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Spring Festival Words
, |, U! N9 ?+ u& e4 H H4 W' N+ j Greeting Season:
- s$ }- q5 q. r& {: h3 Z) C# T 春节 The Spring Festival
' u+ F* x/ O9 ~* v9 r6 ? 农历 lunar calendar
! t; E6 Y/ V4 {3 F 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
4 c4 c. f. \' n0 {$ z# i" F 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 ~$ _4 `' Q' g; G 初一 the beginning of New Year 0 @8 Z5 W$ ?1 g
元宵节 The Lantern Festival ! n7 v l1 T q
Customs: 5 B# D& R( n3 k, }6 @
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival . s Q6 d, I7 b
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
6 k) S/ q+ i* x% f% d, i h k5 S 春联 Spring Festival couplets 0 A% ]* o& n) e: u" x- Q p
剪纸 paper-cuts ( {; V4 v1 l/ p" c! x
年画 New Year paintings ; q! L! a% X3 L: @
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
; U- I$ [9 `5 E, R- n 敬酒 propose a toast 2 B5 N8 Q, o1 Q; K1 m. s. d
灯笼 lantern: a portable light : S4 p. `/ ^/ r4 U$ d
烟花 fireworks
/ p8 g4 [ E/ Z9 y' r 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
+ _$ g! ?, n$ ^5 ~; \9 A 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
6 b, N5 M% S9 G/ v+ L0 i 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
* D5 ]7 m d- V3 x( V/ R2 P9 L8 M 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) % h0 p9 a! l: Y ]) L
戏曲 traditional opera
- b4 E8 k2 Q, }% o3 p8 H m 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
" G6 z1 _7 F8 P9 p 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
, v% J, _! R9 l 灯会 exhibit of lanterns
5 D+ _. ~7 ^* Y3 U! ^8 u% e4 y6 u 守岁 staying-up
5 L4 z6 C, K1 Q- T 拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 4 C- _% j6 E1 j
禁忌 taboo : ?1 f* D/ F0 h, H
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune * U5 ?. q% J- R$ a* Y% ?. @9 X
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors % k3 {( h& x" \9 u6 ?) N" s
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
* @5 g- T8 B( ?/ [6 s 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
% a) u+ H% g# u* e) p; A4 \. ~ 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year 3 N( k9 O# ?- ^% g2 g1 Q
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning 1 c( k( B/ s* C; G/ @
Blessing:
( L4 ^* G* {7 n, `8 x Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity # {# e) T% R/ m/ h
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace , C {9 n" _( L0 O2 `
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 6 z% X2 D. }6 S
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
% y5 f$ g" w7 B 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 X6 B& Y7 \* q: Z; ?! k# ~% @ Food names: $ h# W. D+ l- M6 M2 l
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake 3 G2 D4 I5 F8 G
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
' s* _) t$ S4 f) z 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve * }8 K* V; G$ K- t$ V
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
N2 ~3 O9 e3 n) Z0 b( c( l# `5 x 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings , b7 \+ Z( Q' f' ?2 a+ m. ]7 V) q
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
2 w4 u" Q' L$ K 糖果盘 candy tray: ; n& F) Q0 B: Q2 N! ?
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
: {+ x7 A0 N n6 k 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health : x* }# H& z5 U' p U% i1 s! @
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity ( g% P+ I& f e/ `( L
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
0 I. l/ e& C' ^& T 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come # l$ B8 N# S; V" S- w
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
' | t# k# i# C1 j! S 红枣 red dates - prosperity
# R' D/ p+ S; `( B. [ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00