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Spring Festival Words / J- V3 f! ]' N% E/ u6 G1 G
Greeting Season:
4 p* g3 R! t1 ~( e- T2 F6 C( w 春节 The Spring Festival ' C. Z9 S) C( f
农历 lunar calendar
# B1 `7 L/ e/ n9 L; u# u 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 0 A$ F ?( ^" k( N8 ?
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
# I8 F# W% L$ g/ g" T; q1 e7 K4 Q 初一 the beginning of New Year
; o* q8 ]' i1 y2 M8 h. `" S9 } 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
H! B( v k7 r5 ~9 ] Customs: 0 j, [$ _1 c1 p3 F
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ) _: t: l0 _' u, `
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry & d6 ~' X7 b e9 F9 g7 z, y2 `
春联 Spring Festival couplets ; z5 [) D) O: m0 B% L
剪纸 paper-cuts
. b- `- f+ N3 e1 m+ y/ P 年画 New Year paintings
- }) O; H& |$ u# P+ e 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping - x3 _7 T5 A$ S, o C+ [5 |
敬酒 propose a toast
0 L2 ~" u0 L" E) V+ }/ m 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
7 d8 X$ S1 B! E" y+ r9 y5 Y 烟花 fireworks
" L' {" z f; ?+ T- y) M3 L8 u4 ? 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) _4 e5 ~4 {" E3 ?- D
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
! v" J' V( ?# ~" m2 L h 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
) k0 t" _( g" i$ [" G I 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 6 B; c) r- `' E" R, Y
戏曲 traditional opera
; L8 Z9 w; B* L 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville - D# ]$ @8 }5 X' l: i! M! U
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 1 W' Y) o& o* S+ B' t# b
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 7 I1 |" }( L7 @
守岁 staying-up
5 S3 a. r7 r2 v' a% \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit + L# H7 Z3 S4 h8 Q) C. G( C- d1 W
禁忌 taboo 4 l+ s; e8 i1 j m3 M
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
. [# f# z9 [& h 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 2 L1 T8 w* V8 ]. e5 W' K
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 B$ V% M7 b2 T, p
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
# o$ E/ `9 U: W2 P6 l$ c. i. ^, c9 k+ v 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 6 d" |+ M7 B* K8 |
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
/ g( ]8 }2 E1 T Blessing: ; T0 S+ D9 ^! G r4 l: A
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ! O7 r; {" U' e1 U
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace / v% L. l4 P, m1 T9 O' r9 _: t
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 9 {, C! b$ R8 o. Z1 b D. O
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
$ j P( U/ c5 M2 V- y0 e 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ( E- m4 W9 u% ?+ ^2 K0 z/ O
Food names:
t& Q5 v6 d' e7 S 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
5 e0 l: }. ?$ o3 Y 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
* y, m( E& b: m 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 2 g P/ v* w9 \$ I* d
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% p7 x4 Z+ R- k: P! S 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
) k/ @5 j9 m5 e6 o) O/ f0 S+ w( i 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 9 i8 r0 j Z% T. G% I' ]8 t( K
糖果盘 candy tray: / l7 J% }4 Q; ^+ b4 f
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
0 C F/ ^% ~4 K5 J 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ( r- O; r8 K6 F) J' g1 G& t# K
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
7 l$ ], _. Q7 B5 f 金桔 cumquat - prosperity A. a' H2 M' T4 ?! j4 f/ V& y
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come & f. h4 m4 F0 [2 t) F
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
7 u. p# C, I5 y% I7 m. H" w2 O) L 红枣 red dates - prosperity 3 N6 I/ o% l3 S+ i) l* B
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00