|
Spring Festival Words ) M0 W* e9 u# k/ U+ Q
Greeting Season: / u* R" {$ E$ o8 \3 X; U0 [
春节 The Spring Festival . r+ r+ ]! K5 `# V! A
农历 lunar calendar ( w- V; y( v3 l+ S
正月 lunar January; the first month by lunar calendar
9 B0 ]5 \% U) l% J# M: ^# u T 除夕 New Year's Eve; eve of lunar New Year
. {) n# \' z+ h4 ` N8 G6 B y 初一 the beginning of New Year
: O ?$ Z& e1 I, L 元宵节 The Lantern Festival
' q- q+ F4 v! N9 f8 K/ E Customs: + i0 Q# A k+ Q4 b; G: s
过年 Guo-nian; have the Spring Festival 6 B$ z2 w5 ?5 C
对联 poetic couplet: two successive rhyming lines in poetry
' X; w/ e3 a' X, s9 o( c5 M 春联 Spring Festival couplets
" V% J* }# ~1 A( e# \; a) I 剪纸 paper-cuts / T8 Y3 o6 s4 ~; B
年画 New Year paintings
: J" B- m, y+ [ |7 i) N" L 买年货 special purchases for the Spring Festival ; do Spring Festival shopping # N* S# w9 h y" O; W% h! ?+ j
敬酒 propose a toast
, z, i% ]$ q' Y3 F% ]+ \ 灯笼 lantern: a portable light
" P5 J+ H3 v' z) k0 {: ? 烟花 fireworks 3 l/ ~ v6 j' k
爆竹 firecrackers (People scare off evil spirits and ghosts with the loud pop.)
8 h1 @/ a9 X2 z G 红包 red packets (cash wrapped up in red paper, symbolize fortune and wealth in the coming year.)
) ^. S; S" j! z: ?' w 舞狮 lion dance (The lion is believed to be able to dispel evil and bring good luck.) : }2 q4 F0 s' V, c9 {0 c! X
舞龙 dragon dance (to expect good weather and good harvests)
# }. P9 N/ n9 u0 q0 E9 ]1 t- D" v# ` 戏曲 traditional opera 3 w; `9 w/ j( `" u- N% i6 u" H* J6 h
杂耍 variety show; vaudeville
/ f, x0 M1 \$ M0 i% l& \/ }" m) @ 灯谜 riddles written on lanterns
1 G1 e& A: \3 ~! g- I 灯会 exhibit of lanterns + M* N/ A1 s* }, b, K2 b
守岁 staying-up ) \, ^3 S4 U8 P# i8 i
拜年 pay New Year's call; give New Year's greetings; New Year's visit # H* L, J/ f$ f) Y* H! @
禁忌 taboo
' u2 o+ [" e3 R8 M% E 去晦气 get rid of the ill- fortune
2 B, K+ j0 \. e [: [+ U) d 祭祖宗 offer sacrifices to one's ancestors & J4 t# v: f1 t4 S' s& E
压岁钱 gift money; money given to children as a lunar New Year gift ) d* [7 b. F& Z0 c( j
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 t/ g4 }0 E0 C/ f
辞旧岁 bid farewell to the old year & k7 i7 W% `" ?% W& u& e# K) H6 ^/ H
扫房 spring cleaning; general house-cleaning
( O1 k( H( X5 G Blessing: / C! ^' y4 X% j. R' W/ a3 ?
Treasures fill the home Business flourishes Peace all year round Wishing you prosperity
f3 s8 D" y! ` Harmony brings wealth May all your wishes come true Everything goes well The country flourishes and people live in peace * `; M- o- y1 Y% \) I) j8 _0 B0 R
Money and treasures will be plentiful Wishing you every success Promoting to a higher position Safe trip wherever you go
9 K9 z! [5 m2 ~ 祝你新的一年快乐幸福: Wish you happiness and prosperity in the coming year!
2 o% J, P# R5 p8 F. x 事业成功，家庭美满: Wish you success in your career and happiness of your family! / g W, k% _* b9 ?5 B+ Y) C ?8 d V
Food names: 5 ?4 A# p3 l8 B) {4 d6 T8 a
年糕 Nian-gao; rise cake; New Year cake
# L0 B7 ?, U% X( H; a 团圆饭 family reunion dinner
) {7 r$ W* i% z 年夜饭 the dinner on New Year's Eve
2 K- P& a- ]8 p r( _ 饺子 Jiao-zi; Chinese meat ravioli
j, x, ]! W! d. s$ _) |( q# g+ f( C 汤圆 Tang-yuan; dumplings made of sweet rice, rolled into balls and stuffed with either sweet or spicy fillings 4 z9 }) G5 Q4 S; W9 x) n
八宝饭 eight treasures rice pudding . N- \2 J2 `/ h, P) N
糖果盘 candy tray: % O' X# X" f5 q6 F0 r
什锦糖 assorted candies - sweet and fortune / y/ U2 l5 r) F( ]
蜜冬瓜 candied winter melon - growth and good health
) o8 H2 @! L. V( G' F 西瓜子 red melon seed - joy, happiness, truth and sincerity
' y1 T+ G+ H( _ 金桔 cumquat - prosperity ; x2 P- R0 b/ J/ ^% R, Z7 V
糖莲子 candied lotus seed - many descendents to come 3 z& n& L+ c7 M W! }3 _
糖藕 candied lotus root - fulfilling love relationship ! a1 C$ N w4 r2 D9 z' x4 K
红枣 red dates - prosperity
, x. U [1 H$ O- z 花生糖 peanut candy - sweet | 
发表于 2005-2-8 08:37:00