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Spring Festival Words
9 i( n' a3 \0 { Greeting Season: , I' F$ G( e, q+ I* n
春节 The Spring Festival
$ B% _0 N/ u' h: ]0 t 农历 lunar calendar
) ^9 Z$ b# ]9 \ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 5 s% M& z- o5 x8 X$ |/ A9 }0 z
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
. T8 y7 g" Y& u/ E. I+ a( t+ h 初一 the beginning of New Year
! d4 O c0 A/ \; P1 ` 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
" K$ h& x; E: {1 A0 e9 @/ |& m Customs: ; I5 H3 X/ {7 j; I6 K8 W9 Q! O6 H; R# k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 Y. [ n: @* J
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
/ Y8 b) {* n+ C 春联 Spring Festival couplets 6 `! L! J+ O3 n; x! {
剪纸 paper-cuts 1 p# w! P/ @2 ]7 Q4 h2 C0 D
年画 New Year paintings ! P0 h1 h! r5 q( ~) M/ R
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 9 V8 B# G- G0 O+ E! K
敬酒 propose a toast " N+ U- I) P$ ~5 Y
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
0 e* ?% i: b) V 烟花 fireworks 5 M6 y6 h$ y7 W$ }" D7 }$ Z$ s5 a0 n
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 1 h2 E+ b f( T9 Z. i6 w
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) ' W% X3 ?3 k; n2 Y W$ E- V
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
6 Z7 l8 O. P; ^ 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
" ?' }6 @9 Z) u- w2 r5 G) Z 戏曲 traditional opera
8 y, h/ @* F$ i5 h( j 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 7 i5 S7 b, S4 N
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
8 _. s" X* F$ A9 I0 D 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ( |8 D1 t' r5 J& d: \7 T
守岁 staying-up
) ?0 y( }, [7 q* c: R 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
- H L1 r) s S; X2 X7 X 禁忌 taboo
( o& t6 _3 e' J. V 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
- F( \. `7 {0 d! E+ _9 S 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors % v6 ]# N7 F0 n2 Z( {) ~9 z& r& Y
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
6 u3 c/ w, U0 T$ ~/ ^ 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 5 F6 [$ m. u, M6 ^. s
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year * A7 [; \! `7 _- n" T2 S' v$ @ D- ^
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 5 j" \, \2 t5 X- q7 Y, |+ k
Blessing: . d d0 {) X! \- {1 V. D0 q* n
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 8 b9 J- j O* d8 R
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 6 @/ x6 z% y, Z
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
" z5 Q f6 P5 Q 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
: i/ U, r4 E9 @8 I 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
! J3 r5 u/ V$ r" e r {1 ]# a7 [9 b7 a1 F Food names: 2 b {- p) L' w
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ( N9 y& b' \/ Y- w+ `
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; a7 T; ?! ? c" h; g, _4 o
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
% L! V; ?9 Q. V6 \. V* n 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli . h1 \$ _$ s* H, D% ?1 U
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ~( d% H. g. G' Q6 b2 [
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
7 Y- Y8 E2 P, N/ ?! Y; ^ 糖果盘 candy tray:
5 c) e& R+ ?" U, s, z N 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
& D, F! r# v3 _- u# x% a. S0 L 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health ; R4 \) I9 i4 C' K: H$ [
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
/ O3 L: c+ ?8 ~+ o- ^8 s 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
) R& s( W6 l: @" v 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come ; ^4 g$ L. P8 c# ?: t
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
2 `/ s7 c7 n5 b# e$ ?+ w# v2 u 红枣 red dates - prosperity
* d, [/ B9 W7 W( l O; {% [ | 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00