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Spring Festival Words
: R. a& \1 D9 ~9 V3 F$ Y& N Greeting Season: c, h' n) x$ t8 G
春节 The Spring Festival 0 E. I$ P! _( B2 A
农历 lunar calendar - ]6 `7 x3 Y2 ]6 d6 X( D+ G! f0 z
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' b0 G" }6 s* u" w% Q& F
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
/ ~9 S0 ^5 r+ }5 d 初一 the beginning of New Year 6 x# u. M. ^0 E5 |# [/ D
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
$ a& J0 T$ r2 u$ ] Customs: $ W H' f! c) a5 C( N2 n8 ~
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 6 ^% _1 \# D- I7 C
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 9 ]5 a8 c! h6 s0 m, q* F
春联 Spring Festival couplets 2 ]- h: U K- ?0 ], U9 S
剪纸 paper-cuts
' x; m0 F; W4 U 年画 New Year paintings 6 Y; I0 C, z2 P/ N
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
& K- ]1 r" k% I' t! m 敬酒 propose a toast
, X: X F$ A& C! H9 Z: r$ H 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- ?& \4 F& M! g3 M 烟花 fireworks : _ d& J" k5 I, O1 _0 e" i6 B
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
; }# R# u, r4 w, f8 q2 Z6 q' Z2 ~ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
) ]; k1 z' H! H! |" M- E9 w4 e. Q% u 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
; g4 ^( X. n6 e; M0 A 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) * r: s# Q% A2 y/ U j, ]
戏曲 traditional opera
3 {% Z7 W6 r& G& _$ ^% y 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( [* Q* D0 n8 M! \" T
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 v' Q/ U( B7 x" k$ G. } 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
$ n% J3 s! s/ ^5 L 守岁 staying-up 6 T: n) B& p7 E X7 h7 h+ q
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit # _1 p. n3 P: R' u0 {7 D
禁忌 taboo
+ l1 V8 f' @" t) y8 r 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 I' k3 I. B& A' G# _9 A
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
& Y3 |. L- F C! {, |% X 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
6 b3 ?5 N1 o4 a$ j5 ?* o& A) Q! g 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
$ q' I7 G: Y$ h# X 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year $ I! ^5 ]# ?" }2 Q" J
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning % f* o: `) J2 u$ @9 X/ x
Blessing: # w$ W% _: @0 y1 ?
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ( p J# H, v& t6 @. C
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
5 T) \( g$ n! h. {' e0 ^, ] Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
6 |" ^4 P M! [0 [9 x 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* K' X3 Y: ~* M' h 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 1 H- w! Z* K+ S( G+ ~' R! \# l! X3 h
Food names: ( U h7 i# j, R7 \2 K
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake . T- B& _8 `$ \ F
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
# s' a l: a/ m& E; Z0 L 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
, v7 b& n) y( [! ? 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
* h1 H( b% l/ U 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings # r5 B0 R0 \- P* j0 o
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
! U9 {5 \- }* D 糖果盘 candy tray:
# O1 F4 g5 x% M% u" v 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
1 R1 X, m, o( U7 y' i8 x 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
e" F3 W$ `0 ?/ h 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
) _% K" p$ u: l 金桔 cumquat - prosperity - w4 v( Z; E3 O
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # w6 Y9 }& ]$ x) A
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship * @2 t7 j) N% D% m$ K8 K1 G. h
红枣 red dates - prosperity 6 C, r' L$ n6 c6 r. W: G
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00