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Spring Festival Words 3 M# g/ _4 B" {- R' H/ a
Greeting Season:
$ ^( \7 n/ `. \4 v, _& H 春节 The Spring Festival 6 ~; v5 R/ M; l) I% g
农历 lunar calendar
& N8 r/ k) N5 Y8 u 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
0 S. ?8 h. l# A' d9 E8 R 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year * I4 t' Q- y# c
初一 the beginning of New Year % j) |& U' r7 y- ~
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
Z, B/ d& N5 F6 @8 E# _" w; ` Customs: 3 R$ J9 k! [% S* o
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
3 N" z- i2 t W; I% ?3 g3 w" }/ ? 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
( @, R' |! ]" i; H( N8 l8 X7 U 春联 Spring Festival couplets * n1 U! b$ J) e
剪纸 paper-cuts
8 c) `7 p ^$ \+ f1 ~ 年画 New Year paintings
% B$ b9 ~/ Q' H" Z 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping % v: F: p0 b; f
敬酒 propose a toast
2 p0 |! w( c* U 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 H3 h9 U: K0 z0 H7 o6 N) K1 w
烟花 fireworks 6 k) v- l$ ?2 Q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' ~% w8 ?1 k. S 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
9 N T) a% |$ d$ r& I 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ' U! o) x( q9 r& T# C! Y3 [- p; }
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
+ v3 I+ f9 Z6 ] E0 ~( M8 o! \ 戏曲 traditional opera
. n' U: x5 B% w3 O3 F 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
3 y4 w. [% H* q! u6 Y 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 Q" s% y# N( E! r) X 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 ~" o9 P3 E) d. ~
守岁 staying-up
* ]. T; W$ y7 r; O1 ~+ p! C( _6 P 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , `6 b& m0 n1 @. X$ ?
禁忌 taboo : m7 l; m6 D; ^) d1 V, }: A7 o
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / D9 ~/ u. h/ h4 ]& a' O
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 1 _# _# h( `$ X# Z& ^3 V' k; E- A
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
( }- C$ H# w. B$ s6 f 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
$ m' S' |. F5 |6 X" X 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year m4 s( Q; u0 L4 P+ [% O0 m
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ( p& N+ O. _+ D6 e6 n( Q L2 g
Blessing:
& l# h6 C/ g/ a Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
) E9 m7 ~) w& X9 w* y a' a Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 8 Q4 m% m5 @$ W3 O
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
7 t9 k* C. z2 C) m 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
& H* o% u" i/ \* ^' D( Y# m- } 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! 5 E) ~3 f$ n. U" v+ w4 q7 m# b
Food names: ; K8 G7 s' U- N. u
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
* j% D- x F" k: L9 b 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 A5 ^: a( B% A$ ] e- g
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
# R7 Z2 q( S3 E1 C+ K; j4 x( t 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
2 Q& n' s+ i& ^/ R" M 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
& _" G+ f: Z) z- K6 h7 M7 R 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 Z' p0 z+ C e1 S3 t. a 糖果盘 candy tray: ( N7 W$ ?: T" k7 k+ {
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ' D% ^* |8 H3 N$ ^+ S$ e) W/ U
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 1 [! h* F5 e9 h, z: P8 p
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
* m' l* M6 H; k* a' K* F 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
6 J [# N6 \6 }, g$ y! H6 _ C 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 T w% e5 Z: Q2 s# \
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 5 i% x( S7 b: m* W2 t5 \
红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 J, }$ G/ D [' L1 O7 [2 @' ^7 Y 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00