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Spring Festival Words # E( h4 B' Y- [/ L
Greeting Season: / r& R3 F: F- e, X7 U' c' L) |6 ]
春节 The Spring Festival ; x0 C, w$ S. G- P
农历 lunar calendar + r, [. x5 a0 ?/ ?5 ~ g" k
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar ' v& S. s [" t, [' s- x
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
7 C2 J' L9 Q6 y# P8 v 初一 the beginning of New Year
" h7 r2 A$ b% } ^, z% ?/ B 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
. p% G5 A1 D- u0 ~7 ~# u Customs:
1 f: i: ]$ a g" U' | 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 a5 g5 O% Q6 M( I! E
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry N+ j; o4 ]. B
春联 Spring Festival couplets 3 ^4 `( m/ p8 J5 M8 P2 j- F: C
剪纸 paper-cuts 9 q+ B; r% t* C9 d/ \! e
年画 New Year paintings $ ~8 M2 u; T- Q! T; \
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping & P. i# o7 M T c
敬酒 propose a toast ( _7 i+ K1 n, m4 `
灯笼 lantern: a portable light % C3 K6 ?: E5 T v9 e' j" I* M
烟花 fireworks
0 y! C" X+ [" r" H6 X 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
) ~" y+ W! |: n- L8 l6 U 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
; M5 p! j, D8 {" T0 R 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) + V3 B8 x8 L7 C
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) $ P, T! n: o5 d8 r: t4 g* v, }
戏曲 traditional opera " r0 M* Z. Z# Z2 X/ f& y T- r, Y
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ! }) N. m# j. L) |' F6 }: L2 T
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
! p1 U. g' b' o$ u K2 s5 K 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ) ]7 u6 V# g" q/ H" ~) j
守岁 staying-up
|2 Q7 s3 |8 ^/ G 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit / O: V w: w- B# Z; [/ ^
禁忌 taboo
+ j. A2 ?0 _; N* i9 J 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 7 j- w: R4 P/ r& i+ l
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
/ M' ~% O" d& M- |$ c 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * N% s; \/ B* f( n. h6 g) M" i: U
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
# U+ D4 J- P& l 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 6 A$ p% X: m" j4 B- b5 {5 ]
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
: M6 z; \/ H# ? p Blessing: Q' P! I, A' Y# W! Q8 F6 f" q
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 6 d5 t/ Z; z. w7 t2 c
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( Y# R1 n3 {8 o2 R7 O7 Q4 D
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go & h- {, G* \* E, N$ M
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
* s, H6 A5 q9 a: x 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
1 J9 F& t' D! r% l Food names: 8 B' A1 R) L, d5 m
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 0 @* u' M a2 B4 C; p# \! U
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
4 @% O% k, e f1 [# ~ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
4 B6 W3 u# T* o( \ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli % { Y3 N! |" l3 g K$ B
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
* C! ?' J# B, y5 E P7 r2 ]/ N 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
% _" g( _* ]! V8 x 糖果盘 candy tray: ! D# u8 l. M, v% p, Q) C
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
9 p9 ^% Q6 d0 t 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
/ k8 f/ V+ s E8 a. J5 U% `+ h 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
( @8 e: f0 H' E( E( o+ r 金桔 cumquat - prosperity % p( u* p# S {
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
* v! _& v1 A6 |- d4 E( h7 N 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
3 `7 D/ F0 P2 X" W 红枣 red dates - prosperity
* P' w+ L' j) U3 c- L 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00