|
Spring Festival Words + n. } u# ?# ^; H
Greeting Season: . @) X7 H2 F9 n7 Y( p9 {+ b! Z
春节 The Spring Festival
9 x2 W, u$ w8 W. G! F0 v 农历 lunar calendar
1 h- ~1 w7 o4 E! \ 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
' K0 x2 B, q R3 v4 F7 U 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' I" E& |0 z) j% \1 c' i! p+ X& q 初一 the beginning of New Year 7 x3 H0 n' l3 R# C* Z. H, V
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
& d1 h/ m4 w" a0 e" W) o4 y Customs:
% l% O: W6 n/ r) ^7 N, g 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
$ t H: i, P- q8 Q$ L 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry & q- }/ I3 X8 d1 H6 i7 j% M0 m5 T, ]# F. L
春联 Spring Festival couplets
' Q5 m( @) V5 O4 W% o9 Q 剪纸 paper-cuts : h$ {, Z& ]1 n
年画 New Year paintings 8 h6 l* g; S8 _5 t% ]8 A7 s
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
0 y, q" C o& c" R# |( o2 s: P 敬酒 propose a toast : I( M X- T4 H% c
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
2 s- V4 O7 t7 l" J7 N 烟花 fireworks $ Q) V8 N% z/ u! h
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
$ z9 ~0 U7 H9 }6 O3 k% a L 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
3 d( d" q$ k, j# D6 a 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
( X% ^) j, h3 i2 X, l5 K1 S7 d 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
* }" ~5 P& n! y9 Y' {7 X( ^- f 戏曲 traditional opera
7 `, l K0 r/ f9 P 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
+ p( u5 Z2 J' I- v( m 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
+ K7 \) C4 q7 g. w5 W 灯会 exhibit of lanterns # f( b1 Z1 F5 q
守岁 staying-up Q. ^4 M6 B9 h# O* f
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; M$ L/ E1 w+ O3 W0 l2 r7 @+ }+ B 禁忌 taboo 2 j e v! r( h* a. M3 V0 b
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 5 J( E# j5 O6 \+ ~
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ( R p5 r7 ^( w* G1 g; }
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
; z) E" w% g1 W3 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 - P. p2 h; F: y/ a+ Y
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year $ t' v) o8 p2 K: d4 n6 l' C
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
! E2 W" z: ~$ N! D B, |# o Blessing: / M. L6 ?8 b( ?* S7 \( U
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
! S3 Y s6 t) a/ y Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
- z6 M w8 I, @ E- X* V Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go , o% ?3 j' D: M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
8 G6 l* ^- D+ Q1 z$ {2 i4 p/ _ 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
: ^! ~" ?8 v+ F5 \& `& B5 | Food names:
% p% D3 s& D; I2 ] 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake - s; Y! V! i3 V$ i. _( t
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
; {* \; m# S& o6 R) c; ] 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 8 s1 J) k I7 h
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
) M7 m! j" i3 z+ t: J$ c; \' z 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 8 d! b1 }7 ^7 E! F$ v! e+ e5 n
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
, }) i+ Y- o {- m1 ` 糖果盘 candy tray: 3 i! j0 u( Q; c- i J: r# }
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune z l9 P- X4 {
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
& }9 U1 X/ \- S, Y) x, ~ 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ) }0 V7 M( B b \
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
: I( D$ W" p. m/ ] 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 9 @: ?) B' E- V6 t' i
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ( U7 W- I$ u) T" N( ^7 o \ A
红枣 red dates - prosperity L, c% q: A' E1 _* t1 C1 i6 @* g
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00