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Spring Festival Words 2 d' A( P7 A6 O* z
Greeting Season:
5 J' v! {! c, h) X 春节 The Spring Festival A# q& l+ }7 C9 t5 P/ a/ X
农历 lunar calendar
; u5 R; J' }! { A5 ~9 B 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
O$ |( ~& B, r' H8 {, ? 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year . ^& z& Z F& L" M0 e! h* ^
初一 the beginning of New Year
7 n2 A- j4 ]6 n' P" N 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
( N# h. B. q9 W" w& r5 ^- B Customs:
: S5 ~ i2 x' h9 C- X+ h 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
2 m% ?; B+ K3 t0 }" n# d# | 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry + w, `3 x3 i( Q& X. p; S% v
春联 Spring Festival couplets
, h3 m1 \5 P( B! F; i3 K/ h 剪纸 paper-cuts
9 f6 I9 C/ [ \% e0 d* F! U 年画 New Year paintings ) P3 J, L( J4 v4 I& m
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
5 c h( L" H/ P8 ] 敬酒 propose a toast " a# l2 \1 a2 i: Z. o/ J' B/ P
灯笼 lantern: a portable light 4 A/ z0 j9 x4 S1 e$ C
烟花 fireworks
5 T8 g* u8 t' C! p# l 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ l0 |# |' K4 V( E4 ^ 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
% z9 r0 a) J: p0 e* b 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
|* _% D4 e; c( k2 y7 k& D 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
& { |/ x# y/ r9 v1 c 戏曲 traditional opera ! r2 t' C& O5 h! D
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
1 k; D, s! a2 B1 Z' u 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
" {3 [2 F6 P) o2 d( \: s1 ^2 g. R 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
/ Y& q& m7 A& h% ~! Y8 N, `& y( f0 V3 u 守岁 staying-up
3 `/ C8 I- @2 \; Z; V( D( x 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
0 u m# n* u& b) g) B+ `* G6 V 禁忌 taboo 4 A- s4 t- d c3 N) [* [
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
+ F5 | t5 K9 w) J0 z% B* E 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors * |0 h$ _% v4 X6 o0 {% A
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 5 K D6 a9 L) k# 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
4 e( m6 y7 F0 [4 l* U" D5 q 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year # v3 U4 A6 i) L% |) A
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: W6 n; J8 j5 J Blessing:
4 ]' i* h" Z! ?- y6 g2 X Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity . ~2 a) E& m- @- n
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
2 |# i& b# L1 p2 I. k+ \7 m Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
^ x$ ?: N- J5 k: v% H. O 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
! S y- w$ d4 z9 e 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! & t& |1 q1 {" X! |: b
Food names:
' S& }8 ]4 Y* M 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake + r" s5 s, F/ A* ^/ g; z+ V8 B
团圆饭 family reunion dinner ) `* t5 Y/ {, N, O* C; q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
* K4 ^/ U+ ?1 H0 j9 T- ^$ K! n( R 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli ( ]- `5 [# g; e' y9 ]2 y' ^0 O
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
J, ] m/ a j) {4 t- N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 6 M. w6 L/ F- u2 }+ v5 m
糖果盘 candy tray:
' J' R& a+ a4 [: e+ H 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
9 L% B; N' H( E3 F7 |3 _' x2 E6 t7 S 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health , B0 h. r: a8 t. i- j, a
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
% j& @8 q0 @ m! s( l( r 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( [9 Q5 o1 q/ K 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
8 R& c8 X/ R+ J6 o! H3 R 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
1 M3 E- ^7 K% ~0 U5 T 红枣 red dates - prosperity
. P8 A( U6 B" \3 ^ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00