|
Spring Festival Words
# s% \% c% k) K! O% j$ [& n9 m! Y Greeting Season: - X$ \8 U7 a) F7 Y
春节 The Spring Festival
# l2 t) ?" s6 s9 n 农历 lunar calendar 6 |4 l% X( w6 k! ^# ]
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
5 g6 t9 ` [! c4 K 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
* Y% R; N# i" Z8 j3 z% V 初一 the beginning of New Year
- v* o( b _5 E+ \* p3 e6 F 元宵节 The Lantern Festival % ?3 R0 O& y9 G) Y2 [+ Y7 o
Customs:
5 f) v u& A- D* u& M6 V, y& d4 f 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
; }8 {# N* g7 a _! F 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ) {$ Y" K e8 I" o6 v
春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 [8 Y9 R* L$ R0 B% W5 c
剪纸 paper-cuts
# N3 X; a& b; s; x 年画 New Year paintings
: W6 b/ _" g2 i+ Q) j% _" P* R( r 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping - i7 d$ ^" ]5 a; J
敬酒 propose a toast $ |# t# M7 j, h. Z3 X
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
4 l% V) M$ G7 [' B) W" F 烟花 fireworks
; H& z7 \+ R) Y/ F2 d- T 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ H1 Y3 N& n8 k. X7 n5 p' {5 c" p 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 5 H& R! S. K$ P8 I8 t/ N
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
, ^# H: j. \8 ?# n( Q 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
9 ~# x/ T& s- \' {2 y: ^6 e9 d 戏曲 traditional opera
8 k- e: K o' s8 _5 H; y 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 2 r4 n, C; I; {: P! C5 R7 e! J
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns & u0 F1 c+ p. | Q \& i
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
" |+ F, t" M" R* D 守岁 staying-up
! l1 N z9 Z+ V 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
$ g8 x; T; j7 _/ [" }) S 禁忌 taboo
4 V/ I, {5 U. Q6 b1 h& D5 p7 x 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune / ~! w/ i! b; U) Y) Y9 b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 4 n H3 H' B' E( Z: x7 H* g b, E6 ~" R' ^
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 1 h2 d1 k% S7 x$ T5 y
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 5 {/ E" U& b9 w9 Q
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year % O% r; R! b1 v; P8 ?4 `7 p4 Z- e
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning + G* R% n9 {7 b c l8 W
Blessing: * I$ l* r0 T2 T. F
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
, w7 Q% D' h4 ?) ~* a Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 9 \1 E) @0 _9 L8 T. ^/ I+ n; l
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ( {3 P4 t! W& q. i3 S+ s$ z( M; y* j
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 [) l/ e6 w4 Z) E4 h- c: [
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
- B% M3 Q3 f( B; b4 V+ y+ E Food names: " f1 B# g, S: ^1 T
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 W! p# s$ M3 Y2 L9 g: q2 F 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 Q. a" X8 J$ |, q' n D" [ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 5 G7 I& _( T5 a& F6 r' y# M' } g
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
, I7 w4 {" n6 }# Q' P% { 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
4 A9 e1 Z) T$ u: E* `: W 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
]) ^" M9 ~$ E4 I 糖果盘 candy tray: & B2 |( s4 z" }
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
! b/ d4 y) G. p1 N5 @) i ]+ V 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
$ K" D; |/ v/ B8 \2 x" \ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( o0 X: C; {+ _: p8 d) c 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 4 `0 X8 I! d3 C$ ~1 A: u
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
# o2 J) q5 Y; Q7 k+ a; [6 h4 _. M 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
7 g! U6 ^% W# |; t" K" B 红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 a" `' p/ W: n, e+ Q6 }. M W 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00