|
Spring Festival Words 8 Y7 J& S0 X' n% H: o3 h. @0 ]
Greeting Season:
$ \$ B( s7 R; ?+ C 春节 The Spring Festival / V2 \1 Z8 V; v6 m) }! U
农历 lunar calendar
+ _8 A8 s8 o& c; u 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % _% B; E) G+ u1 n
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
- g2 a: J* r! H' b% R% G% S7 o- W 初一 the beginning of New Year
$ Z) f( W( _+ T/ U( ^! T) Y/ y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 y( q9 ]) x- q9 @ Customs: 0 n: f1 Y; U! ^4 ^: ?# t) b( s
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 k* f! W; K. S8 B* @ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
6 H" M$ Z" k3 C' _5 V7 |6 a8 c 春联 Spring Festival couplets / X5 C( D8 r- j2 ?7 B
剪纸 paper-cuts 7 ~( A, c2 C' p# D
年画 New Year paintings
0 c1 Y" I6 E5 ]2 J7 \" i 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + P n9 @; g5 h4 p( |+ p Q, F. D2 J
敬酒 propose a toast , e Y" |2 t9 s( ]9 F( N9 q y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light : ^ P2 Q3 {& |" y+ x) j: `* F
烟花 fireworks 2 `7 j9 t0 D, u1 x9 f
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 r# q% d' V" N q2 e; {) h 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
2 C1 W5 T* }9 U# f6 F; _/ v 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
( U! r( f+ v" K1 |" h# S! W' Z 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' M7 L: T/ O; R9 y6 n" e 戏曲 traditional opera 0 Z0 r( R, F- h1 w
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 f C t+ `* V |4 S9 ]
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns . L* ]: y# r* k& C6 g' h
灯会 exhibit of lanterns % _- K+ B- X' J+ G) k
守岁 staying-up 3 |' J! `, f1 o( b/ F# b0 x
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 D. t% Y* q, m3 O6 u( j& X
禁忌 taboo : `8 c2 E% l) p
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , }) j0 V# V1 p! p% {
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
, z/ r- B9 w& S5 C1 b 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift @$ E7 m' }% k8 S2 Y: L
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 9 ^4 d0 o9 n* G3 m0 B% ~/ I
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
' q" n% {, F% K2 f( V4 k* b 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( j, z$ k& v4 ^* L; r2 y Blessing:
0 O1 [- ~( z T3 D: E. a Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ; K1 b$ D% @$ o' f6 }, d
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace . C3 y: s0 w; o+ i3 L3 U
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
" R$ j5 Z# h+ s$ |% N5 D- R 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
. k" D/ N9 y% g- m" ~* G 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! & Q& Q5 P% i0 F
Food names:
0 u* p+ G0 ^5 u 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
5 J O! l6 \5 x) R7 A 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ U8 |; r+ y: H- z 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve / j0 V; Z# W7 z9 F: O
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
" p0 s! a4 c- n+ A1 Y$ L& ^1 M 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
0 }# D! o! x9 z" t2 S 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - V: B* M( W. k! O5 h2 H: y5 o) n
糖果盘 candy tray: 1 b8 E% H3 I0 ~4 d' ~
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
( [# k3 F8 D2 h/ l2 [ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) b9 `& g8 D" i' E% J3 W: ?/ @ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ; x. B+ H6 o! }
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 o6 i% l! O: D. G* g& c
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. p2 ^/ y- j' b. a 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 3 Q$ _: Y1 m# h' s) j. Z# K
红枣 red dates - prosperity ( X; J2 \2 m5 ~/ X: ~4 S0 ^
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00