|
Spring Festival Words
( E `0 R2 |$ \* s3 S Greeting Season: ; U/ `# E T0 T8 O$ S* a
春节 The Spring Festival ! _# m/ I2 ~) z' J5 \2 |
农历 lunar calendar
# Z0 ]! @( c! F. d 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
) E: _: j9 W0 ^ 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 3 I3 _2 i' u! \. G; I, j
初一 the beginning of New Year * m: n/ e8 W: x3 s- \- ?& i
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
( N' p1 m t! D, D6 s' ~$ b5 ? Customs:
% x9 ?/ [/ P/ j' Z* j3 Q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ) s n, t% D& B* d$ `
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
- L; |3 |2 U# k3 s5 W 春联 Spring Festival couplets
" P% a0 I* H3 s+ G; { 剪纸 paper-cuts 5 W& L4 }5 q6 U$ y8 Y3 [* i
年画 New Year paintings
. V9 v3 [0 B5 _, } 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
) V0 h9 j0 O, {7 e 敬酒 propose a toast 4 z; a) w/ d! E
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 1 G s5 E% f2 r7 U b/ @, O
烟花 fireworks
0 m4 [) A# U$ e* w$ { 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
! o4 a, U9 A) k9 @( R: d" d" ` 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
: a/ z$ Z- H ?& o# N; ~/ N 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
9 h, @8 p: ]& F) o2 a 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( {# H. c; W) a! U. N) H 戏曲 traditional opera 1 O. s5 ^5 D$ X8 p/ m3 B
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville + s; r/ n9 O5 c
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns % K: U% U% |0 |0 f$ M1 [
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
; k( I% H. V" w; A$ T6 v) k0 D 守岁 staying-up 3 T. ~7 \: p% J& R) @3 V
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ; U- H- }# i0 I2 g" z
禁忌 taboo
; x) z9 r: l r1 \; z9 } 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune , N- g. f+ w. P+ ~1 Q' x+ f2 S
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors p3 O- y* `4 _/ }* T& a, g* J
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( |4 N" m7 e/ H5 \1 X& j 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 8 [- }2 W% a" Y% N* R, P9 ~4 C
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 5 d2 W% s- b2 C5 q- \9 l$ j: p0 E
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ b& Q5 ]0 a p4 l8 Q B( l Blessing: ; S6 e7 j* R# n' L8 d$ B3 T; x; `6 s. S
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ! m( ]; ^. f1 D: N& g% N
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
. ?8 z# P# c$ Y l+ K% T Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( I9 c( ` R \6 m
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 M, n9 j0 J( {7 e4 q( b' e6 @ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: w" \' q5 h5 R+ M1 M, e; Y: ^6 n Food names:
# o# P3 ]" w x6 E 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ) K9 o9 H2 {, t% {1 `+ _
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
/ Y; y& k, U9 J1 J0 @/ j 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
( ^* X5 ]7 M) S8 O/ F 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli & Z* Q5 `% G [: Y3 |6 l% T1 P$ z
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ) k$ @ o+ l) a3 R- x! t- ]% f; b
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
( y |5 q1 ?" m8 m$ l+ ?+ s 糖果盘 candy tray: ! q d8 ]; U. T6 Z* P+ l0 F3 V3 m# [
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 2 X9 c, e, r- k+ L ?1 u' i N
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
$ i( u) z9 m0 ]' b+ o+ e* {. w 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 @# w) m8 S' x/ H4 r- }1 z 金桔 cumquat - prosperity + I/ \6 e ]$ |
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 5 S+ x; w4 g2 ^* w
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
) E/ `2 S. s8 y, Y, t8 Y 红枣 red dates - prosperity
- R* v% S, \( ]& g 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00