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Spring Festival Words
% L$ e4 R3 e5 e Greeting Season: ' z& x8 P% K* I$ T6 j/ X
春节 The Spring Festival 6 h. H- I; T3 X
农历 lunar calendar ; _ u) G K. t- j8 `
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 `! f: X o$ A! N) ^& i/ _ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year % s- K u" X* V4 j6 y
初一 the beginning of New Year - x& S9 ]0 m: n* R4 _. e0 ~$ q# f E
元宵节 The Lantern Festival * }' H) r6 y1 \0 Z3 J) w
Customs:
1 J# M1 j2 }$ A" s- q- `& J, S- ^2 q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ' c B% y b+ P: C: g/ M2 X- g
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 0 k1 v, P. P' s) v. S9 S
春联 Spring Festival couplets % n9 c: n4 V3 Y5 h0 A8 Y
剪纸 paper-cuts % Q, j( c# R8 y5 g% V" P
年画 New Year paintings & S6 h' Y8 N6 h# e$ g
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; W/ [4 a- M% t0 Z( \$ ^ 敬酒 propose a toast
6 z/ a# G. g V 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
5 Y+ d8 k2 ~( P5 t8 _2 P" M 烟花 fireworks 1 f; b* j; W; l f6 ^; w
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
( W0 K# K( ]' N 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 5 T. `' ~% A$ J$ ~7 `
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
6 Q4 F! @6 p% J1 h; z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
v8 b7 } J) w3 o4 O6 m 戏曲 traditional opera
# a% p5 w& T8 C, G) q4 j$ f V 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
. Q& [/ w6 Z& [+ k2 K; C t 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
0 W5 G6 v5 B- U5 Q" T% K& {0 j1 M7 ~ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ; C; n3 F g3 Q& A1 G4 s7 Z; ~
守岁 staying-up
9 y4 ?. Q2 G9 X! V: [( \) j+ j [ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
8 f6 m, N; [) ~. ]) I$ j' ?: l) { 禁忌 taboo
! A+ g' |7 |5 _! B 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 p4 r' l, l$ A- R- W8 R 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
3 W5 @0 h* b w$ q 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * r! y" i+ H0 [# t
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 - i$ N2 D( ? U r- B: B. @! [* m
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & {8 _' l) P# C0 _1 \1 h, b# k
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
0 F4 P0 _$ y7 b1 F' ^$ x# u, i Blessing:
0 Y6 z. P7 w+ Z. ?, Z3 H( W Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
; Y* n2 Y2 j8 x4 N9 U1 w' V1 \ R: z Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
' r" c2 Z( J6 s1 r+ b+ C Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go - J$ n/ f* p, q
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 X. m: G: k4 J" p% P 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 `# @! Q& Z1 U, Y% G C Food names: 7 |: m3 p) D' \5 w8 r
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake $ p* m! @$ Z/ N! B$ X: d
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% S1 v, {* Y1 C( x+ m- y# M 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 2 z9 M N( |* \+ S
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
# _+ s% p0 T# R: O 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
8 c2 @/ o1 {' y. S5 s 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
& ~& N' k6 L/ E 糖果盘 candy tray:
6 H" P/ O/ J$ g3 H2 I- S2 t! B 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
9 F8 ]& g# Y' H6 @ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
7 `9 L) T$ S. A 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
; d! N+ e9 k' U1 O3 h1 v 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 0 V- D- N/ w- h% F) Z6 V) R+ B* k- t
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. Q) M C5 o0 C4 B1 }2 a1 c 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship . a0 H. ~* l) M- ?) r
红枣 red dates - prosperity 5 o2 W8 H6 W5 A1 m9 t4 R/ M3 F
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00