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Spring Festival Words " n# \7 b4 k( ]! N' R/ o$ C
Greeting Season:
9 o8 t, [' X4 ~3 m 春节 The Spring Festival / W6 E8 }/ m1 T" }- s2 B1 k
农历 lunar calendar
2 t/ \1 `8 R6 h5 \# M 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar & D7 S, P1 m1 e' C. P
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year , ?2 ^( X, Q( O% A+ U, C5 t5 ~
初一 the beginning of New Year
: V( ^% V m; e. S* g: F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
; |, q2 Y! ?* I. F, ^: A2 | d Customs: % h) b. h( ^3 R( X% ?6 l5 n
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
- Y) f) Q4 x! L2 y3 f7 R 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry J4 t& F7 o2 W+ d
春联 Spring Festival couplets , Y8 v3 A/ y, D R
剪纸 paper-cuts
% a7 o" D( L& L5 k% g4 x. y 年画 New Year paintings : T, w; {5 U9 }7 C4 L; h" B
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
+ w0 Y& l' N1 N: @; y 敬酒 propose a toast 0 _7 O7 X7 P+ C+ g5 m! T
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
* C4 {1 ? |% _ 烟花 fireworks
: f1 x/ B6 O' s' z4 J( S 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) s5 B, ?* @6 w- j3 P" v5 ?
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
+ o; p9 @- i3 }: O U: V) @ 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) / x8 T3 E; d0 H% I4 H2 P
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
0 l: n: S4 {! x& R( A 戏曲 traditional opera
7 T0 C6 @. c$ M7 a8 b8 O& p 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
2 z; ?8 {* n3 |: \ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns # X% W0 O }9 K3 t) d! T% Y
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
6 m e0 G. o- d4 i 守岁 staying-up
/ w8 \! j2 @$ Q9 w) C/ M 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit % j3 V1 r T O( O0 }
禁忌 taboo
$ n( j& H$ i3 ] 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune # j& s/ p0 t8 M; O! v6 T
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ~$ {4 O: z0 m; H3 x Q
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* @$ L# l' k( O- m) B 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
) q* V+ j/ U0 d- N 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year / d: {. J" r3 N
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
" Y- M( `9 |7 |- W" @ M Blessing:
' U6 E! | Q. T Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 G3 g' V/ I% C, z1 R; |: K
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( N0 D! y% ^6 V# o
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 8 W& f( `, U, }
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ; \; |/ V# M+ q, |9 f
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
' V2 U0 q: R5 }! L Food names: / f9 m) H& e7 c, v' `
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
$ I" w$ p8 ]- [" y 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 3 ^2 [5 n2 I+ u% h6 ?, ~
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & t# \5 \& d. V$ }
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
' x) r6 j% M, w$ [ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 7 q1 }& _+ b+ P0 h0 v0 y' r
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 1 M, Z* m3 a. L1 Q
糖果盘 candy tray:
; g' ]& j0 u" X7 x8 u7 W+ } Q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
% E) p5 l% D& o \0 c; e0 O# {" e 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
/ X6 g- n9 o9 q" { v 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
# u' ^, b1 `7 _& h$ J- r 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
1 `( G% @2 x f" C+ G; P 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ) J! k. [ B/ ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
' F) y1 z9 q5 r# N9 e$ K7 h$ |+ K 红枣 red dates - prosperity $ Z- r" A2 Q0 ^, _/ w2 w! L; e& Z, x
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00