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Spring Festival Words
# c5 D2 t, h+ Y) Q4 D4 l+ g! z! C Greeting Season:
( S0 w& G3 c' c" _; N 春节 The Spring Festival : m8 K2 m# l5 }
农历 lunar calendar ' d) P5 [8 d! d- W
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
$ }& |5 u1 T0 n" i4 A 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
) z; D+ K7 u- `2 Z6 h9 k0 E 初一 the beginning of New Year
0 e' o6 p) W0 L 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
) Y3 C# c6 Z$ j2 ~& n. B Customs: $ t9 t6 W/ d' P& M8 g1 |
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 4 t4 Q8 d7 O' D0 I8 B Y. r. {
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
. r/ |' p; D3 ^7 J+ C; q 春联 Spring Festival couplets ; y! T* o, g- x7 [
剪纸 paper-cuts 5 G0 v% g/ d; G3 X0 T+ x; B
年画 New Year paintings
+ \3 N: z" \" S/ L% r c* j 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping
) c4 W* J# n) v& M. c# O$ | 敬酒 propose a toast * c& a+ ?! x/ e! J/ @! z, g
灯笼 lantern: a portable light ) \) f! m% y$ B- z/ e& S3 p0 y
烟花 fireworks # P7 C2 T% a4 C9 Q
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
6 F6 X$ y) d# ? }0 m% {9 H% Q 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
/ f& `, Z, o8 m% Z5 w3 h! n! ? 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
/ g" z- f, e7 U* N; L) x 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
1 j4 j, ^1 y- A+ C" e 戏曲 traditional opera
0 t4 [8 u3 S: p: A 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
' b0 c$ c7 X& n, c; S 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns ( K" c! G) o& l- _' C$ k x
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
- z! g9 d) E& @/ Z/ z$ e+ `( \ 守岁 staying-up - t. @5 J* m/ q) a# V* i8 d: c
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit 5 p" d y G, G N1 q
禁忌 taboo : k- [; ?6 v) p/ N( ]7 X
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
/ s8 K9 d3 ^3 }- Z 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
9 U! W3 ~2 J7 W) W; i/ N: V; Z 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift 3 R R; d5 ]- `0 i3 Z2 s: 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
4 A$ }$ m0 |: K, I 辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
; D( g6 \, N& \ 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / B4 ]* @" a0 ^* c+ Z9 R3 h7 D
Blessing:
& M" o8 p, R% }7 @7 x' t Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 8 t4 B" y! P" J* j+ ?) V
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace " g& Z1 Z, W2 r: F) R9 I% s
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 1 V; B+ v- p/ i, U( `. m1 e0 Y
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! 2 A3 b" n/ D0 q( |7 ]
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! y# d- D8 @( A' j( E0 O' j* d/ ^
Food names: 4 N: ]5 B% H6 `2 I; l+ }
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake ) L$ c" R: D# g
团圆饭 family reunion dinner
- ?5 [. o# J* K5 a7 ~ 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve . g' u0 {/ ~; H- g2 O
饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
$ v: }1 w7 F8 z( Z) N+ e( f' v* s+ s/ j 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 6 b7 O" W) e; ~; i6 \
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
- c+ S0 ~( r. Z; }' ?% B& ?( s 糖果盘 candy tray:
) V2 x7 k d% K; c! h 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune 3 A* i" K8 a% S* A! }6 Z
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health & c4 m) i/ O! r& i
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity 6 F; V C% C' t, i9 o* u
金桔 cumquat - prosperity
4 w& t! h {: ` 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come + Z3 z5 x5 q: B# e1 W9 b g$ Z: e
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship
l5 i+ h* ?9 L 红枣 red dates - prosperity
3 k7 S5 h f1 o/ [ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00