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Spring Festival Words ) P6 {5 T7 c0 j! s* V
Greeting Season: $ k" L& S& R/ b7 X
春节 The Spring Festival
5 g# K% b; r, E& Q. q& S; @ 农历 lunar calendar
, y3 {3 r( K7 E' E9 h 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar % e+ O5 ?; d+ G6 ]* z6 i5 K
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
5 r5 _1 H9 p- M5 j& x) F3 @9 V 初一 the beginning of New Year " v1 t$ H5 N8 R8 c% Q: f# f
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
1 N9 R% }5 E5 P: [- E2 j Customs: $ i( b V" N k& T" D# ~
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival / ~" v1 p) g1 B* z3 ?9 ~1 N" c' s `2 r
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
' J) g/ j9 m# a$ [% X! v) L# [ \ 春联 Spring Festival couplets
2 y8 R! F# k5 k4 G# T 剪纸 paper-cuts 5 k4 K; s% s3 q/ |& D
年画 New Year paintings
/ I( Y6 k& z1 B2 w& x: T 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping % g6 d3 k6 C- i0 g, s
敬酒 propose a toast % Q" }$ Z! R3 N* g
灯笼 lantern: a portable light - K% B9 n' {0 b* D% q" |' y( [. A
烟花 fireworks
: N" T/ W9 ]1 [; Q) j, V5 F6 R 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
, ~1 A5 G0 \( S: O 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 i) f$ s# R; {& o4 m
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 K7 k$ W- D* c% j5 W/ i 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* d& e8 i4 x4 U9 z3 f6 k* s 戏曲 traditional opera
3 z. |5 W5 D* n0 p, [& G! Q 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
0 e) l9 n7 y; v! f6 u5 e 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 2 E* _( D5 o q# [2 U
灯会 exhibit of lanterns - P! N- k" J$ Z+ }: V
守岁 staying-up ( F& _, r8 g# r; D
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
7 x, H) A4 w' D/ y2 ` 禁忌 taboo
- r2 [6 g/ T8 d 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 2 g5 u7 D1 ]6 k+ D+ f# Y
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
) c" R: q% y# W& c, w 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * g6 x! m* |% N) q- C5 ?
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 _% |6 |; \. Z5 H/ _1 \
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
( D G) a& V6 Q7 B8 W. w 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
6 Q+ q# _7 l5 C2 r0 I Blessing:
% b; y2 Y" X& O' p, a' T' i: p Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
. k. s7 h. t5 n9 x7 Y0 A Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ! P2 p9 I! C7 U1 {
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go A% [; ~$ s- u [8 }
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
$ s9 o" |& b+ c# O) i 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! $ \9 w( E: V4 |$ b* M
Food names: 4 {; m$ S; \7 u }) a2 V( g
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 f) x8 Y6 `& I$ s1 q- A9 F0 p 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
6 V3 c' _% s% y/ v! x0 F+ d 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve / r% G$ |! D& r
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli 1 @2 Y, u/ t, c2 M$ R# L) K9 [9 E
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings - p- s$ c" `7 |* y" M+ @$ q
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 U6 z/ ]0 M0 D4 ~8 N& Y8 w 糖果盘 candy tray: 7 ]# @' d5 C7 s) t
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
. `/ j' Y C- @ 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
w2 N* J( c4 k3 K, ^ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity , _& | B" @ Z4 q( P- n, c F, n
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
3 M5 a* @1 f( i 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
$ Z1 `( c- a) j 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
# W$ v+ t# d6 f2 M) Y2 W+ p" \ 红枣 red dates - prosperity
' W9 h L4 `) L1 k5 u9 ? 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00