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Spring Festival Words 3 u+ L W) [& w9 o
Greeting Season: 5 S6 Z* E# {% h' F
春节 The Spring Festival
8 E9 `; b0 i4 W: L* ? 农历 lunar calendar
* ?5 B: M- ~( ^# U7 c 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + U9 s- A2 s O" f& T9 U. z
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . b5 t7 H- t" v, o7 g, O
初一 the beginning of New Year
" i* s9 R9 [9 k# y 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
, Y/ l! i8 f5 Z1 f$ E# f; i Customs: 5 f$ J0 e8 B6 x
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
( D9 s7 u' j& g8 B; r4 c( P 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
3 W/ q e; c& F, o+ k7 J6 R 春联 Spring Festival couplets : U* W; Y$ R9 V$ H) f3 o
剪纸 paper-cuts . D0 v8 M8 g# Z7 L
年画 New Year paintings ! a5 h3 Q0 c' F7 }7 D
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: e8 y4 q) a, |; e ? 敬酒 propose a toast / z( f, Y, ? u6 H7 a
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( J' r, W3 I" f H6 {+ P3 r4 H 烟花 fireworks 5 P3 h( \6 W' w' l% |: m5 e/ p1 I
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ H/ ^6 z4 Y0 Y5 b, ^ i% [- I: V 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) # V' z0 s7 a6 B* S- `2 W
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
# t+ T0 b, X$ d t/ N1 Y, J- O 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 3 C; L" \3 T: ^$ I9 `! P5 p, Z9 Q& u5 d
戏曲 traditional opera 6 p/ t# n. u) z
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ( P! |& w/ {3 i9 r$ ~& W
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( b( Z9 X( g4 ~
灯会 exhibit of lanterns ' ]( [$ E& ? k# _* ?0 ~
守岁 staying-up : r5 E+ j+ P+ t
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
' X+ m. E. l# [3 ^& j$ C; a C 禁忌 taboo 9 [+ o: r _ K+ p
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 |6 s# i0 y; Q' a 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 5 n! w! m# @) v% l4 r
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * I$ _, E# V/ p. D
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 * W' [! l8 t6 \4 j' b+ T
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
: B& Y# r5 c" }) K 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
3 D1 R- H$ K2 n7 q& j) { Blessing: ' U+ Z6 Z0 h7 U5 x
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ( p; r8 I" l& E6 e+ L5 m/ H$ J- M
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace $ r8 N% a. h2 s0 W3 s
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ) k; ~5 U0 E' o! o
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
" Z- ~0 I% P8 n 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! / u4 A, ]9 i# X/ M$ r
Food names:
7 s" v, E( h8 q0 C+ J$ p( v 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake |: h8 L5 d5 p8 H3 l
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
2 z) W0 H7 C. I% }. v 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve & o6 W" n4 C1 L% n5 N3 F5 o
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
3 @ X3 U9 T8 f 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings : _& z3 G" H) v- T1 x
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
/ G* C# A2 W+ u# K3 } 糖果盘 candy tray:
8 n4 ?5 W) }# A' Y; B- Y+ H 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 O+ @& }" ?1 i: g 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
/ P, ?9 ?/ S! W 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
) w' x9 \6 y/ v+ h1 @* k 金桔 cumquat - prosperity / h" m8 x+ ~9 H' v: W* I6 a
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
1 F2 j7 A* r. L8 T1 a2 P2 Q5 r 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship / a b1 {# I3 q2 G$ ~7 w
红枣 red dates - prosperity
m# G u( K- _7 g! X4 r; E$ i 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00