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Spring Festival Words
, \! o! L' x8 Z9 v# X! J: a Greeting Season:
8 \& r: S* B. {0 I, y 春节 The Spring Festival
0 g2 h) }2 V, j# ~& I7 Z 农历 lunar calendar 7 r k: ]2 J% Q
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ! e4 m: t; _2 a0 k) ~% K$ g( D
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
$ ^# ? @; u8 X0 G 初一 the beginning of New Year
. i* ], B2 z j6 h0 k6 F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
! {+ @2 E6 b! m9 r% X Customs: ; n- O5 O- I! c8 |; p
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ( Q# c$ g: R' X2 _; I6 E$ D5 `3 r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ) b1 T# @& T3 }. ], P# u
春联 Spring Festival couplets
5 c' J) Z) x3 |, b2 K 剪纸 paper-cuts ]' q& d- {: X. R0 @: I+ Y7 L
年画 New Year paintings
; M. x" e G+ r& I: u( w2 z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping . p& X7 c6 T. J& G! \
敬酒 propose a toast & h U: U' k9 f5 h) j
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
; H7 U4 o" \( k2 { 烟花 fireworks
) {2 p; F6 n2 X/ }! T 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
7 n( L' J/ T) k7 O5 \ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) & d* P' ]; V. U! d' y2 m3 f
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) " _' H) X! d, {0 P
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) $ ^8 J$ c, f% E. z+ S( Y
戏曲 traditional opera ( b2 Y% Q& I0 e3 x& ~1 `
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville $ x- y: c; o4 w) H* \4 O8 }* c6 `: @
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 9 H3 U1 D8 S, M& t6 G
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
( a, {9 V/ z7 y# z 守岁 staying-up
& L0 p( l+ d- ?" F2 N+ V 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , j* N8 e4 R9 w& y) R
禁忌 taboo
@1 O# ~# e; f; [+ |9 y; U7 l 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- M9 h# @. _2 w 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ) W! E* t" Z8 z% H
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift / [" B9 p" A9 q
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
5 s1 x2 Y6 q) P: j. [3 ?1 ] 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 6 e. q7 x2 u F* X) ]2 H
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 N' V. V# ]' [) o) V1 f- L Blessing:
5 I, w7 g3 C# T) c$ P) g0 A Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
8 M0 V0 w, u& V# o2 u. | Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 8 y+ q; E: b W( @: k' f) G
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
# s2 J6 ? \: q& S 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 1 E/ p$ p* P& z/ I. j
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
j6 X; W4 b! B- \* h Food names:
7 H9 m. _4 C9 |1 G. F3 y$ e3 n 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 8 M* ~, Z9 ?# C0 D% I: ~2 u
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# t- r; o$ V1 g* ]" c 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
7 l0 J! E% i2 `. ^8 T" l 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli P, W+ _6 ~' f$ e
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings - k4 \5 z) w6 o, Z" B2 C3 `$ S% }
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
# V- g8 q& h; B# Q# B 糖果盘 candy tray:
6 J& x4 \0 C3 O7 ~2 m: ^! Q 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ( C8 R q+ H$ Z* y' _7 Q+ H* v
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 5 ?; `+ o) L9 e; I9 @+ G7 Q! M
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 0 j2 V( I( ?) w0 b H& M
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
; x! {* |5 J; A; i 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 4 O% ^: b! S8 t( ]: ?; }
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
& r4 T& P1 w3 [ K( S' `! f) W 红枣 red dates - prosperity
& t' Y% [+ ~4 P3 Q y+ y2 D 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00