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Spring Festival Words
9 t% E( k; ^5 l# r Greeting Season: / n9 X& T% z3 J8 n5 h; R# |6 I
春节 The Spring Festival
+ b9 I/ O1 ]; s: _, e/ R 农历 lunar calendar + P: t0 a" y( g# o. t/ H
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 1 ]* ?6 c+ ] s8 k9 W) M
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
& I- U2 ?! ?: q( h C 初一 the beginning of New Year
. L1 _& E4 b% L* Z$ M' R 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 O; o V/ |" W1 b* [4 M Customs:
! Q" i; o% K# ]0 {8 k/ L2 f 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
/ I' ~6 e9 A3 r 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
/ R. q" U0 p9 B, i 春联 Spring Festival couplets % L9 [, `# C. F
剪纸 paper-cuts ) o+ c0 f( ]$ z `; q
年画 New Year paintings _5 k, B7 S- ^$ V
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping + o# J P1 U; L; w2 `( [
敬酒 propose a toast ! ~" y& E+ C/ L1 j$ I. P
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
8 W' E! W2 Z* s; }: Z; m" _/ m& w3 } 烟花 fireworks
4 u" }1 g3 Q" {7 g5 k. K- b. x1 g 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) ' p: g p, h0 ]0 v
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) . }- g/ ~+ T' F" N, N
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) % g$ V- \$ E; U9 Q) `
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % T6 H4 G2 }+ `% E" y6 T- v
戏曲 traditional opera - k- U( b* C. H! _ h/ Q1 f
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville $ J p& o% B* s
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
# O% b E' H* k8 @/ w 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 Q) u$ c: H' @) b/ M 守岁 staying-up
. s3 c- m! ~6 Q% d: Z( \ 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit , g6 i& y, }# `: _
禁忌 taboo
% {/ R% S) i/ p+ }9 F' X! P1 O 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
& W: j, F9 r% _; }( Q 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ! X9 v) i2 ]+ b& M+ j+ ]3 B
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) e1 A* P: 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 : ~3 c/ X6 N7 i
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
+ ^4 [8 t% H4 Z+ e3 x* X 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
) I% m, e" D; y5 e/ |! w' o/ L Blessing: 1 I z6 V+ B+ [& o: \2 R
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
# X& c" G* `! g! W; H6 C Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ) r- O, o+ A- I1 v/ Z) r
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go n1 R2 B' K3 w6 j: h0 K9 d m" q8 |
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
# i% M) {5 R, { Z& f 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* c# x1 E$ ~1 r7 w' r& D: a5 h Food names: 9 k+ A& g7 Y6 \1 q$ a' E. k( c
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
! Q& ^$ [ \$ E 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
7 \) j6 V' y" a4 I/ e/ | 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve . D( [8 f! v7 |; S; c* k
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli " e8 V! w5 c( q: v" T8 L
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings ' [6 J4 @% f" k- n2 J& h4 @7 ]6 @. I0 J
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
% i# {7 r4 W" S7 I' C. R* i 糖果盘 candy tray: + O) L' Q' S- {+ B* \
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune / j) i, I; h+ W6 i( J
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
4 ^5 [& o" l) B 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
5 M# ? V* A7 X! T0 Z4 W# ?/ I 金桔 cumquat - prosperity : j$ o+ r: @/ z D4 @* O- i) x2 h+ E9 Z
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
; q/ h. B$ y1 D! X1 O2 H 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship 7 Q9 O8 f' x0 @( L, ^% o, M* g
红枣 red dates - prosperity
: z7 W0 v; @, z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00