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Spring Festival Words
8 @4 F- C. ^7 a6 d' B2 C' n! q Greeting Season:
. n: h. m* f' H5 k0 i 春节 The Spring Festival
2 }4 l3 ^& t' R# [$ r1 u2 [ 农历 lunar calendar
( F4 e8 H1 [0 i/ M/ A$ r 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ; e- J, `* b) B: L+ a+ }" {/ V
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
a' Y( n8 C a; X 初一 the beginning of New Year / b: v7 L' Q% h; Q7 i1 C5 L
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
& r5 b# J% H; R2 E" H: @6 j0 J Customs: 8 s$ E; ?7 O/ a8 i2 K
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
# r" \6 [! u( x5 T- n 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 9 D& [8 F* U3 N
春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 S/ S* m" F' h
剪纸 paper-cuts 3 D: A! v; q: k
年画 New Year paintings
( [# T& a" v% a' [# F 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
G1 r3 N R5 {( g 敬酒 propose a toast
& |& w9 r% _! {# [8 | 灯笼 lantern: a portable light 7 k' U- X9 K5 X$ Z2 C
烟花 fireworks
) ]7 D8 P2 T% }( a, W$ }$ H 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 2 o- t7 [# p7 h8 H+ y, f4 [- e
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 6 s+ F9 [* C, ~- ^( G) k
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
1 }* O9 r1 s) C0 O# t) b% C! H0 r 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
6 A" O' X7 [( L" F' p! J 戏曲 traditional opera
; ?- }' x8 j8 v5 G! S* t+ a8 | 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
- ~8 s% ?* X2 |+ n 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns + M. n; N1 b7 n) X% }0 I; _& C
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ \, |! W9 q1 f+ V, n1 L 守岁 staying-up
7 {5 a4 e/ s# A& e- w 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
# u/ u* S8 }8 q; P9 `3 X5 N 禁忌 taboo
( C* N' @1 j, E$ _& y) X% U 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
$ c# V5 K% @ r/ c 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * L4 S a3 F2 W( A
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) v" L& `" d1 z K2 Q; U/ u4 P
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
7 H" y$ z/ i, H; {( N 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 7 q1 z6 S7 G, m3 }+ k* C- |- R
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ l: D+ V0 s: U" a+ X+ y Blessing:
5 h+ S( k8 O- c; r( M* s3 z5 r Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 4 J- a/ }3 u6 q/ }' T' ]7 L- G
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace 3 R8 D5 E; z8 q7 F6 O( c( Y3 @* a
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
* m7 i; P7 x2 }3 C, Z* }% v 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
( r; i$ y' M; U% L 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 i3 \6 e2 n0 s! Y! m8 C4 ` Food names:
9 p- n1 r& g" n+ s, H; l( q4 d 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake " t8 N7 T4 P" m0 S3 X8 i& z* C( n0 V
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% [7 }: y: [ ]: h' D2 B 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 7 `1 w9 O$ m0 }) H1 @4 A
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
& s# c# c! k) z! ? 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ( K3 w9 m) ^; w7 u
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
@; L9 K6 ]+ b5 ? 糖果盘 candy tray: 6 w9 d0 j( @+ d
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 Q. k9 K! _3 V7 ?4 X, V$ k) I 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health # @0 y/ D* j! S0 P0 D( J1 z
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
7 \2 o+ s& B+ u 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
5 v" L; Y6 p0 ^% U/ q 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 3 \% q- s r L) E) d
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 6 P- @; _" i% o7 x3 W
红枣 red dates - prosperity 7 A7 t9 h: P. z O- \4 c/ h% {/ w
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00