" l* d+ t- M
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( |& E6 k8 c8 P4 O: i
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 4 F8 \9 n& m+ F9 T# ?3 |( n
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 E' s6 f7 x F; l! G; D Food names: / B. l) A1 n! L5 q
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
4 w' @0 p3 R8 F% f" j# k( P# _ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ [/ }4 [ u! e! K$ J1 X. H' N, r 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 3 _/ _. z! V% j: N# h
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % X( `7 `7 S0 B% j+ M
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# W" ?) k" k, v4 g 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
. R9 s* Z* Y3 }0 J1 j5 ^; S" I 糖果盘 candy tray:
$ H; u2 b0 {& ^" U7 O 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 6 g+ l- h. _ @5 A- R) j2 X, K
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 4 J5 d. H6 X% r
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ; ?* F) H& s( D; G
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 2 E9 R& X t( I6 X
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ' A3 G+ C9 c3 J# w+ J
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship / ?1 R$ w6 o! d/ R T& h
红枣 red dates - prosperity " G6 ^9 ~6 T" w( ?
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00