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Spring Festival Words
7 \0 y6 g& P4 a$ U1 |; p% H Greeting Season: 9 {) t3 o- Q$ p; L/ a+ D
春节 The Spring Festival ) U1 V/ _' y* \2 @
农历 lunar calendar % c0 g! c1 N4 x- ^& x, v; d1 ^
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
( H ~" }" R5 { 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
3 u& u# ~5 _% Q. j. S! q 初一 the beginning of New Year * ~2 K4 U4 c/ B0 U/ M
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 0 o2 e" z5 }. Y* O8 z3 _/ p
Customs: / J7 t9 K% A2 H" Y4 c8 u
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
& R2 v. [( T# N4 s0 q 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ) U2 u& i* a* @( Z* X: ?) q
春联 Spring Festival couplets
- i9 c: f5 m- V2 A: v% b2 G2 Y 剪纸 paper-cuts 8 V9 ]% ^# q2 i8 X& D6 k" q
年画 New Year paintings 5 c( S% S0 l, m5 ~7 r( ~# j
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
! X# i1 `9 O# N# {+ i% u: e2 O( R 敬酒 propose a toast 0 ?# C+ v. E& s: o1 Y, H) c
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 0 Z5 Z$ _; M& a( r4 C% b _: P3 i9 v
烟花 fireworks 5 U, ?. M/ F! L. j, o1 _) j9 d/ K
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! ]3 E1 p5 C6 `! K2 @7 Q0 |5 q0 X* z 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) X, t! o. H6 F! ]7 A7 r1 s5 I
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : Y8 X, T' I, t+ R4 s. d7 `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) $ K0 V1 ~% v6 p+ a" |# ^3 U5 B
戏曲 traditional opera & |. \8 G9 e$ T( k' r4 u3 n* o. z
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 |3 b7 g* b7 D- D$ h6 T# o( D 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
* T7 m& N5 h/ ~0 \, E, C 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
; i# ? ? R! ]% K 守岁 staying-up 6 ?* [; H) r: k. I
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit # @! g% d7 s* r, |) r" t" v2 n5 c( Y
禁忌 taboo
/ h5 A& y: Z* q, m" I1 k 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' g" s& w8 V1 u5 b 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 5 i/ G% h1 W& Y2 C/ K: ] |1 k
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift & D0 r0 F% o* l6 t6 a1 Q0 \1 @- B
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
: a* j) z4 L5 J4 T' a 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 0 \7 i+ P Z" U$ \5 A* B& ]9 Y
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
1 q8 X0 E& Q! E& p) r Blessing:
! l; r. j7 s& C6 V$ C6 e% v Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % j( x" s# g5 o6 E8 }
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
* l% V2 O: x7 t# B) f9 o i. t Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go " |7 C4 H4 p% D
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, z3 W# \# c6 L9 F 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
; U; U, `% ^1 F# F4 Y Food names: 8 C# T/ n* a2 i
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake + W& x+ E- F0 t( Z3 @& D+ q+ A
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ( j/ z. Z( j, Q$ b, ~7 t1 Q* q" d
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ( z- A( B* y. n
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# f4 o* u. N; X. Q4 @ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings F) b1 V, E) t. x
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 3 @" c5 E# x- K3 g' b4 c0 `
糖果盘 candy tray:
+ S* {. v, b m 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
* G T7 e- R. v3 p1 y 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health % [0 |/ T! ?! m1 Q1 s7 G3 ^; V
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( w, M, K. _( N F5 [ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
/ c8 F) }' G5 K3 [- U& j 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) i% L2 ~5 O( z/ P) W% V0 T, v7 n
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship # h( `3 r& `0 k: {! R4 B
红枣 red dates - prosperity
* e, `" P* v+ _) l. S- e5 f% p 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00