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Spring Festival Words
0 y/ h: n8 T; `, w Greeting Season:
, H7 X+ Z6 Y4 ^9 y5 z* x( E; S. H 春节 The Spring Festival
+ ?5 B% _5 {% n S0 r9 G8 C) q 农历 lunar calendar
+ f( \6 a2 I/ X7 j7 } 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
7 G( v+ \" h- D1 h. l% r 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year " J, ]- D4 b' o% v) U: G
初一 the beginning of New Year ( K/ ]- J2 S2 i
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ; g) O3 D X0 A# w( ^$ T
Customs: 2 }- c+ C+ S% m7 u& ?
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
8 U6 C# o3 A2 m4 u$ t0 O 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
0 P3 @7 r4 k3 z- H 春联 Spring Festival couplets 4 p7 _* R+ R& E0 T" B! \
剪纸 paper-cuts
1 g0 c x- Z$ E" z$ V: a$ e( b 年画 New Year paintings
% r3 T4 ?/ U, c1 r$ i; Z# E 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
0 J# n, [, x$ p% S1 T+ }2 G0 ^0 W2 j 敬酒 propose a toast 0 n" f/ \/ s* r& y+ [
灯笼 lantern: a portable light R7 W9 S8 W# n
烟花 fireworks
( U4 B! Q. x: r2 \4 r) T 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; F! t+ F& Q3 w, q' o. @5 i 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) , z3 v8 u$ U! `8 P3 d! A
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 M8 s! |( P& A; i2 M+ l6 m& t 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
- I" a* ?' a# K& }/ \' }; V 戏曲 traditional opera
5 E' l* I* Z$ O: X9 z( |6 V5 \ q 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville , G5 _. q" |8 E3 t& S
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* E/ n; c' P, X 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ' l" s* a N4 l! G6 u0 @) t
守岁 staying-up ) u7 R k) d+ k9 M6 }% a
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , B( V; s, ^9 ]$ U8 L) M
禁忌 taboo
* q8 B8 i- k \ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 9 d) W5 t0 D0 @: {4 R
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ) N# S& V* |8 |- a" Z1 T" [; n1 c+ R
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
. L2 T) W) G7 v5 C5 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
- H$ N& ]( P, @7 F 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( z) t9 {& H7 f* A5 R% n0 w7 L5 _
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( V$ `* j+ f+ c1 `7 P
Blessing: + g! O9 K' b% Z" V. `; T; q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ( \9 V+ | g/ w. e% o/ C
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
2 _8 I9 {( f" J$ { Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
- F _1 [2 I. z$ L 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . e% H2 v3 X0 t# a. U& a) I
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 Q! `* X1 j" d3 x. E8 T6 q" h Food names:
5 D$ T) [2 ?5 y1 x! [% k 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 `* Z7 V" `5 O, P( { 团圆饭 family reunion dinner $ A: ~4 g7 I" ?2 U
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
3 T# I4 C1 O Q, ~- E# H 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 4 q) U% Z( _8 e
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : G4 _* R: r8 S! `
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ K) ~/ a+ m- }5 O3 T. t4 M/ k 糖果盘 candy tray:
* o3 U! `' O8 T4 A7 N7 t ]- Z8 M 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
4 g3 T. H+ m, Z9 z% v. U" b6 r 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
. l4 Z' k9 X# D" B$ d 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity + [6 m' b5 B( ^0 i( I) e8 M7 @
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
' T6 }3 n- \! [& r6 o9 w 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 j: d/ P" ^# g! `& d 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship % o9 R+ ~. @' Q1 v* L \8 J0 V
红枣 red dates - prosperity
; L2 {+ V; O% v. \ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00