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Spring Festival Words
3 J% o/ n2 ]0 T. J V Greeting Season: 2 G7 X+ A0 m/ L
春节 The Spring Festival ! \( [0 {" |# S
农历 lunar calendar , y* P! I6 T5 p/ p) W
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
: y g$ W( z9 _' S1 a6 n8 M 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year 0 [! e3 @7 i# ~' g9 X8 d5 o
初一 the beginning of New Year
0 P# {: g/ |, P2 a1 h9 K 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
8 q; c: K# U f$ l. g Customs:
( Z |2 x$ t2 ?4 T* E9 J& j( q/ G 过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival ! d# z0 n- D0 }9 T5 k& M7 d% q! F
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
: B9 E8 `# ?4 C' W( ~* _& [" R 春联 Spring Festival couplets ) ?# o Z3 y1 Y
剪纸 paper-cuts 8 q1 M5 Y6 W9 w; A5 O
年画 New Year paintings
+ i+ E+ y% l: `$ B! A2 A, M0 O 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping * \; x, j1 M% G; [2 E% c
敬酒 propose a toast
: m# z2 ]8 ?) ^) H6 }2 i 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
; k5 O8 }$ L8 \4 T 烟花 fireworks
. C! b, n6 h- N5 G 爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
. P* C3 F, Y; Q2 I. f+ d 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
) a3 b* g# S: w% r( E4 h 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.)
: G: n X1 y* v" |- ]* p7 _+ H, V 舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests) 9 r- k- a2 ]+ T8 w
戏曲 traditional opera
( P+ C+ T) `+ T6 B 杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
8 R3 e3 p) O3 A9 V: Y& z# Y6 Z 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns 0 a( m" j9 u4 }- p
灯会 exhibit of lanterns
3 J% g$ R0 j- | 守岁 staying-up 7 `( T6 c4 Y3 i. ]) }9 s9 C( r
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit
; n0 |) z% U' E) V% \6 D- ^ 禁忌 taboo Z' e! ?9 _$ g. v) ~" s& B
去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune ) l4 J% x* I9 d$ @
祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors ) V! K, m8 c, N, O* Y' u
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift + I) @: h q" E4 k; g
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 . c( Q W4 @8 K0 r
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year
! u6 X6 [! ^7 x 扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning / b1 Z/ c2 o& t& E: {
Blessing:
. j) ]# T* V2 K) f- E Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity % I; M2 z1 g, T% a7 x- N0 u3 C3 Q
Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace
Y4 S* Y% e, L Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go 5 R# q! M- C g
祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
2 ]9 e* u; G5 A% Y/ x5 Y* ~1 A 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family!
* A$ I0 h7 U& ?. J Food names: * d+ A! Y6 k" Y+ _5 S: R7 F
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
1 |5 v' W, r7 p+ k9 c( l) `5 p 团圆饭 family reunion dinner c0 e* O, q9 x3 n
年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
1 f% i0 j3 _+ a5 M 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
% X/ n; a& A# `0 ^ E$ X! b$ T8 ~ 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings
9 r! F, v, o& c$ v& a 八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding 7 F4 Z9 A3 f8 m2 A' }0 J7 t
糖果盘 candy tray:
& t& V( a% B* k- l I: f& c 什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune $ M. T( ^1 c! V5 s
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
1 L. K, B. x5 L0 l& e: b1 u 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
w, X6 R( |8 p) Z* } A& @7 M6 q7 S 金桔 cumquat - prosperity
, q/ h2 W! u4 D+ U. N 糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come * E& p# f8 P7 ?6 c! H2 U2 P& c& c
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship , t0 I4 J; R& Y# ^
红枣 red dates - prosperity
0 { M' _4 g- ]+ q0 c- K) x" V1 F+ |% u 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00