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Spring Festival Words
( w. T0 \6 A' d7 i5 Q, L- e Greeting Season: 3 ?. G9 x& p; J( J
春节 The Spring Festival
8 ~: g( f2 y( P5 N4 J, U 农历 lunar calendar
& _; c' l7 h. G( n: ~) s0 n! K 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar * X& o8 t; s5 K) v% n
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
4 o' t+ e* Q7 S# f 初一 the beginning of New Year
+ [( s/ }* w5 ?0 d3 w+ j6 d 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' C$ i0 Y$ V- P0 r9 m# ] Customs:
1 b: [1 V7 [# ]5 ~, T0 r 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
' c$ n& f- T; K r+ d2 G 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
- f$ v1 m5 |' s7 V8 D 春联 Spring Festival couplets
8 Z6 g5 I z2 M* E1 m/ a% D& F1 b 剪纸 paper-cuts 0 w$ r8 q( P) {& x) z3 I( }
年画 New Year paintings
) v( N9 h) ^$ U' t5 X3 P6 w% h$ I) f 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ; e6 F6 W) J% s1 U4 T' P8 l
敬酒 propose a toast
4 X8 I6 o- ?- w. d2 ^ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 Q& w# M8 I) N/ ~2 D4 S( w6 @ 烟花 fireworks
! r: s: ^0 j% o/ |5 G 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
& g7 i" ]% @. m( h1 H2 ~ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
0 {1 ?: R/ F& U' U3 L 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# ~& _5 k4 P* U+ C7 i; f 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 i* T/ N% j& X J- e# A 戏曲 traditional opera 9 L" P6 @4 F+ d. W z: A
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville # M/ Z! [7 x& J
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 8 V2 I9 a0 p% J1 [- I
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
! q/ z; `6 A: r. U8 C 守岁 staying-up 5 n0 F$ I2 q' Q
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , l0 i: `6 i0 c9 b
禁忌 taboo 2 j9 I4 i$ x; L
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
; C! H t% Q @ o; P9 s# y* O( y 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
' F2 B7 J6 R8 K! U, ] 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ( | z+ j' ^7 T& w* E1 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 1 o5 m3 I% @! W+ N) _' b; S
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & z* V' h0 a. X; ? ]& I# ^
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
5 h$ R' a( m/ Y/ o Blessing:
2 ~1 {6 d$ P& }. O( k* Z# ~& H Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 R5 L H; o% c& D! h
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
; t S# ~ P8 a$ x; S) L4 V Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
, V5 ^1 s& |& ]" L9 l2 R 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ! k8 a T# R% x5 ?2 S
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! m# a' D# F$ d0 S3 W7 s# u: z0 T Food names:
7 C d) w. r& t z/ [0 l: L/ d 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
. Z% I s; G7 x" W 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 5 r {, u3 f& \/ X% ^
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 4 G5 k V0 b P$ h$ H
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . h0 c" d! z$ W7 H3 Q- f
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
' w- {, M# w+ X# w9 V 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding % |& Z; w$ D9 e& N: j
糖果盘 candy tray:
; z' a$ U: o" n2 U! r! x5 `4 A 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
; @% U0 ]+ c: w/ m7 [ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
% ?: Z7 ?. N; o* v 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) W3 W& }+ ~3 k
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
2 D$ h d$ e9 A+ n4 f 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come . y3 [% B" I7 \0 ?
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ( c! p+ ~3 b7 U6 l
红枣 red dates - prosperity
6 n& }' ]/ Y1 R3 R9 J 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00