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Spring Festival Words
$ x% P" D" l; D Greeting Season:
% t* r! K U" N* C2 x7 F 春节 The Spring Festival 6 M# `2 C, J8 i7 e- b& D
农历 lunar calendar + x+ T9 W) b$ }+ {
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar {; I# ]; o' J' s8 s3 P% x' ~1 q
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
' m" X2 D4 \4 K4 Q7 w 初一 the beginning of New Year 4 X3 Q2 B3 T0 E/ R9 {( t" G
元宵节 The Lantern Festival
( P, L( M* h4 d- f1 k) _/ h3 x Customs: 3 o4 y/ Z; C8 v. Y& G+ Q7 {; G6 k
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
8 C) \% G$ K* a b& i$ ?: j 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry , c2 j8 C- O8 C
春联 Spring Festival couplets , ^3 z9 L M5 o g) V, f5 r" d
剪纸 paper-cuts
4 @, ]2 V6 E- O) x 年画 New Year paintings
' J2 c) R; h$ J 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
: l; D2 U" d. `: n 敬酒 propose a toast
% a% T+ r( S, ^3 j- q. Z" l, | 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
- `$ ]( l% o' X4 f 烟花 fireworks ! e; }+ i3 q# ]5 t% t. Q4 t
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
. Q$ p7 P: _6 y" ?4 e% M& N/ k 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
8 p9 S! L( u8 z$ t$ I- z+ W2 q. x 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) @! Q1 X% U# @9 K& c$ \7 \! p
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
" v( { {. U6 U$ d z 戏曲 traditional opera
B' H0 m9 m- A5 L) H; |: w 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
, M7 Y! C( w1 \9 ? 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
- q7 R; v; t6 I 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
8 |0 R' {0 r2 {; O* r: x9 q 守岁 staying-up
. b9 @6 c* `. y, M, I; S5 a+ d 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
* o/ r% O" X3 ?6 n! } 禁忌 taboo
6 M% {$ ~4 ^/ V6 k% k) n4 K3 a8 @ 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
' B, g( S4 @( @7 _ 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors % A5 [2 F. y) g/ z! A
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
& f7 J8 e% m# B. T" |) P* 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 1 ]. b+ r" d5 p2 |) X0 b2 c: L
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year ( f" y6 h5 Z9 ?2 E D ^( s
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
8 [6 D( D7 R$ W; R: }7 l Blessing: ( p' g6 H$ r1 C1 x2 x6 Y% ?# h$ x
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
$ J; p3 o8 ]/ W/ o! M Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ' v, Z+ ~7 r) U& w$ [4 f+ F
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
8 P, m, z" v& k9 _; {4 a, @7 t 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
- U+ f* v' k* }( z! r) i/ S* y 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! h# Z0 G( Z( _5 P$ y6 h* Y2 r
Food names: : i3 l. g8 a7 m' c/ e: V a
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ' }: m, G6 e7 [/ o- B( N0 }7 b
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
1 y, ^ j( P5 U: A6 s) y3 q 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve + ~9 h6 b, W* R; `- O
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli * w9 r H0 `/ x$ _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
$ w6 Z& I( G" F3 A5 e" i 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
3 `8 x3 w2 O4 v% g7 g/ A 糖果盘 candy tray: , U' w$ ?" I5 n/ e2 J6 p
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
5 F* k8 z- f6 P( m0 g3 q 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
- J" g5 H. L/ R0 b7 |' V" X' d 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
. s4 ? @1 }( g% b# c: h* Q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity # v$ B9 R2 K" F' S+ a, g" i; @
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come $ x# y8 W/ H1 d. D4 N3 R
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
m3 R% O& D+ p, l: ?0 ^ 红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 G7 ^/ n+ x* w0 N: D, I6 D( w# r9 w 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00