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Spring Festival Words
& I% j7 v$ _ @4 d6 l; f& t* l3 C Greeting Season:
9 _+ a) J: \+ |" J; i6 J* y 春节 The Spring Festival
9 G0 w1 c- G6 t 农历 lunar calendar
4 {* r5 X' J9 D/ Z7 U6 v% v4 X- w 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar 9 U, l' p6 Z6 o+ A) V3 D; \
除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
7 J( b: g: T+ M( R 初一 the beginning of New Year
V" @7 f& o, F) x9 I) L1 G# Z6 A 元宵节 The Lantern Festival : ^9 P0 L! ]5 ^9 J) r7 ~* w
Customs:
0 G( U& c+ n- Y/ ^' Z0 Y 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival
, C: R2 q( n; S( m* r 对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 3 d- _9 ?5 J( O: [) B4 o
春联 Spring Festival couplets . e) ^# v& ^4 t0 Y' I
剪纸 paper-cuts
) R0 m" v" m: u V7 U9 W0 t) \ 年画 New Year paintings
6 m* [2 r9 Q, [9 u$ l6 F: s 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
2 N/ l4 z3 D3 @& a0 Y6 Q1 g 敬酒 propose a toast 8 X8 [5 G2 S6 d9 g. `- ^* u% e
灯笼 lantern: a portable light
5 p3 y# S/ I7 l' H: p 烟花 fireworks
* R9 ? s/ _5 J2 J 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
3 }7 W! e: j6 u' Z+ d 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 9 g9 a' M1 D1 l) {3 z
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) & |+ V: A: Z( {6 g7 U# r; A* {
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
' L# K- l; z- I8 @ 戏曲 traditional opera
+ R5 W+ X& Q( ]- z7 O! k1 U* z$ B 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville [8 a6 H( q" l) K+ E& W8 z
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 O' w( Q, ^0 f 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
$ w: b% ^9 m5 x3 P% s4 j 守岁 staying-up ' Q u! @, r$ P! v( ?0 g: \! a
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit * n: |: [) O4 C! {- Z) p
禁忌 taboo 3 {- F$ T! f( b& R" Q* {4 V
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ L' Q( o9 H' |& X; e! W 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
' E2 g. W7 X6 |9 ?# f# i 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
2 F) B5 E: z$ v& Y- { 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 2 r2 l+ R1 ]9 r) P2 W! T7 w
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year - ~6 Q2 \; ~# j3 V L- R
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 3 D8 v2 T, S3 K/ g3 z- _
Blessing: ) F- I# x' x% W# Q& C9 Q8 x- b
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 7 `& X4 x; _- d; T" @0 u5 i) c- W
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
: G4 Z& X9 @! P0 f$ ~; M! w! A Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 3 j+ R1 |" }2 T a
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ! V9 o6 C6 R2 w0 H' P- ]( o- p
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
& G9 S- ]$ k/ ]$ J* s Food names:
8 q( S- m! U) ~9 b( i 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
K5 a* ?* d" I* k) J 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
% _ E% E: I& _9 F {6 V5 x 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
! q5 \. {3 E6 s, F, n3 h0 t9 {: N. U 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
: a; _+ u" i4 ]/ g8 @8 y- T) S6 g1 s 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
2 m* x6 Z% c. l( {" Z/ v 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ! q* T$ Z! Y/ K3 s6 o _0 i5 l' ~
糖果盘 candy tray:
- m) f: N0 w) |3 M& R4 g8 @ 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 5 k% T- E7 O( |% l5 h$ r* ~
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
, t" F" b! J: f 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity & U* m o) s8 a( @% Y
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
( Y" }# A8 H3 ^& ^8 I 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
0 T4 u! E6 o3 C 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
+ C: Z; A1 y( m- b, N 红枣 red dates - prosperity * z5 O; w4 T* z
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00