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Spring Festival Words & n+ }* o4 g8 j( b8 m' K7 D
Greeting Season: ! H2 ]/ ?# h5 r0 y7 \7 E% F
春节 The Spring Festival
. L& Y; B8 W1 x 农历 lunar calendar
# `( X/ _/ G/ T% \" r3 d& }- e% Q& T 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar - C: b0 M- f" r5 q+ s) x& W3 o
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 4 S3 K( L8 c/ r" n# b( V: f6 J
初一 the beginning of New Year ' ^& l7 O! m# j; k) r
元宵节 The Lantern Festival 7 ~$ H5 k0 \! I) T: C; A3 N
Customs: 0 M+ E. E; s* c7 X9 Q- Y* B% F! R
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
?9 U: ?6 q2 A' u: r 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
H) X7 K. h3 l) c7 J 春联 Spring Festival couplets & q _7 y; }* U; u$ a2 r
剪纸 paper-cuts 3 a% j& H; j# }( _4 ]9 y
年画 New Year paintings
7 E9 y4 X: p/ \( L' \8 V: B 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
, D0 t0 ~7 R6 s 敬酒 propose a toast
4 B& m& H5 I" u" ~4 g% ~ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 2 E" Z" H1 w" V9 t# Y7 D8 r
烟花 fireworks
$ Z, ^5 I4 U0 U9 Z: D: }) h5 F1 M 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ L2 r2 c0 G: H" {2 A 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) & r* ]. ], X" r B, }% p
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 5 Q1 ~0 H( B# v
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) Y& Y1 Y: ?7 j v
戏曲 traditional opera
- J4 o& C% W9 q6 D* [9 i 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville c' k7 ~& K$ ]
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 0 c: F% ?$ P& ]4 l: A! h! |+ m
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 4 z+ {" B& U$ [ j& }/ D- Y
守岁 staying-up
9 b( G$ J4 u* v1 [# e1 |$ t 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
) B" l# v' n' U, V 禁忌 taboo 3 n0 H3 m, c' q- {% {3 D: q/ e/ F
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
$ A3 G Q- B4 ~; w5 v' ` 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 7 J9 I/ Z. Z6 [% {
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift . U$ f* `5 X2 D* r- c' L! ^6 G1 e
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 4 z, {, M+ Q/ i
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
9 y2 S" D0 a/ S' z! ^6 P l$ ] 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
) C1 d8 k7 V+ }+ `4 j Blessing: . G3 y# p3 k2 s
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity ; Q( v0 L- {4 L8 x
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
f$ m' t* j6 X5 B Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
! }4 m+ J+ a8 x! n5 y! ? 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 8 P8 \# o( ]* ?9 u
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! - V5 F d& K# n) t. q
Food names:
: z' l* @- g) z9 O3 K- Y! L5 s 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 6 N' r* D2 |9 i+ J Z$ Y% |% a' [
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
. F" W; e) @% n% ]" C 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 9 Z+ c4 K: V) ]2 f# p( S9 S0 G
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
( `& X. g: J8 E. N2 y6 I Y 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 1 q3 F, v+ [# |, ?7 n- k6 [. z4 w
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
# `% @. L7 j; B, t+ C4 ~ 糖果盘 candy tray:
1 G+ l+ q$ l8 e 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
4 V! i; Y8 n7 y1 x 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
4 T$ m3 v3 g2 ?! ^- | V- O% ` 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) E: ~6 S% P3 X: w
金桔 cumquat - prosperity * V1 p( a; `: U n5 Y5 [1 I
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
" B$ m7 J, r7 h# x+ Z2 U 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 3 u, L; |( b4 v( r
红枣 red dates - prosperity
: A- o# G7 ?9 X L0 \2 F8 f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00