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Spring Festival Words
G$ x+ r( V! u& n Greeting Season: / O0 ?; `2 @$ b0 j$ x/ h
春节 The Spring Festival \3 T2 s9 L3 f/ U
农历 lunar calendar
& d" W9 P. {8 T 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ! p# o: e' r9 g4 D/ c, c
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 9 P6 |! F% B# z+ x: z
初一 the beginning of New Year 6 g4 \; u$ V! f2 y. T# [# p
元宵节 The Lantern Festival $ n: z! i1 a& E
Customs:
4 u2 M7 X* y- G: g 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
" p+ l" L. I- }' Z/ U( d 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
+ V$ X: ~. |$ A! q9 H' y 春联 Spring Festival couplets
, ]% z5 \2 T$ ^9 s 剪纸 paper-cuts 8 k; }/ L! H1 Q- L
年画 New Year paintings D6 j* l* c) Q% h
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
2 T, S8 h, x3 L 敬酒 propose a toast
2 E7 J' J, z8 _* j 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ( m/ ^8 @3 D1 s
烟花 fireworks
0 @: P: A! {3 H9 J' p% ~ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 K6 X6 c9 ], i5 `) b+ E4 n 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . q z& d- G/ z, U2 B
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
5 I/ F! S0 y% `: E# m+ x2 n1 Z3 l 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 9 d+ ]6 g( a. e( F, B4 ~* H
戏曲 traditional opera
8 V% p2 u* T2 q7 i: A9 i 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
! W& @9 Y, {7 A5 V2 h0 T+ E 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 N9 E+ R: ?% a5 r3 G( k$ {6 l 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 {! I6 H" i! w6 Y& ]
守岁 staying-up
7 a7 ^' P+ |" K/ [! w8 D 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( b0 ~$ t+ k/ _ W( ` ?2 r
禁忌 taboo
$ m b/ `+ m/ N 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ! F% p P5 [7 U5 H
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ! Z" z: p. K# s' u/ F/ h) A2 K
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 8 \ R; S+ k/ [2 ^6 B% o. [6 D
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
) u8 b0 H/ x& o+ t 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year : [$ P2 \: e* O3 r$ j+ p& I5 V
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( O( L: w$ R4 S9 ^; z z( v
Blessing: ; L( k. p$ [+ L4 F/ S* m( `
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
* [5 U: h I$ Z8 D' P3 m+ ]9 J Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace : G8 C& B* ?- {3 W# V$ B2 Y
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
- R# h1 e' c p8 w. ~# W 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
. e0 U- u2 G6 L% M( ]% E. e' ~ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
; I* R: a( Z8 X% k7 ?0 s- R/ W Food names:
" e. N0 z# L0 F) F 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 2 ^- I- d' y% J" S0 o; }' k
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# V4 ^- L x- f" [4 m& w 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
; c u$ g4 n3 A) m+ D 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
! n% M1 O) i9 Q; W% R" h 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ; d: J5 T7 F. K) O7 r# i
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 5 E+ G5 z4 l" F' g: n
糖果盘 candy tray: / \. V w3 e" W% G
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( q# a! D) n. c0 H- d+ m0 f6 K8 u 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & j& G+ Y2 a. _
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
, F6 O n5 d" B3 y8 M. G. m 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 8 z i9 @+ m4 A
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # A2 u% N% o6 D+ W0 J
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: i" m- p5 G' d! X/ f) W; g 红枣 red dates - prosperity
9 [* I) B4 a6 ]( c6 S/ P; F 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00