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Spring Festival Words , y# V5 {) H- v
Greeting Season:
+ O$ k) q) e& e# P 春节 The Spring Festival
* _: m. |; I9 T, h1 a# ]6 b8 o 农历 lunar calendar ! Q/ b$ H3 F. R9 a) g5 g
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 5 ^. t% E* u% o3 O2 Q T3 q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year + F; e. M1 `' }
初一 the beginning of New Year / S s7 H, A0 U( U3 D
元宵节 The Lantern Festival . i# Q' s2 j- q6 W( @/ i1 H
Customs: . w7 z& e4 H6 c& F! T
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
( q- y$ G2 G5 E# {0 z; p+ A* @( d 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
! G+ {4 M$ C Z- Q; G 春联 Spring Festival couplets
0 y. `* U1 W( T$ L$ P- i2 I 剪纸 paper-cuts
4 w( k! g6 |4 s: v0 e 年画 New Year paintings 2 [7 M, a* E1 A4 l; T: H. I
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
$ D4 x: v# p8 K( D 敬酒 propose a toast
& {5 D* k! w: L% D 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
2 B. c" ] W& @% b$ T' h0 W 烟花 fireworks
: {* u5 y3 X& T- Q* u9 Z 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ T$ F4 E! C) e2 J; G6 g7 q$ z$ [ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
! q, F' [- F5 t8 M a 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ) M. M# b5 X" [+ M
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 T1 Y% r! G, ~ 戏曲 traditional opera
& [: T5 d5 `4 [0 T! E- O- H 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville " Z/ V0 f. Y6 M, F2 T/ O1 ?: v
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
6 `$ a* Q( }, p! ]' R 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ; t( ]- M+ Y3 [$ @) T2 N! w$ G
守岁 staying-up
+ J* t; j4 S9 m7 J: Q4 \1 r9 v U) z 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 @2 Z" a0 R0 p) a
禁忌 taboo
6 q) h0 p0 [, U, Y9 a; m* W6 a 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' w: f Y5 n' R1 K g+ l 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
/ R: d: T4 \) \8 J 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
4 d2 ] [& ~) U, y- a3 i 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
6 B1 X& \# W# x' U 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year : C! I2 \; Y( ~) X3 G- p: l
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: V# ^1 R+ S! w8 U4 G/ A Blessing: 8 ]% B; h0 [ g
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity - S( u8 ] m) z' \) t! n' m9 T
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
: o& M; s6 F) }5 H5 o! h L( y Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go / _; f$ l; c2 e' K. W
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . y% i! b# a Y0 O2 p4 w/ U
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ]" |0 f% _% C
Food names:
4 p" S6 ~5 s9 | 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 9 @$ u `: E2 Y3 ^8 }" q: x7 @
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ! N; t- A2 t4 p
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve / t6 H/ \0 m* T& ^, |. d7 Q4 D
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
: B! c: B# }* C- m3 O7 f3 P 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# I( M; w0 E- x7 {# e 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
7 f, m$ ] K! Q 糖果盘 candy tray: $ W/ {, `. H. e3 L1 B0 W
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
0 \; B- k) `6 q% }6 Q7 W 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 6 b0 e; @9 q3 _# O0 ^
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
$ u7 T$ E/ q* r6 V 金桔 cumquat - prosperity : E; v/ X6 V4 |1 P% o. W5 U
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come * V8 X; N& v9 U5 U; U+ {
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " b0 S7 y1 H9 G" N9 K0 U
红枣 red dates - prosperity
' S; q0 w4 y- [$ S( L5 B! d- P- E9 q 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00