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Spring Festival Words 0 |; u4 U* _2 U
Greeting Season:
8 i/ {& o9 z. ^ x 春节 The Spring Festival
) n' Z/ {/ }( ? w% t4 K0 J( Y 农历 lunar calendar ( P8 I6 x5 s( R* I) \
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
0 B# `& [7 B6 O& I# c [ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year " h4 s" |: _8 z0 |
初一 the beginning of New Year
: V8 |) o, z0 U4 i/ M/ j; }0 D$ J1 U 元宵节 The Lantern Festival & D b2 o8 E* C8 @+ R* r$ ]
Customs: / B& v) B/ _7 i1 j* `$ d
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival & _; w5 H( ^( C q) f
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 A# F) c' L1 h$ S1 ~
春联 Spring Festival couplets
/ ~9 O8 H- [" G$ E 剪纸 paper-cuts 9 b- ^6 t) F z) G; K$ R
年画 New Year paintings ! o! p. O1 {" n
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
7 @) X- f$ A! @6 o8 t 敬酒 propose a toast
0 O0 t, W7 X0 X; A, X. f 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
3 x5 v/ z6 ]4 K& d2 y' { 烟花 fireworks - s0 p, u/ T1 R9 |: V. b
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 6 B' l2 V ~, Z& a& A& @* c
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 3 ~( `7 S8 F4 t1 u. M1 P' P9 w7 O& {* @
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) & i6 l, K2 J' z$ h) |
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
8 `5 K9 P' R" C% X( `- L! F 戏曲 traditional opera % h% m0 l! X' P) a# a9 R$ ~
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
: o7 `! j$ X- z' B c" B 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns $ n y5 f3 y6 K) {: q7 S
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
0 _9 g' i9 ^$ M, l/ L: O$ a' f 守岁 staying-up
! ]7 ]8 N# p9 O 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
! b/ f& \# m V 禁忌 taboo
) W. y" p+ S0 K- K' p, n/ [, k 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * q7 V7 b5 t) o! ]7 `9 P8 W
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
6 N# E# W4 I G& T% B/ E' C+ @ 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
: r0 W) \) l8 w. X6 Q G# z 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 0 A! A! r3 B7 T
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
' B9 Z8 T5 r. v1 N: K$ g 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
- d7 w* e1 E. A$ c$ q3 k* ~ Blessing: ; j& S, |( ~( j
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
$ J5 \6 `' u( _/ ^ Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) O3 P1 P* ^- x0 a
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 7 m* h" R1 V$ h. k' f8 V P/ H
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 5 q- J8 P1 \7 d8 i
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 8 l& }$ o# ~0 }- M
Food names:
. U/ a. Z$ ~3 l* @ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
1 |. H4 d1 s- W* J+ ^ 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
" f; f- y5 S. S7 }# Z, u& b 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 1 _$ Y# s, }, ]% n! f
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli $ n# F' V) m: d! _! z) U
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
5 Y* v9 \( {# v0 ^ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding $ F7 o* x* c( h% L1 i3 H3 F. R
糖果盘 candy tray:
% V, i3 d2 }2 U* O 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
+ y3 ~: B- i1 w 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ' t# ~5 a; V- t/ S
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity & h- U( E3 g8 l- J o
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
' d; I; r l, |; L- v; z: D 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 y7 ~$ k! d) w4 j5 h 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , `1 a# t( b6 @3 E
红枣 red dates - prosperity 1 G& d/ N3 I/ }; P3 X" t7 {! ~0 d
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00