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Spring Festival Words
) R& e H3 z o: S" I" I Greeting Season:
7 ?8 u0 @' j7 \' ~" { 春节 The Spring Festival ; Q, @9 h$ }6 Y9 z6 [9 g
农历 lunar calendar
2 t& w" Z7 K+ ^ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar & q0 `7 C8 J+ f% ], m# H
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
S/ \8 g$ `6 L( W% }( |4 ] 初一 the beginning of New Year
9 |' e6 W, H8 K" ^ 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
, t0 X! o9 [. H" ]1 s* u Customs: 2 @' V8 P! F1 s. D. F" ]; D
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . w! p5 J2 Y* D& D/ J
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
9 A2 F4 b4 k; |6 i0 s 春联 Spring Festival couplets
+ z( o$ P$ I5 d 剪纸 paper-cuts 2 Q% w( o$ w5 p" A
年画 New Year paintings ; t0 t+ v1 `; h) j
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping - S6 r. L( V5 ~3 r' ~
敬酒 propose a toast
9 q8 N* G: ~; m( w: F8 o# ^3 T; r 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
: M+ K' V' h( s$ X# {0 X2 J* P7 Z 烟花 fireworks ; @+ W- c! ]) y y! D% r
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' I( C' f/ C! }: c% f" z3 `
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 t* } q, Z( P U1 O# n( d' {+ H `
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ; E/ m! [8 B1 |- x2 _; s! J; K5 F
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) " V0 q+ F8 z. |% ^
戏曲 traditional opera ( _5 w8 j* M% l- k [
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville - _5 E7 l7 f- R2 h: B) a
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 g4 q% |% s4 O# e 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
1 u. E" V" U- S, f. q 守岁 staying-up
" g- R6 e6 U7 f( t+ ^: {0 S7 w 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
+ Y' `2 Q+ {% g 禁忌 taboo
8 Q! p0 J S/ V4 F& x, I U: W 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
9 f4 O5 L9 L1 g: ~+ f( w. v 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 6 _2 R8 d Q& e U1 h& q* @
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 4 f$ x. R6 H, l, i: [3 O
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 7 R0 J! }) G5 |3 Y$ L0 \
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
D) y& o" w( J' J" Q' ~ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ' l: A( ?; y' h8 A
Blessing:
- t' `/ A) A5 }4 v: ? Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 W5 M8 w2 g3 o6 ] Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 5 H4 s ~8 G/ s, [. w! w; ^
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
0 `' t% s3 D0 \& G, c6 m- ]& M+ T 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! - ?/ i; o9 }: A3 Y/ r9 Q. F, j1 t; l. s
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
1 x- K3 u7 P1 X! N S5 a( K! D Food names:
+ s/ T* u/ R1 n: M$ D6 ]- R5 ` 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! B- J# u1 d% i 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# z" @4 |: P. t9 A0 x 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 9 l& H: ?% y: r+ Z- s
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 5 h2 `1 \3 y$ h, C2 y! J% b
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
, u9 M( {; O4 I( d: M 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( ?; c8 p4 }' \
糖果盘 candy tray:
7 J$ a7 i2 N& u! J8 F 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( A# Y0 C6 p' y( m. x$ V1 }
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 x/ F, b0 @/ z4 ]9 L% H 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity + ~; [2 [4 G5 T( D
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
% {8 t/ N' D9 }' @; T3 l 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
, `1 x& v! P8 u9 Y 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
- h0 `) g' V# e$ t 红枣 red dates - prosperity
' h- d6 V4 Y- D3 N 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00