|
Spring Festival Words - { |0 z, w5 n( ]8 v0 _
Greeting Season: 7 G: l+ e6 r& O2 x4 I$ N8 m& @+ h
春节 The Spring Festival $ x: A7 m! n! W" _, I$ h8 E
农历 lunar calendar
( W- z+ x: L6 z; w1 U 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ( V# X2 R# W# z+ c
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 1 e! B7 D2 P, k; |0 w
初一 the beginning of New Year / A$ P1 W. o# S
元宵节 The Lantern Festival : _. U* d9 \, f5 K3 k' S
Customs: 9 C- }( h$ ], T; U. H7 M7 I
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival " N4 s+ k$ Q' e l) o/ R
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 7 D) x* q1 C) I' _' _
春联 Spring Festival couplets
7 ^2 v: M$ D; z' A! d8 Y7 w 剪纸 paper-cuts
( _& B# B# e: q) Y. v 年画 New Year paintings
/ E u% b7 K$ A& i: r v) A0 s 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
) q: N- x2 F/ f3 }; L2 X 敬酒 propose a toast
: \+ B4 L" i( v% } 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ Q& f3 x' X4 R 烟花 fireworks 6 B. Y; }0 J3 Y3 W/ T" E" i; q8 j
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' E/ ?8 U. p1 k- [/ x 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 6 p/ Q$ _9 g# g3 c5 }* o* z& i# t, p, R/ g
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) & D2 U5 e5 Z* @* J# j# Y: F+ U
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) $ \2 A3 P3 r" p: u! W
戏曲 traditional opera
1 D. M2 S" X U3 Y6 q8 i6 { 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
( C" c s8 X) X) _# n3 Q 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns / M, ~0 R g$ l! g6 R2 V
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 4 R/ L, {* ~- t3 X; A; B# @( A
守岁 staying-up
- G' K) B: l* d5 W! Z. F! z1 N 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit - |, N+ @! G# n+ [6 ~8 g+ Q# p' H
禁忌 taboo / U3 r5 J% |5 ~4 i0 G- c* h
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune . `2 t; F( U$ v: S" r; v% g# I" T
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 4 _8 s1 e+ @3 |. W B
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& I& I2 R/ O2 g8 y3 s/ V 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
# h) Q% x1 B+ o" Y% U8 _" y' P 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year * I" k/ I3 g0 o8 x6 x
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 q1 _: U* [+ y! x A
Blessing: , D! g# j7 F" K+ W2 y) V, r
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
" D- M# h/ w, C& Q Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
& B' l& C& b3 y5 R2 ] Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go . A8 G0 O, F% E2 w, \, N# }
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 b. n4 m# X9 R: g8 n; v
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! . e8 u& K- X- T
Food names:
; }" T" V0 c- r0 _* }$ U 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
. O; A2 d* ?" L9 F B 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 1 D) `% _1 u' n8 l$ H+ k7 D
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve : Q, s/ w8 O {2 v
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / a1 g: i) n4 f" N3 _! K, `7 Z
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 ?. x: h) S3 g) \
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
" K5 ]1 a' R& b: N 糖果盘 candy tray:
# |. p8 v' E7 ~% h6 g 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune * K1 V% j" ~2 a% S- k# ]
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health D; r$ q) N$ f* G, d
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
7 m, y9 j6 p3 h- R, ]* c; c 金桔 cumquat - prosperity * [3 [( m8 t* b: s6 I+ u0 A
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 2 s/ ]2 o8 w0 R: Z2 d% F4 n( R
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
: |7 @2 U n0 y! P1 Y) { H 红枣 red dates - prosperity
; Z3 [" \) k" I 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00