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Spring Festival Words
% l+ V7 b2 T4 F; z6 | Greeting Season: - u8 @5 f9 k+ G R* ?/ A; A5 m* T
春节 The Spring Festival
0 Z) N# Q) w) { 农历 lunar calendar $ ^* A1 r* j4 c# x r5 K
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 3 u+ ?: U" ]* T, B
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
6 C0 s9 C! h2 ]- \ T 初一 the beginning of New Year $ z4 m* X( ]4 n6 n
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 t6 }2 f) Y% L, t- E
Customs:
5 K* \7 G+ U) x* L 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
% B4 Z/ l. D W5 \) @$ B: x. {8 a 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , [" @2 `7 ~9 [
春联 Spring Festival couplets ! A% U. G7 B1 H+ ^% @7 R
剪纸 paper-cuts : g0 a; K5 _$ p# H% P
年画 New Year paintings
# M+ Y, N0 x G2 c& {% G+ l0 \. H 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping . N j) x/ k8 S! n2 {
敬酒 propose a toast . ?7 _4 L/ f' d( z) ~( j6 q
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( ` D& b. H, a5 h% P3 Y6 ~ 烟花 fireworks 0 I+ {: a: x% _
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 4 t8 v, J* ^7 s
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 6 Y) F- ?$ D- l, y
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
5 x& L1 Y d! b 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) . a# ?; G k# I4 O
戏曲 traditional opera
! L, L: t; X, J) A5 ? 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
# y+ W) e* h1 w# `" M 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 X- {2 [, t+ Z- X! z' B" P) `
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
' h% q3 L ?. S, L( s 守岁 staying-up
+ L: P% B8 }. u3 ~5 e 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ; e, f- E' j- t) t
禁忌 taboo
, f) t( a( @: {/ B/ z* P 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) d9 S3 ?2 e$ O ~' ^% b: }1 c; R 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
: Q! W6 H1 `- o3 R- o8 d) e 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift / p5 ?" G. D4 S" C
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 4 u! }1 V: ?+ s- Q8 t+ M+ x# ^
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year , E3 m4 D4 _- o" ^3 a
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
2 L! M- {' i9 v# h9 o2 b Blessing:
+ u% a, W; C- G: q/ K! D5 [( X Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" {7 c% d* N* T4 e: ~5 | Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace + G, W2 p) R3 M
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
; \6 D2 v0 b2 U: `) O+ h! V 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! * B/ i8 j7 b( I ^9 W$ e! o
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! , E5 T1 O0 e1 q" d
Food names:
3 K: ^8 ]! x% J+ N; i, c 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
7 [0 C) S$ l% F7 c 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 4 F& {2 F# j, N$ P6 l
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
4 L' g( w F& d2 ~ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 9 P) e- l* C6 t7 o0 p
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings # a+ j9 J D0 r { L
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding , D0 j% n1 [2 T" s8 Q( l
糖果盘 candy tray: . A# {; P! K1 V! ^- n$ `
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
* c$ H4 Y" A9 O, Z 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
5 {" r- V' r2 W5 D( B4 j 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity " J$ C5 Z: ]. Y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity - N! ^7 Z3 P7 s( R1 b3 W
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 6 ]3 F) n6 j+ C0 ]$ ^5 e8 E* @, T
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
& `$ I( {% ^/ K5 f/ |6 R 红枣 red dates - prosperity ! X/ w1 B! @5 q& B3 T/ `
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00