|
Spring Festival Words 0 Z* I3 B- @+ F. w" v
Greeting Season:
1 J* C( |2 E' w8 l4 a( A; } 春节 The Spring Festival
- c$ _& r; P1 I; }8 l% Z$ p 农历 lunar calendar & J$ u& V1 Z$ G% N8 t
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar + W$ w2 Y x# d$ f, g+ ^1 B" `, B# { `
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . I9 x7 Q9 n: `, h2 a
初一 the beginning of New Year 7 z' G, H# x2 }
元宵节 The Lantern Festival - b7 g* @9 ]" U" n3 @% l! Y, {, \0 f* M
Customs:
T Q) F5 D! M9 h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ) z" L5 J1 G* f$ y+ m
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
: C; I: j2 U7 ^' k T) W 春联 Spring Festival couplets & S3 z3 q* T* R8 b" y
剪纸 paper-cuts $ N, ]! |+ G1 F% w3 \% D
年画 New Year paintings
8 X3 |6 G8 R B5 A1 n3 P! y 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
* K! V% n0 E2 D5 o$ U v' s 敬酒 propose a toast 1 J6 I; O, r+ b; h% R# G/ d6 V
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
" ~6 Q: D2 c% g% K4 m" c7 F 烟花 fireworks
& I8 h6 w3 r+ O+ { @ 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
2 ~* E2 D3 J+ }+ }2 h 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 6 F6 U: |! t0 ~; R0 Y( |
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) ) \- ^9 E Q) x6 Q: K8 |, y
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) & y( A; ^4 e5 b) v
戏曲 traditional opera - f; F0 O: Q t
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville . u0 S, f4 H8 i. f
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns " R1 h. f, A+ w, y) U4 a
灯会 exhibit of lanterns 5 N! M" u/ c& c7 S* }
守岁 staying-up 3 \; U! I. ~. H
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ! J: r; C0 I( a! u% x
禁忌 taboo 1 j$ h' L1 S7 _
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 9 B! Q0 {2 i' P, \, b
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 1 x7 G1 i" w4 }( T( Q) q" i
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift % O6 \( ]7 n( D9 e; Q# u k i& Z
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
: _) X# b. O2 D# ?$ D8 [ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
& M% u9 B* D. b# s$ x3 G 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
4 C: s: f8 E& R V( v Blessing:
4 j1 n3 t& ^! J. y Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
7 ^) `/ w) d4 c6 x( u Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
% {: P# {3 x) P Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 O9 ]) G* ^/ e: K
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
, t/ _6 x7 j' f- ]( H& U 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
1 F1 }9 ~$ v5 O$ l- k7 {% v Food names:
& G8 m+ B- m: T6 z1 X' ?% W 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
7 u6 O7 P$ F, _ h! R% u 团圆饭 family reunion dinner $ B( k* Q" T b) p/ k3 ~+ O
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve ' t- P2 e2 M' P; i9 [
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
. l' H1 i) V& |7 t5 v6 Y& e 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
2 B C! q* y ]0 N' s' j% h+ ^ 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
- M7 R/ j, p% ]* |6 Y 糖果盘 candy tray: * s1 T, q) M8 n5 P2 N6 N8 {
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ) @# n: _* M/ E7 I8 `& M4 M, J, H7 o$ b5 ?
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health % C$ M6 h5 M. _% A
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity / S. N8 c. R2 j; e- q% P
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
. f- ~; p9 d: z! ^ 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come * V3 p6 ^( \4 v6 y# k
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship " {* }) X! R8 e1 u
红枣 red dates - prosperity
" V/ F8 k; G! D9 W/ b) X! [ t4 f 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00