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Spring Festival Words . t% }/ v& F! K9 |
Greeting Season: & s; f' p% ]2 ]6 _3 ^: t, Z: ~
春节 The Spring Festival , u ]& \7 u2 K8 A8 B9 G0 c; G
农历 lunar calendar ' I" g2 G- S2 N
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : a6 g) a6 L' |( Y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ) |" ?" x0 z6 b X% a0 H' [
初一 the beginning of New Year
2 D6 K r# C: K3 ^; r 元宵节 The Lantern Festival 0 r4 ?' i7 }9 h9 B
Customs: ' }6 ?( y q1 J/ k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
# y* Q& a5 F4 W; l8 \ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 2 v: q; T% d% Z
春联 Spring Festival couplets
9 a* n/ _& U4 P3 R 剪纸 paper-cuts - X/ B- q! q. Y) r0 ? O
年画 New Year paintings
$ n! ^3 l, M& H4 d2 c3 m/ L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 4 K) @' r) o8 u& ]) z1 R' D
敬酒 propose a toast / V, ?$ m1 M& T/ i
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
. @. r, O+ k# Y8 K* X5 |) v' s9 ] 烟花 fireworks
/ x& m- \# U. X* ^ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 5 O! j/ o* T5 J
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) / C/ M" c: s# @( e/ }& l
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) , D1 V+ S# z$ U5 Y8 t( ]9 Z4 Q- h7 r
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
3 j( h7 U2 `8 S1 M" n; y 戏曲 traditional opera , v" x; [7 y0 V% O2 X0 C2 ~& e
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
* c7 K" D& @" x; A4 K$ r5 ? 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns & M! p: Z! g- I0 N) e! G
灯会 exhibit of lanterns / ]2 i% T6 V+ b
守岁 staying-up ) n9 n3 |5 J+ Y# G$ }9 D7 P
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit & g* L; m2 Z% |! s. z
禁忌 taboo 5 p( |- u4 ^3 h1 |5 Q% j5 Q7 ?; j6 A1 x
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
* o$ k/ M& Q& h- D+ R: G" F 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * @. z7 i# l5 S; z0 k6 {0 ^! I
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift : { e e0 n7 p4 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 & l8 U: m5 d* \- Y6 z2 D; W
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year n1 E" Q8 |! U' c, x" K
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
# L. A6 l' ^$ o$ U) T Blessing: 0 y9 R* _* {9 T0 `. Q; g( y0 t! b2 Y
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 5 d/ ]+ {, a( V! ^% t
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
' c4 W# p8 B& W% J6 q Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
' W9 d- C- Y& e' R$ C) |. r8 }- k 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, g; }6 p Z7 h/ ]: s! s2 Y3 W 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ) P \4 p$ d0 E
Food names: 6 S1 ?: }% H0 c! I
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 9 {. h' R8 u& h- G3 ^* l
团圆饭 family reunion dinner 9 X3 t3 U% @5 u# k
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * B6 ]6 c: w" `& d
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
( t/ S3 b) o: c3 n: b' o) L* h 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
+ o/ x+ z X/ H$ L( C 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
, N5 X8 W, w% V% x5 H 糖果盘 candy tray: + u) Y8 _; S7 e* Q0 J
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 f5 I) I- }& w3 a, T# h- Z* P* s 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
; U& H7 Z2 O- m 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( y/ w& ~$ M0 M 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 3 ]' x( F C a* Z+ ~
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
+ {! G5 f2 d$ p/ V. N 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 3 H. d' V/ Y4 }' M; M, j8 a
红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 _" C) h, Q2 g( l9 V 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00