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Spring Festival Words
" z$ R7 |5 G2 W* r% @ Greeting Season: / Z1 L& T/ ^& N$ \
春节 The Spring Festival
9 [0 ]$ ?& p- H0 X 农历 lunar calendar
4 I5 v7 b" m1 G8 Z0 [ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - j L3 P' e O7 H: ~. v% E, ]* Y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
% w/ Y& M. U* H* d/ R! }# g 初一 the beginning of New Year 1 n5 x5 e8 c# ]# z8 ]- E$ X5 T" k
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 6 m y, d r0 A: A! z$ A
Customs: $ m6 W5 t( I# ]- d; g! i& v
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 x" ^6 W; ^' e$ t/ }& t 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry e& g( l! N1 ]* Q
春联 Spring Festival couplets 7 l' Z; D' _1 K* z8 P
剪纸 paper-cuts 7 }' L! L9 q8 @( e, i- {/ ]- W
年画 New Year paintings ! L2 J" p- x+ U9 U7 E: c) s- P
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ( A2 r: I! Q$ P8 G
敬酒 propose a toast
. M6 L' P% v+ R: ?5 q1 y 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. F, @7 W3 ^* M1 K0 g _ 烟花 fireworks
( k/ s8 G4 [- b8 C! V2 L 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
' `9 z" g6 i; r( c 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) + ?% U# F5 J1 s* e: P+ s
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* n0 \; k% m/ y( J5 R' E4 l 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
7 J& g/ \) r x* i 戏曲 traditional opera
. O( G. x' Z, h# V4 B; | 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 0 O; ?9 Y6 l+ a2 Z
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
! {5 o! U3 R0 o2 O# @ 灯会 exhibit of lanterns 3 t( P6 z- t, c! }, j- s- V: p
守岁 staying-up / C) r; F* s% Z
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
% ~) C& @, Q' C/ F* c; U 禁忌 taboo . k/ {8 k' u. ]- j2 k3 g/ S+ a
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune & ~( X2 m" |0 V! l$ A/ `. h' t
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ( V2 U4 T' p8 `
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
2 I6 b/ C* p( w+ z! W3 K$ | 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
9 H, L6 S8 w5 P' L3 [0 V4 ] 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 9 ?% {) [2 ^2 f( p0 N
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning * k0 K1 s8 b; u" `1 q/ V
Blessing:
/ J! X n+ M6 A/ k6 Z$ s0 K/ m Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
+ |4 ~4 n8 a* l2 i Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
) E6 B) \4 V. E3 A6 O# ^- C6 c Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( @( ~- y7 j" m [+ }' M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 r. c5 [ [+ w- f+ g ` 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! : e5 B" v( e; n. T/ u$ o" E
Food names: ( _! B8 s3 k% G, M
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / S* G, O' G( r6 p
团圆饭 family reunion dinner & Q) q1 c& c, A
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 ]5 e! R5 d- S- Q+ X* u7 C+ {. R
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ! P6 C' \* C6 D8 g
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 2 X+ G- Q0 {, ]" ^, [( P
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 0 z1 g0 r$ a& d" N b
糖果盘 candy tray:
, h' t- c6 Y& T7 E3 _3 B 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 o& \( \" N' E/ C 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health j$ P) ~/ ?. s4 T
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 1 I% {$ T& ^/ J$ M1 s0 _
金桔 cumquat - prosperity " a: o, h* Z o# ]& U9 o8 w
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
! }# I) V" e. M5 O! u$ R' c8 X 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
. r( ~3 N K2 E" y( M0 ~1 D0 T" | 红枣 red dates - prosperity
( s4 b5 Y; R) O% z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00