|
Spring Festival Words 8 K9 J0 c$ T% o5 {4 {
Greeting Season: 3 T. z& o4 x) ]; Y
春节 The Spring Festival
j5 @% Q; M. z 农历 lunar calendar / K7 p; J3 p1 ]! l7 Q" a/ k
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 6 o6 \' O8 W9 l
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 1 L$ `$ ]7 F. N5 m6 c( }3 ~; C2 p8 K* v
初一 the beginning of New Year
+ m0 _! w: `" K' \0 ^. v% x 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 9 Z9 t4 Y; Y* v0 Z; W' r
Customs:
- r' ?& z9 N+ a' B, E1 h- \5 ^ 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ]" w0 n% o$ n0 h9 `
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry : t8 | q+ E4 F8 V3 r8 D
春联 Spring Festival couplets 2 [+ E! @ y# @
剪纸 paper-cuts ' F7 G% T( o' b2 F3 {8 D# N
年画 New Year paintings
$ a7 h' j1 ]0 I/ z( z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
8 X4 L! R) w W) i 敬酒 propose a toast 9 w$ z1 Y+ B5 p( x/ g! Z3 V
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ( F) z6 u# x( Q
烟花 fireworks
+ j+ C& Q, C& r6 k; K" b3 q 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) , _, g8 O, d% z' @, A! a$ H
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
; G+ r' n4 y) M# l8 [. ~/ {9 F' P 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) # s# k) {( k/ T* _" ?9 E
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
, W9 }! M" s% z7 k. a 戏曲 traditional opera
% t- h: O* Y' I, C7 E" s" N 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 ]1 Z2 m; P) u" f& E& V0 z1 O
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
7 m' l6 C8 N$ E6 \! ?6 [% a+ z# I# {5 ? 灯会 exhibit of lanterns / m/ z) z; r# m- z/ I1 u% P
守岁 staying-up + c5 r$ Z6 t1 q; u# F, K& K7 \
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , w' j% @" q5 k; g r
禁忌 taboo 4 V+ H6 {7 ? O; E: u5 R4 Y
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* X6 c/ O' k. ~& g; \+ }+ P% v 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 p7 p3 u$ X% N8 Q8 h- Y 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
) m v8 K( E; `' q) n/ P 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
( U6 Z' u% o/ R |$ a& O/ c0 C; e 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
$ R4 E' P, T) I& R8 N0 K* | 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ; M8 K' X7 W; ?
Blessing: 0 {# C8 j8 w9 M: |# }
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
! b5 Z" z: @' R& M3 w* @ b Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
! F0 y. W+ x! z9 I& X# n9 T Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
, c. \& P4 |! T- u `& Z+ s 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 0 v8 o7 x( i5 E
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 s, a' G+ ~3 _7 \) ^0 N0 G Food names: ! p. k' E. q, I/ n9 b
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
) v, Q8 j3 p# s: p( _: w 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 0 V, Q. B( }5 o/ P4 k
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
. C6 W8 n/ x% h& q' \% P& T ? 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 8 m. J7 D8 |1 x, ~$ k$ t
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
- _1 a8 T% a1 \ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
# i( V) {- ]" ?1 x% m) o. a 糖果盘 candy tray: 3 i% J) l4 w0 }0 ~; `
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) h- x) p0 O' S5 g8 U2 k
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
9 |6 h7 i+ _7 C. n$ ` 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
, P& ]7 o. w$ F( `0 O" l 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 Y1 ]$ C6 o+ r: |0 B+ }5 \2 t, K% I 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 X* A7 A* x! V/ ?9 [3 R+ v+ Q, A
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
; Y( ~" a2 `4 v' H( _1 o; X 红枣 red dates - prosperity
" K, f) _9 v" ]0 C6 @6 I 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00