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Spring Festival Words
, i( A& |2 Q) v Greeting Season: i/ }" n `7 L( l& _
春节 The Spring Festival . L: s/ b6 K0 a- Z: Q/ ~' p* D
农历 lunar calendar ! S d# M$ c% a! X
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar $ c- U6 ]( l7 K9 J/ O0 |* s
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 @1 O. ^+ D( e; m: r3 Q
初一 the beginning of New Year
7 r6 V# ?5 y! _! h# w4 a: k$ c 元宵节 The Lantern Festival . k# |$ ~& x+ B( z1 S0 T* t
Customs: # z/ M3 J9 M5 n' y6 H* j6 ?% S w
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
, C# _. [! S) r0 `" c# D5 ] 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 h. r8 B- N) G
春联 Spring Festival couplets ! a& ?, S: v+ _& ~, Q
剪纸 paper-cuts
9 x- \# g3 S7 h) j8 q, i 年画 New Year paintings
0 ~! }9 p9 ~5 ~+ T2 @ M! @ 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: |+ n" a, Y% Y" C0 G) W( e 敬酒 propose a toast # ^3 U% i7 b4 P) Q9 d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 7 o9 @7 H. H9 g
烟花 fireworks 7 R/ s( A `: X$ {! N
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
9 j1 K1 |) ~/ n4 R3 t1 n 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) & Q& g) g1 l# `. O/ e
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + {5 Q R5 [, ^
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 2 Y3 [5 ~4 M3 B$ @
戏曲 traditional opera
& e9 p% B' Y5 y8 r 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ' e8 \- j3 \$ _/ C' n
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns # t/ u" V$ A. ]. }
灯会 exhibit of lanterns ) y, G- A( R# e8 `3 [
守岁 staying-up
; O3 N9 _4 |4 k$ f! @ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit # ~7 W2 \5 D: }/ n0 b
禁忌 taboo
0 o7 } s6 w8 L; ^' s! T 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' [) g# v7 Q e3 ]" W 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
# B8 i0 f" C3 r: }. L" K3 I 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
, j x M9 ~5 v4 l O 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
/ z" {: N* }, U. e3 V$ I( `0 M- h 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 4 U: E3 `" j4 i" m4 v1 `: Q0 ~) b
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 7 q* \, D v2 U8 }* m( F
Blessing: : q9 c5 t- m; N) \3 L1 c
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
4 ~! }% r# z$ b Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace % [1 e ~0 n$ S' S
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ; d1 o& b1 w! c
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 d) Y6 n" m, [5 [0 o9 V
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 1 U# I) a3 R7 @& z9 T; J
Food names:
( Z- S4 S8 n) Q6 ? 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 0 _- I: G4 z3 e; i* q
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
4 N, I# r1 w; L# a. }$ f/ `3 t 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 3 L" F$ U5 k5 ?. }* P! ]3 W4 i
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* }/ D. w0 s3 f, U- e 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 0 s+ _2 T4 A! T
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( r1 ?, ]% e2 F% ^% Z- x# ]* O. S/ j
糖果盘 candy tray:
& B% ]' C) c* K2 r5 |: m 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 D; r, A2 m v3 x' w 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& y' w1 u/ k: ] g; F! ?& S8 [ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 t/ a0 Y3 G- v+ f1 E N, O9 z: b X1 P 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 6 I1 ^# Z( M* W' w
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
. O K, G; g) K! u3 l' D) i4 u 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 6 ^: _6 H0 l- t: @1 p9 {, \( `
红枣 red dates - prosperity % o8 O, L3 z9 C
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00