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Spring Festival Words ; g- A x1 A) N( h
Greeting Season: # t. H d# O# ~2 G3 M
春节 The Spring Festival ! \* D3 O) x/ z8 p5 ~
农历 lunar calendar
8 i3 H, b: {) I$ b 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 6 s! p4 k. S0 {: q2 x0 R
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% ^$ C/ P: }- ~9 a 初一 the beginning of New Year
) V6 z3 Q- A, v: w4 G% C. D; G 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
/ }7 }9 S2 q. \" a* l2 U Customs:
7 w( g% @ g: X- ^$ L' N" b 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 `, B4 ]' n" j+ o0 k" @
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# w3 u# l6 W2 ^8 K/ T3 K1 A 春联 Spring Festival couplets
$ f7 T2 f1 F% \ 剪纸 paper-cuts
/ t P7 G8 [& ~( m 年画 New Year paintings
1 U% A: _$ b2 I, R. K* i+ z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping * A8 }4 H. l$ Z
敬酒 propose a toast ' [9 {3 a Z( p* o
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
# z: z* z0 I/ d 烟花 fireworks # ^2 |% P+ k: u1 _% j) ~$ b. u
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 0 ^5 h1 ^) |. ]$ W. g. }1 R
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
. }3 w5 r" R) Y/ e2 n 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) " l+ H% B9 g& ?+ c2 U8 V
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
6 H s2 Y1 g, l1 n& \2 R 戏曲 traditional opera 7 \0 O) e _) Z) R [" _8 ^
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 4 {3 w% ^5 }% H+ [& K$ W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
$ o2 Z3 T' X" \, C% V+ K6 ~ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 2 p# L/ Y. H0 R( N( [: [! w
守岁 staying-up
# ^7 j) ]( d( h, B7 y9 N; o8 g' l2 a 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# n8 U3 b" j7 Y# _" m& K; [ 禁忌 taboo
" [$ Z! C- h7 l/ @" Y. v 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 4 M$ T: n, C% S! ]7 X) O
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
7 U, o4 p& y0 ] 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( J1 n/ w/ u; A3 ^ Z' F 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 ' w5 K( ^& L: m, d* R P
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & g- L2 i4 i% j6 _# b2 H
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning : X3 c7 `- \' b" P; i( G
Blessing:
$ w1 k# f( l" B9 i9 f Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" o8 N6 y- z$ _5 D) z9 O1 Z. b Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
( ^, o( m. I) T# I! @" q/ ^: } Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
- e, x `! z2 _: H8 [$ D, c5 b 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ' H8 b$ Q/ X/ z D1 ?7 i) Z2 H
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
5 S* K% ^5 V& t* ~ Food names:
5 P0 |# d) _9 a) e4 J5 Y6 O 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake + o% e1 U1 Q6 z
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
* H' k: Y3 y9 N. }" y2 s 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 3 [* @8 T4 c: T* S) g3 \. E* c
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ( \- L0 U9 N w( N/ i
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings + Y8 F: s, T2 B% J! Y
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
0 M" [6 a' I7 a( n 糖果盘 candy tray:
p2 X2 d% y2 g. ? 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 s, X2 o y& z2 _ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
+ E4 u4 W* T/ N' n* l2 ? 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 8 M! H3 `. y1 ^/ e+ O) V
金桔 cumquat - prosperity 6 V4 u) \* f! L0 Q0 ^
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
/ _: j0 K8 |" _: I 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
4 \1 T7 |4 g2 r+ f! Z' x p1 l 红枣 red dates - prosperity ' R7 Q A2 o( a- H
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00