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Spring Festival Words & S i% U" p. g9 \' h
Greeting Season: - }6 X9 T; B! \/ ^
春节 The Spring Festival $ z! A% f% P; I4 Y- U# U0 |( L8 A4 v
农历 lunar calendar
1 p- H5 o$ [. |9 j( C# ^* c 正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
# u3 {8 V: j4 ?9 v 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year ~) ^" q) [$ W/ Y! c
初一 the beginning of New Year
$ C. h* O. r2 i8 y9 a& o9 }% z 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
( s+ f( O$ W$ G Y/ G$ Y Customs: 1 u" R: }% k% q( G5 ]. V& [
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 3 {7 k! R' ~5 @/ D) v
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry 9 D5 `2 R, ?; G- ^
春联 Spring Festival couplets 8 }3 G# v5 o# q
剪纸 paper-cuts ]% f' Q7 g* ?/ f2 x+ K
年画 New Year paintings
0 E- i; e* O/ L) b* c 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping 8 W0 g3 c0 F% w; G& m
敬酒 propose a toast
5 r4 b9 B. b7 @+ a& r7 ~ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light ; j8 J0 \% y. x C& ]3 [% A: G
烟花 fireworks
' a5 V- u% }: k7 q( c; ~' ?; g, I 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
( W& q$ w/ Q2 X 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 1 m) @+ h. y0 {! ?- e
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
% y+ F1 D% w8 { 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
! o1 r1 A. m& E2 e- a 戏曲 traditional opera
6 q( F: M% J2 u 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville ! U3 D+ I, v% G0 [) |: U" q
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
# i L% m9 e$ a2 F 灯会 exhibit of lanterns " U+ c8 i; [4 d0 e! r7 f
守岁 staying-up ; p/ ?' }3 ^& j' O4 g# O+ w& z6 `
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit ( U6 W) ]% k0 v' x2 s0 @
禁忌 taboo
) v `+ O w. L 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune - T* G2 h% Z' G. z, W
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors 7 U2 y' r9 }8 i
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift
7 u- d Q* v% X( L* e3 k 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 - ^, ?% O, v/ A7 q% P! u1 ~$ d
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
3 q; S ~$ B* Y6 [& R4 Z7 n 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
+ q$ |! j* |5 i) Y* E; Z+ y" Y1 X Blessing:
% C) U( T; Y2 D/ ~. s Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
* E( r- u& G) F: j5 k0 p Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace ( @) w+ h0 p6 Y
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
' e7 d% i( Q% u8 l 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! ! W$ g h8 R5 P; f! M$ v4 S2 z- \1 Z
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
0 M6 k! c7 D* T Food names: ) e! }3 v0 I6 v0 R( s
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
7 B# L3 l- l8 u0 s( k 团圆饭 family reunion dinner 7 D( t, `* I" `, x0 P
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
5 A) l6 W" F& V 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli $ e2 E y( p9 `5 }$ g4 _
汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
# L8 a# t5 [7 k8 ? 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding ( O7 |3 Q9 H" S( {2 K/ r( r3 v
糖果盘 candy tray:
, T; L% j# S: G+ {9 g1 D( u1 Q/ H 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune
& r# J: B! S* z5 S) U$ [" i2 e- w 蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
w5 Z* Q/ ?. Y 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
5 Q5 _& [0 [% ]: _. _ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
4 ~8 c$ @8 V$ O/ C 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
5 ~ s& ]+ B& |6 ~ 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
" R E4 b& ~: K7 } 红枣 red dates - prosperity ) M5 V: u2 e( S' Y+ z
花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00