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Spring Festival Words
; J: g3 D# n+ ^0 p9 z; J+ S& s Greeting Season:
1 I+ A# b& f5 K! x$ H7 ` 春节 The Spring Festival : {. l4 i2 y' ?" r
农历 lunar calendar , P; w9 m, Y$ @ X
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: E% [: D, g7 `: g 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
2 Y5 Z9 Y3 H# Q; Q2 N+ N* t4 D+ ?: X 初一 the beginning of New Year
4 {1 K7 K: z5 }+ C8 |. q 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
3 v, J) E8 i7 d; c# q" B Customs: 6 l2 i1 y' h# V6 d' v. o
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 1 j% y) ^; S- J! Q: i; @7 a! s
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
4 `1 {' A( v/ E* G/ ?- B8 _ 春联 Spring Festival couplets ; G9 O. \4 i3 z
剪纸 paper-cuts
" x& m4 d: H7 p9 p6 S7 k, O& v 年画 New Year paintings 1 E" k7 T) p9 @; N9 M
买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping ! g! \/ p* Q1 O+ s# @
敬酒 propose a toast
7 b3 O+ x9 [$ b! X/ z 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
+ L0 J( ?0 E+ G4 E+ H 烟花 fireworks 0 S m/ y* s3 C3 ]7 L# N1 C5 a
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.) * @2 w5 c3 e% f7 {7 L0 c
红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.) 4 L4 b3 l' u! M
舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
- h/ h8 w* P6 @. ?' d 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 1 q! K+ t! ^$ ~3 m, _/ h3 Z! S
戏曲 traditional opera
3 _& y+ f8 p$ G6 ^7 t; d+ o" q! i$ S 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville 4 a" B! G1 {% e8 a9 M
灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
( ~* r( H" G& s; v 灯会 exhibit of lanterns ; a. g- u/ m9 s' G
守岁 staying-up 6 N& K X: a$ u7 u
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; @$ ]! H* U7 h$ i) u& D 禁忌 taboo
3 d9 ?* l! `4 I# a0 e 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune 6 ~3 m/ l' X1 t# j7 z& d8 t
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors
) i/ R7 k, F6 k& Z 压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift * z. E% I' O' ^2 c
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 8 Z+ j" A, D/ T( K, j* p
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
# L6 F2 i v9 p; d/ m9 W 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning ; ]+ v1 N+ r+ v, X
Blessing: ! \. J# O( W f
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity 0 h( @" L/ a- p
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
1 Y) A2 L- _; U g6 L* o p Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 D) Q" D) M4 p0 h9 Z 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year! . A# y" [0 {7 x- A: t% o1 \; [
事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
+ T) A6 e8 A5 x- j7 [* N Food names:
4 A9 I5 \; K; Q; @7 _ 年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake / K L D9 ]% L% Y1 `! {, i
团圆饭 family reunion dinner % ?9 K- y3 s# L/ Q
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
6 r$ }! b: D# j8 S2 V& L# k 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
+ {8 H2 O* @; p3 [ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 3 {: M6 |4 u& l- E
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding
2 L2 V" G7 A4 {. b 糖果盘 candy tray:
, i3 j8 \+ y0 b* C 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune {6 q D# h* c" c" b
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health $ W$ E6 F5 }2 B* X
西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
+ y+ C# {+ @5 Q 金桔 cumquat - prosperity , T( L! [6 N+ s1 L w0 D
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come
# Q _+ {0 [8 ]9 N/ H( F 糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ! b" U+ W6 g9 A8 ]% V, I1 Z& ]
红枣 red dates - prosperity
; k1 \/ n" Y0 g% \ 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00