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Spring Festival Words ) g5 i, \) K) T% T2 ?' d
Greeting Season:
7 q3 X% M+ B, F2 e' L1 [. { 春节 The Spring Festival ; M: E9 X$ b) \' t/ w. E
农历 lunar calendar 5 [% l0 @" i1 g# g! D* Z, u
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
6 a4 Q1 [2 k' F; ~/ z* p8 Y 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
; i& v3 X# s" Q% t" b 初一 the beginning of New Year 9 Z0 D0 P( }3 H
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
1 R1 M9 O' l3 j0 h- q Customs:
! Q: u7 V9 d! R' H7 k 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ( G! Z1 I: A% u |( n
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry ) V+ ]+ p* |# d7 P
春联 Spring Festival couplets
/ i' W6 I; D$ E5 B/ s 剪纸 paper-cuts ; z, x. D5 i' f7 q- l$ V
年画 New Year paintings " @, o4 U W5 R( ]: g$ ^( T8 j
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 2 R+ Q. j/ O; v9 Q
敬酒 propose a toast " C- k8 m2 b0 l& c- j- u! X z
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
( h, b, S& X$ H4 r5 e 烟花 fireworks , z7 Q' {; D% D' d, K% J- |! t
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) : t. V% ?1 I# @/ N5 v3 W3 u
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 9 U" u4 R. |" {
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) 7 T9 f+ |" B* Z4 W! R0 K' m
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
( Q7 {6 T2 ]1 t) ?$ P 戏曲 traditional opera : c7 }2 l" C9 a, _
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
& c6 }; I* ^7 n8 b 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
5 F; L, V; l( ^7 x; k; E2 g 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ) Y5 W* q. C1 ]9 m/ c x4 z
守岁 staying-up
+ L" P1 ~- z& p0 D' ~ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit $ A$ {! W: B3 v* B D" a6 J
禁忌 taboo
8 I( z) Q( n6 g3 }9 p+ I# Y 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
5 b& r/ Z3 d4 L$ T. C! S6 S+ H 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ' B3 R- m2 H, Y- Z! R
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 4 O. p% a- r: h/ A, j( j
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
% M6 O( e& B, B! N' [ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ v* Z0 P5 k+ M+ S& h 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
$ g w) D. V" K Blessing: 6 j5 [ Q' g; e2 g+ {, N2 N4 p5 M
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 9 |7 r3 E6 S0 e9 ?& p( G
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace - b8 o) F8 r' p2 p2 f
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go ! q4 n2 e6 f$ i
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
1 j& A4 E8 m8 i 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! ) s x5 k- v& m5 N. V' j
Food names: 3 e( P* w4 c( |3 F8 h) h' C
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
3 c+ N8 n( w. |' V5 t7 s1 e$ k( ] 团圆饭 family reunion dinner ; z0 z4 v4 w( s& j. n5 j. p
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 d- V/ L9 J: H& [5 Z 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) n$ |- p1 T- L3 v, \; u5 p+ @ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
' F3 Y7 V8 e% \ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding - U9 {5 Q7 q! }! B% Z: _' ?
糖果盘 candy tray:
- k4 V7 S% m) w: G' ` 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
7 [% M' D8 c) @; _5 A 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
% ?$ M/ |) i, x) X* _ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
6 m! ]2 I4 Q4 p: R$ ^. N 金桔 cumquat - prosperity ) q$ `) ^/ T& Q. W$ T f: v8 [
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 8 O8 [2 @ T, [4 R8 m
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship . @3 U8 |. f+ s2 M7 }6 ~& M9 S Q2 C. m
红枣 red dates - prosperity
, e0 d# u. Z% R$ d2 O/ s7 k: f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00