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Spring Festival Words
; c, _: R5 L3 Q* x Greeting Season: - D: F. \7 g0 D. _9 R. P7 _3 @
春节 The Spring Festival 8 s3 v$ f/ R% i% A/ W
农历 lunar calendar
. @7 V% \- j; [$ J3 s* U 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar : |" v/ |1 O. t" ^, {. I. y
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ! }! d- b1 E. l- j' E- Z
初一 the beginning of New Year 2 Q6 x! A. O# q9 d4 v
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
0 h) Z( P7 y. I3 R Customs:
) Z% Q- c: r4 X. s4 Q 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
3 [( K1 N5 i* J' ]* e& [ 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
# H9 P9 Y1 U$ x 春联 Spring Festival couplets
* h% k. ?8 E" T( V5 z 剪纸 paper-cuts
/ p0 R: w' N6 E2 L2 [) b9 G 年画 New Year paintings 5 v4 I6 G/ Y0 u. R, U3 [
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
( m6 ~/ e* `4 A8 b3 m* \3 ^ 敬酒 propose a toast
$ f" k! ?0 v0 ^; p9 {6 Y7 M8 M 灯笼 lantern: a portable light $ B/ ]( l6 g* m+ ]( d8 l( L5 ?- Z0 c
烟花 fireworks 5 {/ M: R- B6 K1 z7 j7 J1 B* b) ]
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) 7 U; [0 T0 V! d& L6 {3 x( _
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
4 R9 N& A# v+ E5 b8 l 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
7 r- O& W4 U. c- Q3 d 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
. j i7 ^- M% j) l( ~6 j6 T 戏曲 traditional opera 3 {, j3 q/ q. X0 O. ]# j' p
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" [# V" p* J) _" P 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, T U" I! `& Z+ x! Z" r, B* M8 S i4 G 灯会 exhibit of lanterns + T5 G" a( K0 [# Y* m/ W+ i: ]& y
守岁 staying-up . [: ~) a: g# }5 Z9 f8 N+ g5 B
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 1 X1 l3 V: G$ ~2 J" e3 b
禁忌 taboo & K. Z8 P$ y, J( E
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
) j* f' z" Z; [# J6 g0 N 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors , ]8 n3 q. R1 h1 S' m) L/ n- @
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
% L" L2 m" b, Z, o 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 4 k j S. L. J* @( ? v/ R
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
/ D' N5 B: N. W; \3 A3 Y2 ^ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
. [4 f9 F% M5 P4 z E Blessing: $ l% f6 f/ r: q$ `% w0 C- \& {
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
! h5 R+ L5 P- B2 ] Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
9 A' @$ }7 X/ E# ?1 A5 B) x Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 f& \- _4 Q4 c/ T# O: l
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
e: ^' C$ L# c. W9 ^. v9 Q 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
3 C3 a7 T( z, n0 W Food names:
% s6 \ T' d r8 M/ E. Q% V, J 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
, k! ?: G9 ^4 m: z 团圆饭 family reunion dinner : [0 }3 A6 Q! ?; x
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve 3 e E' \& \- H, L& u5 [: w
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli / b* r% V) W5 k: l9 G& _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
3 g' X: ]7 S6 ^0 u2 j, X 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
a9 c1 K( w! Y1 o2 d1 @7 J 糖果盘 candy tray:
( k: h6 A+ {. D# X; }$ E) y( G 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune ; v: }! j: D- n" t
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health 2 G+ A G" Q! N
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
% ?+ ^4 a% K1 K! |* I, \ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity 7 z2 c# F: D3 u' g' q# p. ]
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
9 F' q; Q2 g6 s, o/ P" }5 e3 e+ ~ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship . @: P) n3 h3 |; c y* n
红枣 red dates - prosperity . y9 f1 n# j, p1 d! z/ J: d8 T% Q4 B
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00